Entrepreneurship: How to Begin
This resource supports the teaching of specific education and training content that can be implemented by classroom instructors in the context of a particular career cluster.
This activity is part of the Workforce Education Learning Activities Bank, an interactive resource of work-related basic skills lessons for use by instructors in the workplace or in traditional adult education programs and by adult learners. All activities within the bank were developed with the appropriate Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS), Equipped for the Future (EFF), and GED skills and standards in mind. This lesson is composed of two parts which could be delivered on two successive days: (1) a discussion to introduce the idea of entrepreneurship and the importance of a business plan, and (2) a guest speaker (from the Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Administration, or a successful local small business) who presents on both the content of a business plan as well as its importance to the success of a new business. At a minimum, instructors will need to provide students with a copy of an actual business plan from the Small Business Administration state or local office. Small Business Administration Resources that can replace those listed in the lesson include:
- “Starting a Business” www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/starting-managing-business/starting-business
- “Writing a Business Plan” www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/starting-managing-business/starting-business/writing-business-plan
- Podcasts www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/counseling-training/online-small-business-training/starting-business/podcasts
- Video “SBA Delivering Success: Planning & Research” www.sba.gov/content/sba-delivering-success-planning-research
The activity on communication is taught within the career pathways context of the Business Management and Administration career cluster. Students will be able to: (1) Understand the concept of entrepreneurship; () Identify the rudiments of a business plan; (3) Locate and use resources about business plans on the Internet; and (4) Practice active listening skills.
This resource was reviewed and vetted through the Designing Instruction for Career Pathways initiative of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education under Contract No. ED-CFO-10-A-0072/0001.
