What is Junior Achievement?

A nonprofit dedicated to teaching students about:

• managing money• working at a job• owning a business

About Me

• Name

• Place of work

• Family

• Hobbies

JA Our Nation

Today you will learn about:

• Free market economies• How pricing guides economic

decisions

Free to Choose Your Work or Business

Lesson One

Discussion

• When you think about your future, what are you most excited about?

• Do you see yourself someday working for a company or for yourself? Why?

Discussion

Name some successful businesses.

Goods

Items that can be bought or sold.

Services

Work done for others, like haircuts or car repairs.

Consumer

Someone who buys goods and services.

Producer

Someone who makes goods or provides services to others.

Free Market Economy

A system in which goods and services are bought and sold freely with little government

interference.

Business are free to compete, set prices, and earn a profit.

ProfitThe amount of money left after all business

expenses have been paid.

Businesses rely on profits to hire workers, reward investors, and expand.

DiscussionName a few things you recently bought at a store.

• Prices guide consumers’ economic decisions.• Producers respond to consumers’ choices by adjusting

prices.

CompetitionRivalry between two or more businesses striving for the

same customer.

Competition is what makes a free market system unique.

Activity – Prices1. Each student will receive two sticky notes.2. Take two items from your desk and place them on your

desktop.3. Think about the value of each item. How would you price

it if you were to put it up for sale? 4. Decide on a price for each item and secretly write it on

the sticky notes.5. When directed, play the sticky notes next to your items.6. Walk around the room and check out the prices. Make a

mental note of what product you would buy based on its price. Be ready to explain.

Discussion• Which item would you buy?• Why would you choose that item over another?• How might other prices affect your pricing?• When it comes to pricing, how low can a business go?

What would happen if a business priced an item lower than it actually paid for it?

• What would happen if there was just one ruler for sale but a lot of people who wanted it?

• Do you think businesses put a lot of thought into pricing their goods and services?

Free Market Economy

Goods and services are available at an affordable price for consumers but at a level that lets businesses make a profit

and grow.

Review

• Goods and services• Consumers and producers

• Free market economy• Profit

• The importance of pricing

Next time…

we will learn about entrepreneurship and innovation!

Innovation Nation

Lesson Two

Today we will learn about…

•Entrepreneurship•How businesses use resources

•STEM skills•Innovation

Review

• Goods and services• Producers and consumers• Free market economy• Profit• Why are pricing decisions so important?

Discussion• Do you have an idea for a product or service

that people might want?• Could your idea become a business?

Entrepreneur

What is an entrepreneur?A person who takes a risk to start a business with

the intent of earning a profit.

Think of a few words that describe an entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurship

What is entrepreneurship?The innovative thinking needed to start and operate a

business.

A free market system encourages entrepreneurship.

Resources

Capital resources – buildings, tools, machines, and money that businesses use to make products

Human resources – people who need the work a business needs

Natural resources – things a business needs that occur naturally, such as air, water, minerals and trees

Businesses make choices everyday based on resource needs.

Resources – A Pencil

Capital resources – the plant or factory where it is made and the actual tools to create it. Money.

Human resources – the people who work the factory machines and sell the product.

Natural resources – the trees, graphite, and clay to make the wood shell, core, and rubber eraser.

SkillSkill: The ability to do something well

Technical Skill Jobs – defined as those related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, called STEM skills.

Examples of technical skill jobs: •Chemist•Doctor•Computer software engineer•Construction manager•Architect•Statistician

InnovationAn improvement of an existing product or method.

Can you think of an example of innovation?

Activity - Innovation

Turn to a partner and discuss a product or service that interests you and then brainstorm a way to improve it.

Activity - Innovation1. Get into 8 groups. Each group will receive an Our

Innovation Nation Topic Card. Read your card as a group.

2. Develop a plan to improve a new product or service based on your card.

a. Define the problemb. Brainstorm a solutionc. Formulate an idea to develop

3. Sketch a design for your new product.4. If time allows, we will present our innovations.

Review

•How do entrepreneurs help consumers?•What is the reward for many entrepreneurs?•Businesses need resources to make products. Can you name the 3 types of resources?•If you had to explain to someone why STEM skills are important skills for future jobs, what would you say?•What small experiment could you do to test your innovation idea?

You are developing skills in school to help you find a great job in the future!

JA Our Nationhttp://educgames.ja.org/jaournation/indexMobile.html

Next time…

We will learn about careers and skills!

Career Quest

Lesson Three

Today we will learn about…

•Careers•The skills necessary for different careers

Review

• Entrepreneurship• Resources

• STEM Skills• Innovation

Discussion• Imagine someone asked you to open a new

elementary school. What jobs would be necessary?

• What skills do you think a fifth-grade teacher needs?

• What kind of career do you want to learn more about?

High-growth, high-demand jobs

Jobs projected to add large numbers of employees to the workforce

Many of these jobs require the use of technology. Technology is the use of machinery, equipment,

and processes.

Technology has changed the way most businesses operate!

InterestsThe things you like and enjoy.

You can begin considering the types of careers that match your interests today!

Two-Minute Interview With A Neighbor

Interview Questions•What interests you? Why do you enjoy it?

•What is something unique about you that most people don’t know? Do you have a hobby?

•What job do you see yourself doing in the future?

Career Clusters

What is a career cluster?A grouping of jobs and industries related by skills

or products.

Example: Education and Training jobs include: teacher, principal, librarian, counselor.

Activity – Career Cluster Trading CardsCareer Cluster Trading Cards1.I will read aloud one of the career cluster titles. Imagine yourself as a ______.2.If you may be interested in one of these careers, stand by me. If you aren’t sure, ask for more information.3.I will move on to 3 or 4 more cards. Stand by the career cards of your choice!

Activity – Career Quest1. Separate into groups of 3-4.2. Walk with fliers in hand to the closest card.3. Read the title and information about two career

clusters.4. Answer the questions found on Page 3 of your

fliers.5. Continue to other cards.6. We will share our answers in about 15 minutes!7. Career ID Bookmark

Activity – Discussion• Which career cluster interested you?• Which job in that cluster had special appeal?• Does that job match your interests?• Will you need a college degree or special

training? How long might that take?

Review

• High-growth high-demand jobs• The effects of technology• Career clusters

What are three things you are learning in school today that will help you prepare for a job in the

future?

Next time…We will learn about applying and interviewing for

jobs!

Get and Keep the Job!

Lesson Four

Today we will learn about…

The necessary skills to apply for jobs!

Review

•High-growth high-demand jobs•The effects of technology•Career clusters

Discussion

•Someone has decided to hire you for a job. Describe the job and why you are perfect for it.•How will you prove that you are qualified?•What are some of the qualifications needed for jobs that your siblings or friends have?

Employees and Employers

Employees: people who work for businesses

Employers: Businesses that hire workers

Resume

A written summary of a person’s education, work experience, and skills.

Job seekers usually present their skills to a potential employer with a resume.

Look at the simplified resume on Page 1 of your flier.

Soft Skills

Personal attributes and abilities that are needed in most jobs.

Example: Employee cares about the job, works well with others, and has integrity and discipline.

Communication

A written or spoken exchanges between people to share information.

Businesses need people with strong communication skills.

Job Interview

A discussion between a potential employee and employer to help decide if a job is a good match.

Job Interview

A discussion between a potential employee and employer to help decide if a job is a good match.

I will need a volunteer for a job interview demonstration!

Activity – Board Game1. We will separate into 8 groups. 2. Place game pieces on START. Stack the Get and Keep

the Job! Game Cards on the board.3. Take turns rolling the die. Player who rolls highest

starts. Play continues clockwise.4. Record the skills and points gained on Page 2 of your

flier.5. Follow directions when you land on a Pick a Card

space.6. Add up the points at the end of play. The player who

collects the most points wins!

Review• Employees and employers• Resume• Soft skills and communication• Job interview

Next time…We will learn about global competition!

Global Connections

Lesson Five

Today we will learn about…The global marketplace and competition!

Review• Employees and employers• Resume• Soft skills and communication• Job interview

Discussion – Global Marketplace• 95% of the world’s customers live outside of the

U.S. With the global marketplace in mind, does a neighborhood bookstore or amazon.com have more customers? Why?

• What are advantages of a global marketplace to customers?

• What are the advantages for U.S. businesses?

TradeThe process of buying and selling

Global Connections ExerciseOpen your flier to the world map inside.

Listen to the following statements and find the countries I mention on your map. Draw a line from the country to the United States.

Global Connections ExerciseOpen your flier to the world map inside.

Listen to the following statements and find the countries I mention on your map. Draw a line from the country to the United States.

SpecializationChoosing to focus on one or a few products

Example: Florida specializes in growing citrus fruits and making products from those fruits.

Specialization lowers the cost of production and allows businesses in many countries to buy and

sell with one another.

Opportunity CostThe next best alternative given up when making a

choice.

Activity – Mystery Puzzle Cards1. Each sheet illustrates a single product that

uses resources from six countries2. Pull out one card. Walk around the room and

search for other students who have a puzzle card you think matches your own.

3. Once you have discovered your product, stay in your group and discuss the resources and countries needed to produce that product.

4. Appoint a spokesperson to share with the class.

ReviewMany products we buy use resources from around

the world and different resources come from different countries.

Using resources from other countries can lower business costs of making a product and increase profit.

JA Our Nation Review• Free market economy• Profit• Entrepreneurship and Innovation• High-growth high-demand jobs• Resumes and job interviews• The global marketplace and trading• Opportunity cost

JA Our Nation Review• Free market economy• Profit• Entrepreneurship and Innovation• High-growth high-demand jobs• Resumes and job interviews• The global marketplace and trading• Opportunity cost

Certificate of Achievement