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Turn an idea into a business pitch in this two-week entrepreneurship course for elementary and middle school students on the University of Michigan campus.
Course Description
A useful invention starts with somebody's need. A product that saves time or solves a small problem can give students a business idea worth exploring.
In this course your child will turn an idea into a business plan. They use a Lean Business Model Canvas, a planning tool that connects customers, costs, and the solution they want to offer. Research helps them learn what customers need and how other businesses meet those needs.
An idea also needs numbers and a clear message. Students explore pricing, branding, and how many sales would cover their costs. They bring those pieces together in a short pitch, answer questions, and use feedback to improve their plan.
This two-week Summer Discovery course for elementary and middle school students takes place on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Students explore the subject through guided activities and projects.
What You Will Do
• Spot a problem that could inspire a business
• Organize your idea with a Lean Business Model Canvas
• Research customers and compare competing businesses
• Create branding that explains your idea’s value
• Calculate prices and sales needed to cover costs
• Pitch your business idea and respond to questions
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Explain how a business idea meets a customer’s need
• Compare prices, costs, and sales to understand a business plan
• Support a business idea with research and clear reasons
You’ll leave with your completed Lean Business Model Canvas, business pitch presentation, and a certificate of completion.
Why Entrepreneurship Skills Matter
A business idea needs more than a catchy name. Asking what customers need and comparing competing products helps students see whether their solution is useful. Working out costs gives them a way to check whether an idea could support itself.
Explaining those choices in a pitch connects imagination with evidence. That practice can help students plan a school project, organize a club idea, or explain why a proposed solution makes sense.
Is This Course Right for You?
For students who have completed 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grade.
A child who dreams up products, notices problems, or likes explaining an idea may enjoy exploring business here. They do not need a finished business idea to begin. A laptop, Chromebook, or tablet is recommended for research and preparing the pitch presentation.
Your Summer at University of Michigan
Ann Arbor is a college town where the University of Michigan campus and the surrounding community meet. Tree-lined streets, bookstores, and cafés give the setting a character of its own. Students spend their summer learning on campus with other young people who share their curiosity.
Clear routines and supportive staff help students settle into a new place. There is room to make friends, share interests, and enjoy being part of a group. It is a welcoming way to try a campus summer without needing to have a future major in mind.
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive