JA It's My Business!^®

Middle School

Implementation:
Classroom Based
After School
Virtual

Pillars of Student Success

Entrepreneurship High Entrepreneurship

Work Readiness Moderate Work Readiness

Financial Literacy Minimal Financial Literacy

JA It's My Business! provides students an opportunity to learn how to turn an idea into a business. The program introduces students to the process of design thinking as a problem-solving process and provides an authentic entrepreneurial experience for students, with each session building toward a product-pitch competition.

Following participation in the program, students will be able to:

-- Identify their own personal entrepreneurial characteristics.
-- Engage in the process of design thinking to understand a problem.
-- Develop a business startup from its ideation, innovation, and market research through its design and prototyping.
-- Pitch their new business idea to potential funders.

JA It’s My Business! is part of the JA Entrepreneurship Pathway and is recommended for middle school students. This volunteer-led program can be implemented as a classroom-based, remote live, or after-school program. It includes six 45-minute sessions, with additional extended learning activities and optional digital assets offered throughout.

JA teachers and volunteers are encouraged, as part of this program, to utilize the resources available in JA Connect™ Learning Pathways, located at connect.ja.org. This self-guided experience includes interactives, JA Digital Career Book, and games and apps for student use.

JA programs support national and state standards in reading, mathematics, social studies, and work and career readiness. See below for more information on alignment with national and state standards.

Program Concepts

Business, consumer feedback, design, entrepreneur, entrepreneurial characteristics, funding, innovation, innovative, investor, market, market research, need, product, passionate, persistent, persuasive, pitch, presentation visuals, product, product sketches, prototype, risk-taker, self-confident, self-motivated, service, speaking skills, story, surveys, target market, team player

Skills Students Learn

Analyze an example performance
analyze data from a variety of media sources
applying terms
brainstorming
collecting data
creating a model
creative thinking
communicating information through design
deduction

empathy
evaluating alternatives
group brainstorming
group presentation
group work
individual brainstorming
labeling an illustration
listening
logical reasoning

memory recall and matching
presenting ideas
problem solving
processing data from media
self-evaluation
synthesize data
teamwork

Virtual Implementation

Remote live implementation is available for JA It's My Business!

Program Resources

Alignment with State and National Standards

Common Core Standards

For those states that follow common core standards, Junior Achievement’s curricula have been reviewed for alignment with these standards! Learn more by selecting the appropriate grade level below.

Main Correlation and Standards Page

National Standards

While educational standards are determined primarily at the state level, many national standards serve as guidelines for the development of these state standards. See how Junior Achievement curricula align with the national standards listed below.

Main Correlation and Standards Page

State Standards

Junior Achievement curricula are created to align with state standards. To see how our programs align with your state’s standards, explore the options below.

Main Correlation and Standards Page

Scope and Sequence

Junior Achievement learning experiences cover financial literacy, career and work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Our extensive scope and sequence helps explain how our programs cover these subjects at various grade levels.

Main Correlation and Standards Page

Request a Presenter to Teach Curriculum

A Junior Achievement Volunteer teaches students

Junior Achievement lessons are delivered by volunteers from the community. These presenters are prepared by JA to facilitate engaging learning activities that focus on financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship. This results in an enriched learning experience that helps students make the connection between what they learn in school and the world outside the classroom.

Steps to Request a Presenter

1) Request Info

Once you’ve decided to have a JA volunteer in your classroom, fill out the form on this website. You will receive information on next steps.

2) Pick Schedule

You will be able to coordinate a schedule that works for your class either online or in conjunction with a JA representative.

3) Meet Presenter

Once a volunteer is identified for your class, JA will connect you with the presenter to discuss roles, expectations, and logistics.

4) Empower Students with Standards-Based Education

After all details are in place, the JA volunteer will deliver lessons to your students either virtually or in-person.

Request Information about this Learning Experience

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