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JA Be Entrepreneurial® (Creative Problem Solving)

JA Be Entrepreneurial curriculum cover

High 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 Be Entrepreneurial® is a reimagined, modular learning experience that teaches students about the mindset and the skills needed for success by aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators who add value to any organization. Students completing all three modules use Design Thinking, a problem-solving approach, to create business ideas. Students also learn to transform their ideas into concise, effective, and actionable one-page business plans.

In the JA Creative Problem Solving module, students learn and apply design thinking, an innovative process for problem solving used by entrepreneurs (and intrapreneurs) to brainstorm customer-centric ideas. This process focuses on the user needs and experience through the creation of empathy models, problem statements, high-level solutions, prototypes, and testing plans in order to validate a design solution.

Following participation in the learning experience, students will be able to:

-- Describe the Design Thinking model and the steps involved in the process.
-- Demonstrate how to write a short, clear problem statement that reflects the problem to be solved.
-- Construct a prototype based on a problem statement and a brainstormed solution to the problem.
-- Develop a testing plan for a given product and target audience.

JA Be Entrepreneurial is part of the JA Entrepreneurship Pathway and is recommended for high school students (grades 9-12). This learning experience offers flexible implementation options to meet the needs of students and teachers in a variety of use cases. JA Be Entrepreneurial is available as a classroom based, remote live, or afterschool experience.

Modules can be offered together or as stand-alone experiences to meet the diverse needs of educators and students. Each module offers a culminating, self-guided project for students to create an artifact that allows them to apply what they have learned.

Participating students will have the opportunity to compete in a national competition, JA Social Innovation Challenge, which provides a platform for them to share their innovative ideas for improving their communities and to compete for national honors.

JA teachers and volunteers are encouraged, as part of this learning experience, to utilize the resources available in JA Connect®, located at connect.ja.org. This self-guided experience includes interactives, JA Here to Career, and apps for student use.

JA Learning Experiences support national and state standards in reading, mathematics, social studies, work and career readiness. Find more information about this under Alignment with State and National Standards.

Virtual Implementation

Remote live implementation is available for JA Be Entrepreneurial.

Program Resources

Related Program Supplements

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

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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