Shark Tank Entrepreneurship Project PBL | Business Plan Unit Grades 6-8
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Quick overview
The **Shark Tank Entrepreneurship PBL Unit** is a ready-to-teach **Grades 6–8 project-based learning resource** that introduces students to entrepreneurship, career readiness, financial literacy, market research, branding, and persuasive presentation.
Students develop a business idea, identify a target market, conduct market research, analyze basic financial information, create branding, develop a mini business plan, and present a structured **Shark Tank-style business pitch**. The interdisciplinary format connects **math, ELA, business education, communication, and career exploration** through an authentic real-world project.
The approach reflects project-based learning practices that use authentic problems, sustained investigation, creation, and public presentation to deepen content learning. The included communication and presentation work also connects with Common Core Grades 6–8 Speaking and Listening standards, which emphasize collaborative discussion and presenting claims with relevant evidence, reasoning, and details. ([corestandards.org](https://corestandards.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ELA_Standards1.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Product description
💡 Transform your classroom into a dynamic Shark Tank!
This highly engaging, project-based learning (PBL) MEGA unit empowers students in grades 6–8 to ideate, research, brand, and finance their own original business concept, culminating in a live pitch presentation to a panel of "Sharks."
Designed specifically for middle school career readiness, financial literacy, and ELA public speaking standards, this premium resource takes the guesswork out of teaching entrepreneurship. Over 10 fully-scripted lesson plans (perfect for a 2-week sprint OR a 3-week deep dive), your students will move from brainstorming everyday problems to delivering a polished, data-backed business pitch — complete with branding, financials, and a 6-slide pitch storyboard.
100+ printable pages. 20+ tools and rubrics. Zero prep required.
🦈 WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS MEGA UNIT (109 pages total):
📦 Front Matter & Teacher Implementation Guide
Welcome Letter & How-to-Use Guide — Step-by-step setup instructions for creating an immersive "Shark Tank" environment in your classroom Materials & Supplies Checklist — Everything you need to gather before Day 1 Printable Family Letter — Send home on Day 1 so caregivers know what to expect and how to support market-research homework Pacing Calendars — Day-by-day breakdowns for BOTH a 2-week sprint AND a 3-week deep dive Standards & Differentiation — Aligned to CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6-8.4 (Presenting claims), CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6-8.1 (Collaborative discussion), CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.RP.A.3 (Real-world ratio/profit reasoning), CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.RP.A.3 (Percent/markup), CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.SP.B.4/B.5 (Data displays), and 21st Century Career Readiness Skills. Includes specific accommodation strategies for ELL, IEP/504, Gifted/Enrichment, and tech-limited classrooms. 🛠️ Teacher Toolkit
Shark Tank Setup Guide — Physical setup, optional decorations, and "drama-building" touches that cost nothing Guest Shark Invitation Template — Printable letter to invite guest judges (teachers, admins, local business owners, parents) 4 Shark Persona Cards — Ms. Innovation, Mr. Numbers, Ms. Customer, Mr. Brand — each with an investment style and sample questions to ask student pitchers 26-Term Vocabulary Glossary — Entrepreneur, COGS, profit margin, target market, equity, break-even, USP, and more — written at a middle-school reading level 📝 10 Detailed Lesson Plans Each lesson includes an Objective, Essential Question, Materials list, Warm-Up, Direct Instruction, Guided Practice, Independent Practice, Closure, Success Criteria, Common Misconceptions to Watch For, and Differentiation tips:
Lesson 1: Introduction to Entrepreneurship & Problem Identification Lesson 2: Ideation: Finding Your Business Idea Lesson 3: Target Market & Customer Profiles Lesson 4: Market Research & Surveys Lesson 5: Analyzing Research & Product Adaptation Lesson 6: Branding: Name, Logo, & Tagline Lesson 7: Financial Basics: Cost, Price, & Profit (COGS) Lesson 8: The Mini Business Plan: Pulling It Together Lesson 9: Crafting the Pitch & Public Speaking Lesson 10: Shark Tank Pitch Day! 📓 Printable Student Workbook (12 pages) Includes realistic worksheet formatting, lined writing spaces, and graphing grids:
Vocabulary Tracker, Entrepreneur Profile & Problem/Solution Brainstorm Business Concept Worksheet (with viability filters) Target Market Demographics & Customer Avatar Sketch Page Market Research Survey Design & Analysis with Bar Graph Grid Financial Blueprint (Step-by-step COGS, Retail Price, Profit Margin, and Break-Even Challenge tables) Marketing Strategy & Founder's Reflection Journal (mid-unit AND end-of-unit) 🎨 Branding Studio Printables (5 pages)
Brand Identity Blueprint (Name, Tagline, Voice, Mission Statement) Logo Design Pad (Rough draft grids & final design box with logo checklist) Color Palette & Typography Worksheets (with color psychology quick reference) Brand Style Guide Business Card Template (printable, cut-out, fold-ready) 💼 Mini Business Plan Template (7 pages)
6-section structured template (Executive Summary, Problem/Solution, Market Analysis, Research Findings, Branding Identity, Financial Plan) with guided prompts and lined writing spaces, plus a Title Page 🎤 Pitch Slide Storyboard (7 pages)
6 slide templates for students to map out their visual presentation and write their speaking scripts (The Hook, The Problem, The Solution, The Market, The Financials, The Ask), plus a Delivery Cheat Sheet ✅ Evaluations & Rubrics
Pitch Day Self-Checklist for students 5-Category Peer Evaluation Rubric Teacher Shark Tank Scorecard (Out of 40 points with built-in grading scale and narrative feedback section) Pre-Assessment AND Post-Assessment Quizzes (10 questions each — same questions on both so you can measure growth!) Answer Key with full explanations for every question Exit Ticket Compilation — One exit ticket per lesson, printable 2-per-page 🌟 Extensions & Awards
Commercial Storyboard (Enrichment) — 30-second commercial planning template for gifted/early finishers Shark Persona Profiles (Deep Dive) — Research real entrepreneurs (Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Daymond John, and more) Certificate of Achievement — Printable, one per student 6 Superlative Awards — Most Creative, Best Financials, Best Pitch Delivery, Best Branding, Most Improved, People's Choice 🔖 Plus: A clickable Table of Contents (138 internal navigation links) and a heartfelt Thank You + TpT Review Request page at the end of the bundle.
🌟 WHY TEACHERS LOVE THIS RESOURCE:
Low Prep, High Engagement: Everything is laid out step-by-step. Just print the workbooks and teach — substitute-ready!
Real-World Math & ELA: Students naturally apply financial math (profit margins, COGS, break-even analysis) and persuasive public speaking without even realizing they're practicing core standards.
Differentiated by Design: Every lesson plan includes specific modifications for struggling learners, ELL students, IEP/504 students, and gifted/enrichment learners — ensuring every student can successfully launch their business.
Measure Real Growth: Pre- and post-assessment quizzes (with answer key) let you quantify exactly what students learned across the unit — perfect for teacher evaluations and parent conferences.
Premium Aesthetic: Featuring a professional Purple (#3C3489), Teal (#1D9E75), and Cream color palette inspired by the UM Printables brand — with clean, easy-to-read tables, graphic organizers, and consistent header/footer branding on every page. No childish clipart here!
Classroom-Tested Format: Real worksheets with real writing space, graphing grids, survey templates, and fillable tables — designed for actual middle-school handwriting, not just digital viewing.
Perfect for:
Middle school career readiness electives 6th, 7th, and 8th grade ELA (public speaking & persuasive communication units) Middle school math (financial literacy, ratios, percentages, data analysis) CTE / business education classes End-of-year or end-of-quarter PBL capstones Co-taught and inclusive classrooms Homeschool co-ops Grade Levels: 6, 7, 8 Subjects: Career & Technical Education, Business, ELA (Speaking & Listening), Math (Ratios & Proportions), Life Skills Duration: 2–3 weeks (10 lessons @ 50 minutes each) Format: PDF, 109 pages, print-and-go
© UM Printables. For Single Classroom Use Only. Reproduction, redistribution, or commercial use is strictly prohibited.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's included in this resource?
This resource contains 41 pages of ready-to-print materials. It is answer keys, differentiated, visual supports.
Is this resource differentiated?
Yes, this resource includes differentiated or scaffolded versions to support diverse learners at different readiness levels.
Who is this resource perfect for?
This resource is perfect for: a 2-week sprint OR a 3-week deep dive), your students will move from brainstorming everyday problems to delivering a polished, data-backed business pitch — complete with branding, financials, and a 6-slide pitch storyboard..
