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 SAE Lesson PlansThe Filing Cabinet - Lesson 4

Unit: Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Programs

Lesson: Being the Boss: Entrepreneurship (Lesson 4)

Objectives:

At the end of the class the learner will be able to:
  1. Describe what is meant by Entrepreneurship.

2. List three characteristics of entrepreneurship.

3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being an entrepreneur.

4. Discuss the National FFA Agri-Entrepreneurship Program.

5. Identify possible entrepreneurship opportunities in the local community.
 

 References and Teaching Aids: 1. Computer with PowerPoint 97 and a projection device or an overhead projector.

2. "Entrepreneurship" PowerPoint 97 presentation (entrepreneurship.ppt)

3. The Entrepreneur Assessment Inventory worksheet

4. Going from Hired Hand to Boss Word Ladder activity sheet. 

5. Record keeping pages for Entrepreneurship that your state uses.

6. VCR 

7. Video Tape "Being the Boss" (this video was produced by the National Council for Agricultural Education in cooperation with the National FFA)

8. Entrepreneur word puzzle activity sheet.
 

 Teaching Procedure:
 A. Interest Approach:
Get two small blocks of wood (2 x 4s about 2-3 inches long are good) and a plastic insect (or small picture of a bug). Get a lunch size paper bag and write "Sure-Fire Bug Eliminator" on it. Put the wood and bug inside the bag. When the class starts ask the students if any of them have roaches at home, or flies, or other bothersome insects. Excitedly tell the class you have developed the greatest bug eliminator ever and show them the bag. Make great claims about your new product (doesn't hurt the environment, eliminates only bad bugs, 100% results if directions are followed, etc.) Ask the class how much they would be willing to pay. Try to get students to bid on the product. Play on their curiosity. After an appropriate amount of time, reveal what is inside the sack and demonstrate how it works it by placing the bug on one block of wood and slamming the other block of wood on top of the bug. Tell the class you are trying to start your own business and thought this might be a good product to sell. 
    Ask the class:
    1. "What do we call people who start their own businesses?"
    2. "What are the advantages and disadvanteges of being your own boss?"
B. Problem Statement: (to be written on the board or overhead)
  "What is an entreprenuer and what are the benefits of being an entrepreneur?"


C. Teaching Steps:

 
1. After the interest approach write the word Entrepreneur on the board and ask students to define the word.

2. Divide the class into small groups of 2-3 and have them make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of being an entrepreneur. Give them about 5 minutes.

3. Have the groups report their results and write these on the board.

  4. Show the PowerPoint presentation (or transparencies) on "Entrepreneurship"

5. Show the video "You're the Boss" and discuss.

6. Ask the students if they have the "stuff" needed to be an entrepreneur. Administer the Entrepreneur Needs Inventory and discuss the results with the students.

7. Ask the students to identify possible Entrepreneurship opportunities they have. List these on the board and discuss.

  8. Distribute the type of entrepreneurship record keeping pages used in your state. Explain how the records are to be kept. If you state does not have a SAE record book, record books that match these lessons (The North Carolina SAE Record Book) can be ordered from Dr. Jim Flowers at North Carolina State. Contact him for more information at jim_flowers@ncsu.edu   D. Review:  
1. Pass out the Going From Hired Hand to Boss Word Ladder activity sheet. Have students see if they can change the word Hand to Boss by changing one letter at a time (the shortest solution takes 3 steps). Emphasize that there are several steps on the ladder to becoming a successful entrepreneur and review the 3 characteristics of entreprenuership. (Here is one solution to the word ladder activity)

2. If additional time is available, use the Entrepreneur Activity Sheet. Students are to take the word "Entrepreneur" and see how many 3 letter words or bigger they can make from the letters in the word. Emphasize that entrepreneurs look at things differently and ofter create new things from existing items, similar to what the students are doing in this activity. Over 60 words can be extracted from Entrepreneur.

 
 
  • Additional Background Information for the Teacher
    • The National FFA Organization web site has information about the Agri-Entreprenuer Awards Competition. 
    • The following web sites provide valuable information about entrepreneurship.