Topic: Entrepreneurship – Economic Impact

Designed for grades: 11-12 for high school or first-year and sophomore for junior college 

Estimated learner time: 50 minutes total 

Objective: The learner will:

I.1A.8 Assess the impact of entrepreneurship on your local community and its economy

Description: This activity focuses on understanding the importance of entrepreneurship in our economy and evaluating entrepreneurial efforts. It includes three case study activities in which learners examine local entrepreneurial businesses in terms of competition and success/failure.

Special Advice: This could be completed individually or as a partnered activity. Learners will spend time researching answers on the internet or in their textbooks. Consider directing learners to write their answers electronically, and either upload them to the course page or email them to the instructor. 

The instructor could also lead a discussion after learners respond to questions. All questions will have several possible correct answers (see possible answers below), and the discussion could be expanded based on their responses. Likewise, Question 4 could introduce a thought-provoking discussion topic (for example, ask learners if they think it’s important to support local businesses and ask them to explain their answers, or ask what factors are important to them when deciding where to shop or use a particular service).

Grading: Three questions, with equal weight (points or percentage) for each, or distribute the scale however you see fit based upon the weight of the activity in the context of your instruction.