Lesson Plan - I Run My Own Company

Learning Objective

Students will meet a 12-year-old who launched a business selling STEM products.

Content-Area Connections

Social Studies, Economics

Standards Correlations

CCSS: RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, RI.3.4, RI.3.5, RI.3.7, RI.3.8, RI.3.10

NCSS: Production, Distribution, and Consumption

TEKS: Social Studies 3.6

Text Structure

Description, Sequence

1. Preparing to Read

Watch the Video
Before reading, watch the video “Meet Ava, the Business Whiz.” Discuss: What are some of the secrets to Ava’s success?
Meet Ava, the Business Whiz
Watch a video to hear from Ava about running a business.

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

  • entrepreneur
  • promote


Set a Purpose for Reading

As students read, have them think about what it takes to run a successful company.


2. Close-Reading Questions

1. What is the section “Facing Challenges” mostly about?
The section “Facing Challenges” is mostly about how Ava used to struggle in school. She has a condition called dyslexia, which can make it harder to read, write, and do math. 
(RI.3.2 Main Idea and Key Details)

2. According to the article, what kinds of information can you find in a business plan?
According to the article, a business plan includes information like the products a business will sell, how much each one will cost, and how the products will be sold.
(RI.3.2 Main Idea and Key Details)

3. What does Ava mean when she says to “price it right” when you are selling a product?
When Ava says to “price it right,” she means that kids should think carefully about pricing. The article explains that “your business will fail if the amount you charge isn’t higher than your costs.” 
(RI.3.1 Text Evidence)

3. Skill Building

FEATURED SKILL: Economics, Reading a Chart
Use the skill builder “Supply and Demand” to introduce these principles to students and to show how they can affect prices. 
(RI.3.5 Text Features)

Text-to-Speech