The document outlines Junior Achievement, a nonprofit focused on teaching students about economic concepts such as managing money, entrepreneurship, and the importance of a free market economy. Various lessons include discussions on careers, skills, innovation, and global trade, emphasizing the role of entrepreneurship and resources in business operations. Through activities and interactive discussions, students learn about economic principles, job applications, and the global marketplace.

1. What is Junior Achievement?
A nonprofit dedicated to teaching students about:
• managing money
• working at a job
• owning a business

2. About Me
• Name
• Place of work
• Family
• Hobbies

4. JA Our Nation
Today you will learn about:
• Free market economies
• How pricing guides economic
decisions

5. Free to Choose Your Work
or Business
Lesson One

6. Discussion
• When you think about your future, what are you
most excited about?
• Do you see yourself someday working for a
company or for yourself? Why?

7. Discussion
Name some successful businesses.

8. Goods
Items that can be bought or sold.

9. Services
Work done for others, like haircuts or car repairs.

10. Consumer
Someone who buys goods and services.

11. Producer
Someone who makes goods or provides services
to others.

12. Free Market Economy
A system in which goods and services are bought
and sold freely with little government
interference.
Business are free to compete, set prices, and earn
a profit.

13. Profit
The amount of money left after all business
expenses have been paid.
Businesses rely on profits to hire workers, reward
investors, and expand.

14. Discussion
Name a few things you recently bought at a store.
• Prices guide consumers’ economic decisions.
• Producers respond to consumers’ choices by adjusting
prices.

15. Competition
Rivalry between two or more businesses striving for the
same customer.
Competition is what makes a free market system unique.

16. Activity – Prices
1. Each student will receive two sticky notes.
2. Take two items from your desk and place them on your
desktop.
3. Think about the value of each item. How would you price
it if you were to put it up for sale?
4. Decide on a price for each item and secretly write it on the
sticky notes.
5. When directed, play the sticky notes next to your items.
6. Walk around the room and check out the prices. Make a
mental note of what product you would buy based on its
price. Be ready to explain.

17. Discussion
• Which item would you buy?
• Why would you choose that item over another?
• How might other prices affect your pricing?
• When it comes to pricing, how low can a business go?
What would happen if a business priced an item lower
than it actually paid for it?
• What would happen if there was just one ruler for sale
but a lot of people who wanted it?
• Do you think businesses put a lot of thought into pricing
their goods and services?

18. Free Market Economy
Goods and services are available at an affordable price for
consumers but at a level that lets businesses make a profit
and grow.

19. Review
• Goods and services
• Consumers and producers
• Free market economy
• Profit
• The importance of pricing

20. Next time…
we will learn about entrepreneurship and innovation!

21. Innovation Nation
Lesson Two

22. Today we will learn about…
• Entrepreneurship
• How businesses use resources
• STEM skills
• Innovation

23. Review
• Goods and services
• Producers and consumers
• Free market economy
• Profit
• Why are pricing decisions so important?

24. Discussion
• Do you have an idea for a product or service that
people might want?
• Could your idea become a business?

25. Entrepreneur
What is an entrepreneur?
A person who takes a risk to start a business with
the intent of earning a profit.
Think of a few words that describe an
entrepreneur.

26. Entrepreneurship
What is entrepreneurship?
The innovative thinking needed to start and operate a
business.
A free market system encourages entrepreneurship.

27. Resources
Capital resources – buildings, tools, machines, and
money that businesses use to make products
Human resources – people who need the work a business
needs
Natural resources – things a business needs that occur
naturally, such as air, water, minerals and trees
Businesses make choices everyday based on resource
needs.

29. Resources – A Pencil
Capital resources – the plant or factory where it is made
and the actual tools to create it. Money.
Human resources – the people who work the factory
machines and sell the product.
Natural resources – the trees, graphite, and clay to make
the wood shell, core, and rubber eraser.

30. Skill
Skill: The ability to do something well
Technical Skill Jobs – defined as those related to science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics, called STEM
skills.
Examples of technical skill jobs:
• Chemist
• Doctor
• Computer software engineer
• Construction manager
• Architect
• Statistician

31. Innovation
An improvement of an existing product or method.
Can you think of an example of innovation?

32. Activity - Innovation
Turn to a partner and discuss a product or service that
interests you and then brainstorm a way to improve it.

33. Activity - Innovation
1. Get into 8 groups. Each group will receive an Our
Innovation Nation Topic Card. Read your card as a
group.
2. Develop a plan to improve a new product or service
based on your card.
a. Define the problem
b. Brainstorm a solution
c. Formulate an idea to develop
3. Sketch a design for your new product.
4. If time allows, we will present our innovations.

34. Review
• How do entrepreneurs help consumers?
• What is the reward for many entrepreneurs?
• Businesses need resources to make products. Can you
name the 3 types of resources?
• If you had to explain to someone why STEM skills are
important skills for future jobs, what would you say?
• What small experiment could you do to test your
innovation idea?
You are developing skills in school to help you find a
great job in the future!

35. JA Our Nation
http://educgames.ja.org/jaournation/indexMobile.html

36. Next time…
We will learn about careers and skills!

37. Career Quest
Lesson Three

38. Today we will learn about…
• Careers
• The skills necessary for different careers

39. Review
• Entrepreneurship
• Resources
• STEM Skills
• Innovation

40. Discussion
• Imagine someone asked you to open a new
elementary school. What jobs would be
necessary?
• What skills do you think a fifth-grade teacher
needs?
• What kind of career do you want to learn more
about?

41. High-growth, high-demand jobs
Jobs projected to add large numbers of employees
to the workforce
Many of these jobs require the use of technology.
Technology is the use of machinery, equipment,
and processes.
Technology has changed the way most
businesses operate!

42. Interests
The things you like and enjoy.
You can begin considering the types of careers
that match your interests today!

43. Two-Minute Interview With A Neighbor
Interview Questions
• What interests you? Why do you enjoy it?
• What is something unique about you that most
people don’t know? Do you have a hobby?
• What job do you see yourself doing in the
future?

44. Career Clusters
What is a career cluster?
A grouping of jobs and industries related by skills
or products.
Example: Education and Training jobs include: teacher, principal,
librarian, counselor.

45. Activity – Career Cluster Trading Cards
Career Cluster Trading Cards
1. I will read aloud one of the career cluster titles.
Imagine yourself as a ______.
2. If you may be interested in one of these
careers, stand by me. If you aren’t sure, ask for
more information.
3. I will move on to 3 or 4 more cards. Stand by
the career cards of your choice!

46. Activity – Career Quest
1. Separate into groups of 3-4.
2. Walk with fliers in hand to the closest card.
3. Read the title and information about two career
clusters.
4. Answer the questions found on Page 3 of your
fliers.
5. Continue to other cards.
6. We will share our answers in about 15 minutes!
7. Career ID Bookmark

47. Activity – Discussion
• Which career cluster interested you?
• Which job in that cluster had special appeal?
• Does that job match your interests?
• Will you need a college degree or special
training? How long might that take?

48. Review
• High-growth high-demand jobs
• The effects of technology
• Career clusters
What are three things you are learning in school
today that will help you prepare for a job in the
future?

49. Next time…
We will learn about applying and interviewing for
jobs!

50. Get and Keep the Job!
Lesson Four

51. Today we will learn about…
The necessary skills to apply for jobs!

52. Review
• High-growth high-demand jobs
• The effects of technology
• Career clusters

53. Discussion
• Someone has decided to hire you for a job.
Describe the job and why you are perfect for it.
• How will you prove that you are qualified?
• What are some of the qualifications needed for
jobs that your siblings or friends have?

54. Employees and Employers
Employees: people who work for businesses
Employers: Businesses that hire workers

55. Resume
A written summary of a person’s education, work
experience, and skills.
Job seekers usually present their skills to a
potential employer with a resume.
Look at the simplified resume on Page 1 of
your flier.

56. Soft Skills
Personal attributes and abilities that are needed in
most jobs.
Example: Employee cares about the job, works
well with others, and has integrity and discipline.

57. Communication
A written or spoken exchanges between people to
share information.
Businesses need people with strong
communication skills.

58. Job Interview
A discussion between a potential employee and
employer to help decide if a job is a good match.

59. Job Interview
A discussion between a potential employee and
employer to help decide if a job is a good match.
I will need a volunteer for a job interview
demonstration!

60. Activity – Board Game
1. We will separate into 8 groups.
2. Place game pieces on START. Stack the Get and Keep
the Job! Game Cards on the board.
3. Take turns rolling the die. Player who rolls highest
starts. Play continues clockwise.
4. Record the skills and points gained on Page 2 of your
flier.
5. Follow directions when you land on a Pick a Card
space.
6. Add up the points at the end of play. The player who
collects the most points wins!

61. Review
• Employees and employers
• Resume
• Soft skills and communication
• Job interview

62. Next time…
We will learn about global competition!

63. Global Connections
Lesson Five

64. Today we will learn about…
The global marketplace and competition!

65. Review
• Employees and employers
• Resume
• Soft skills and communication
• Job interview

66. Discussion – Global Marketplace
• 95% of the world’s customers live outside of the
U.S. With the global marketplace in mind, does a
neighborhood bookstore or amazon.com have
more customers? Why?
• What are advantages of a global marketplace to
customers?
• What are the advantages for U.S. businesses?

67. Trade
The process of buying and selling

68. Global Connections Exercise
Open your flier to the world map inside.
Listen to the following statements and find the
countries I mention on your map. Draw a line
from the country to the United States.

69. Global Connections Exercise
Open your flier to the world map inside.
Listen to the following statements and find the
countries I mention on your map. Draw a line
from the country to the United States.

70. Specialization
Choosing to focus on one or a few products
Example: Florida specializes in growing citrus fruits and making
products from those fruits.
Specialization lowers the cost of production and
allows businesses in many countries to buy and
sell with one another.

71. Opportunity Cost
The next best alternative given up when making a
choice.

72. Activity – Mystery Puzzle Cards
1. Each sheet illustrates a single product that
uses resources from six countries
2. Pull out one card. Walk around the room and
search for other students who have a puzzle
card you think matches your own.
3. Once you have discovered your product, stay in
your group and discuss the resources and
countries needed to produce that product.
4. Appoint a spokesperson to share with the
class.

73. Review
Many products we buy use resources from around
the world and different resources come from
different countries.
Using resources from other countries can lower
business costs of making a product and increase
profit.

74. JA Our Nation Review
• Free market economy
• Profit
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• High-growth high-demand jobs
• Resumes and job interviews
• The global marketplace and trading
• Opportunity cost

75. JA Our Nation Review
• Free market economy
• Profit
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• High-growth high-demand jobs
• Resumes and job interviews
• The global marketplace and trading
• Opportunity cost

76. Certificate of Achievement