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💼 Weeks 20-23: Social Entrepreneurship

Unit Overview
Grade Level Grades 5-6
Duration 4 sessions (45 min each)
Curriculum Year B
STREAM Focus E (Engineering), T (Tech), M (Math), R (Religion)

Weeks 20-23: Social Entrepreneurship

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Identify social problems suitable for business solutions 2. Develop a social enterprise concept 3. Create business plans with social impact 4. Present and pitch social ventures

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Apply Catholic Social Teaching to business 2. See entrepreneurship as service 3. Balance profit and purpose

Weeks 20-23: Social Entrepreneurship

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Catholic Social Teaching — Business should serve the common good, not just profit. Key principles include human dignity, solidarity, subsidiarity, and the preferential option for the poor. Social entrepreneurs use business to advance these values.

Scripture Connection

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?" — James 2:14

Saint Connection

Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati — Young Italian who used his family's wealth to serve the poor. He gave away his possessions and organized charity work. He showed that resources are meant to be shared. "Charity is not enough; we need social reform."

📚 Materials Needed

  • Social problem cards

  • Business model canvas templates

  • Financial planning worksheets

  • Pitch presentation templates

  • Catholic Social Teaching summaries

  • Research materials

📝 Week 20 Procedure: Social Problems & CST (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Lord, help us see the world's problems as opportunities to serve. Give us creative minds and compassionate hearts. Bl. Pier Giorgio, inspire us to use our gifts for others. Amen."

What is Social Entrepreneurship? (10 min)

Business for good:

Definition: Social entrepreneurship = Using business strategies to solve social problems

Traditional business: Maximize profit Social enterprise: Maximize impact (sustainable profit enables mission)

Examples:

  • TOMS Shoes — Buy one, give one model

  • Warby Parker — Affordable glasses, vision care for poor

  • Grameen Bank — Microloans for the poor

  • Newman's Own — 100% profits to charity

Bl. Pier Giorgio connection:

  • Gave away bus fare, walked home

  • Organized groups to serve poor

  • Believed in structural change, not just charity

  • "Everything I own belongs to God"

Catholic Social Teaching (12 min)

Principles for business:

1. Human Dignity

  • Every person has inherent worth

  • Business should respect ALL stakeholders

  • Not just customers — workers, communities, environment

2. Common Good

  • Actions should benefit everyone

  • Not just shareholders

  • Consider society broadly

3. Solidarity

  • We are one human family

  • Rich and poor connected

  • Business bridges divides

4. Subsidiarity

  • Decisions made at lowest appropriate level

  • Empower local solutions

  • Support communities to solve own problems

5. Preferential Option for the Poor

  • Prioritize the vulnerable

  • Who is left out? Include them

  • Judge success by impact on poorest

Discussion:

  • "How do traditional businesses sometimes violate these?"

  • "How could business BE the solution?"

Social Problem Identification (18 min)

Finding problems worth solving:

Problem areas:

  • Poverty and hunger

  • Education access

  • Health disparities

  • Environmental degradation

  • Social isolation

  • Housing insecurity

Problem analysis worksheet:

  • What is the problem?

  • Who is affected?

  • What causes it?

  • What solutions exist?

  • What's missing?

  • Could business help?

Groups research:

  • Choose problem area

  • Understand scope

  • Identify affected population

  • Brainstorm business approaches

Closing (3 min)

Homework:

  • Research your problem more deeply

  • Find examples of social enterprises addressing it

  • Come with ideas for solutions

Closing Prayer: "Lord, open our eyes to see those in need. Give us wisdom to find solutions and courage to act. Bl. Pier Giorgio, pray for generous hearts! Amen."

📝 Week 21 Procedure: Business Model Development (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Lord, help us design businesses that serve Your people. Guide our creativity today. Amen."

Share Problem Research (8 min)

Quick updates:

  • What did you learn about your problem?

  • What social enterprises address it?

  • What approaches seem promising?

Business Model Canvas (25 min)

Designing your social enterprise:

Business Model Canvas adapted for social enterprise:

1. Value Proposition

  • What problem do you solve?

  • What value do you create?

  • Social impact AND customer benefit

2. Customer Segments

  • Who pays for your product/service?

  • Who benefits from your impact?

  • (Sometimes different!)

3. Channels

  • How do you reach customers?

  • How do you deliver impact?

4. Customer Relationships

  • How do you connect with customers?

  • How do you build community?

5. Revenue Streams

  • How do you make money?

  • Sustainable model for continued impact

6. Key Resources

  • What do you need to operate?

  • Skills, materials, partners

7. Key Activities

  • What must you do well?

  • Core operations

8. Key Partners

  • Who helps you succeed?

  • Suppliers, nonprofits, government

9. Cost Structure

  • What does it cost to operate?

  • Keep costs low for more impact

10. Social Impact

  • What change do you create?

  • How do you measure it?

Teams complete canvas:

  • Fill in each section

  • Be specific

  • Consider feasibility

Financial Basics (8 min)

Simple economics:

Key concepts:

  • Revenue — Money coming in

  • Costs — Money going out

  • Profit — Revenue minus costs

  • Break-even — Costs equal revenue

  • Reinvestment — Profit used for mission

Simple projections:

  • How much can you charge?

  • How many customers?

  • What are costs?

  • What's left for impact?

Closing (2 min)

Next steps:

  • Refine business model

  • Research costs and pricing

  • Prepare to build prototype/presentation

Closing Prayer: "Thank You for creative ideas, Lord! Help us develop them into real solutions. Amen."

📝 Week 22 Procedure: Prototype & Impact Plan (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Lord, help us make our ideas real. Guide our hands and hearts. Amen."

Prototype Development (25 min)

Make it tangible:

Options:

  • Product sample/mockup

  • Website/app mockup

  • Marketing materials

  • Service demonstration

  • Video pitch concept

Requirements:

  • Show what customer receives

  • Demonstrate how impact happens

  • Be professional quality

  • Reflect your values

Create:

  • Build your prototype

  • Test with partners

  • Refine based on feedback

Impact Measurement (10 min)

How do you know you're making a difference?

Theory of change:

  • If we do X → then Y happens → leading to Z impact

Metrics to track:

  • Output — What you produce (meals served, items sold)

  • Outcome — Changes caused (hunger reduced, jobs created)

  • Impact — Long-term difference (community thriving)

Create impact plan:

  • What will you measure?

  • How will you collect data?

  • What's your goal for Year 1?

  • How will you report to stakeholders?

Pitch Preparation (6 min)

Getting ready to present:

Pitch structure: 1. Problem (30 sec) — What's broken? 2. Solution (30 sec) — Your approach 3. Business model (1 min) — How it works 4. Impact (30 sec) — Difference you make 5. Ask (30 sec) — What you need

Practice elements:

  • Clear, passionate delivery

  • Visual aids

  • Know your numbers

  • Answer questions

Closing (2 min)

Homework:

  • Perfect your pitch

  • Practice presenting

  • Prepare for questions

Closing Prayer: "Thank You for progress! Help us share our vision effectively. Amen."

📝 Week 23 Procedure: Pitch Day (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Lord, bless our presentations! Help us communicate our vision clearly. May our ideas inspire others to serve. Amen."

Final Preparation (5 min)

Last minute polish:

  • Review pitch

  • Check materials

  • Calm nerves

  • Support each other

Pitch Presentations (30 min)

Each team presents (5-6 min):

Pitch format: 1. Hook/Problem (30 sec) 2. Solution overview (30 sec) 3. How it works (1 min) 4. Business model (1 min) 5. Impact/CST connection (1 min) 6. Ask/Next steps (30 sec) 7. Q&A (1 min)

Audience role:

  • Listen actively

  • Note strengths

  • Ask thoughtful questions

  • Consider: Would you support this?

Evaluation criteria:

  • Problem clarity

  • Solution viability

  • Business sustainability

  • Social impact

  • Faith integration

  • Presentation quality

Feedback & Awards (6 min)

Recognition:

  • Most Innovative Solution

  • Greatest Social Impact

  • Best Business Model

  • Best Presentation

  • Most Aligned with CST

  • People's Choice

Constructive feedback:

  • Each team receives written feedback

  • Strengths to build on

  • Areas for improvement

Reflection (2 min)

Discussion:

  • "What did you learn about social entrepreneurship?"

  • "How does CST inform business?"

  • "Could your venture become real?"

Next steps:

  • Some ventures could enter competitions

  • Some could launch at school

  • All are learning experiences

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, Lord, for the gift of creativity for service! Thank You for teaching us that business can be ministry. Bl. Pier Giorgio, inspire us to always use our resources for others. Help us become entrepreneurs who build Your Kingdom. May our work bring justice, dignity, and hope! Amen."

📎 Home Connection

"We completed a Social Entrepreneurship unit! Ask your child: 'What social enterprise did you create?' 'What problem does it solve?' 'How does it make money AND make impact?' 'What Catholic Social Teaching does it reflect?' Discuss businesses your family supports — do they align with your values?"

✅ Assessment

  • Identified genuine social problem

  • Developed viable business model

  • Created prototype/presentation materials

  • Connected venture to Catholic Social Teaching

Lesson Version: 1.0 — Year B | **