| Full lesson | Create for a teacher a set of content for giving a lesson, beginning with the lesson plan. Each new block of materials must begin with an H1 heading (other subheaders must be H2, H3, etc). When you describe required pictures, write those descriptions in curly brackets, for example: {A picture of a triangle} |
| Which subject | English |
| What topic | Dragon’s Den |
| What length (min) | 40 |
| What age group | Year or Grade 7 |
| Class size | 6 |
| What curriculum | English |
| Include full script | |
| Check previous homework | |
| Ask some students to presents their homework | |
| Add a physical break | |
| Add group activities | |
| Include homework | |
| Show correct answers | |
| Prepare slide templates | |
| Number of slides | 5 |
| Create fill-in cards for students | |
| Create creative backup tasks for unexpected moments |
English
Dragon’s Den
Year 7
40 minutes
6
| Step Number | Step Title | Length (minutes) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | 5 | Briefly introduce the topic of Dragon’s Den and explain the objectives of the lesson. Discuss what makes a strong pitch. |
| 2 | Vocabulary Introduction | 5 | Introduce key vocabulary related to business terms (e.g., entrepreneur, investment, revenue) which will be useful for the pitches. |
| 3 | Group Formation & Role Assignment | 5 | Divide students into pairs or small groups, assigning roles (pitchers and investors) for the upcoming activities. |
| 4 | Printable Card Distribution | 5 | Hand out printable cards to each student. Explain how they should use them to outline their pitch ideas. |
| 5 | Pitch Preparation | 10 | Allow students time to prepare their pitches using the cards. Encourage them to think critically about their business ideas. |
| 6 | Pitch Presentations | 5 | Each group presents their pitch to the rest of the class. The other students act as investors, asking questions. |
| 7 | Collection and Feedback Gathering | 5 | Randomly check or collect the printable cards filled in by students to assess their understanding. Provide individual written feedback on their ideas. |
| 8 | Wrap-Up | 5 | Summarise key points from the activity, highlight strengths in student pitches, and discuss the importance of effective communication in business. |
"Good morning, everyone! Today, we’re going to explore the exciting world of business through a simulated activity called ‘Dragon’s Den’. Our main objectives for the lesson are to develop your persuasive speaking and listening skills, enhance your vocabulary related to business and negotiation, and promote teamwork.
Now, let's take a moment to think about what makes a strong pitch. Can anyone share what they think might be important when trying to persuade someone to invest in an idea?"
(Allow for a brief discussion)
"Great thoughts! We'll be using those ideas throughout the lesson."
"Next, let’s dive into some key vocabulary that will be essential for your pitches today. These terms include:
I’ll write these words on the whiteboard. Please take notes, as you’ll need to use these terms in your pitches!"
(Write the vocabulary on the whiteboard and give students a moment to copy them down)
"Now, it’s time to get you all working together! I’ll divide you into pairs or small groups, and you’ll take on two roles: ‘pitchers’ and ‘investors’.
Pitchers will come up with a business idea to present, while investors will listen to the pitches and ask questions.
Let’s form our groups now! I’ll call out your names, and you can find your partner."
(Organise students into groups)
"Each of you will receive a printable card. This card is for outlining your pitch ideas.
On one side, you’ll write down your business idea, and on the other, you should include key points you want to cover during your pitch.
Make sure you use the vocabulary we just discussed. Here you go!"
(Hand out the printable cards)
"You now have 10 minutes to prepare your pitches. Use your cards to help lay out your ideas clearly and think critically about your business.
Remember, as pitchers, it’s important to be persuasive! Investors, while your peers are preparing, think of some questions you could ask them about their ideas."
(Give students time to work on their pitches)
"Time's up! Now we’ll move on to the presentations. Each group will come up and pitch their business idea to the rest of the class.
When it’s your turn as investors, listen carefully and think of any questions you’d like to ask after each pitch. Let’s start with the first group!"
(Allow students to present their pitches and facilitate the Q&A session afterward)
"Thank you for those fantastic pitches! I will now collect your printable cards.
I’ll take a look at what you’ve written and provide you with some individual feedback focusing on your use of vocabulary and the clarity of your ideas.
Please don’t hesitate to ask me any questions if you’d like."
(Collect the cards and provide written feedback)
"To wrap up our lesson today, let’s recap some of the key points we discussed. What were some strengths you noticed in your classmates' pitches?
(Invite a few comments)
"Excellent points! Remember that effective communication is crucial in business, not just for selling ideas but also for teamwork. I’m really proud of how well you all collaborated today.
For your homework, please write a brief reflection on what you learned from your peers’ pitches and how you think you can improve your own in the future.
Thank you all for participating! See you next lesson!"
| Slide Number | Image | Slide Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | {Image: A classroom with students} | - Welcome to the lesson! |
| - Introduction to ‘Dragon’s Den’ activity. | ||
| - Objectives: | ||
| - Develop persuasive speaking and listening skills. | ||
| - Enhance vocabulary on business and negotiation. | ||
| - Promote teamwork. | ||
| 2 | {Image: A whiteboard with vocabulary} | - Key Vocabulary for today: |
| - Entrepreneur: Starts and manages a business. | ||
| - Investment: Money put into a project/business for profit expectation. | ||
| - Revenue: Income generated from business activities. | ||
| 3 | {Image: Students in groups} | - Group Formation for ‘Dragon’s Den’. |
| - Roles: | ||
| - Pitchers: Present business ideas. | ||
| - Investors: Listen and ask questions. | ||
| - Form your groups now! | ||
| 4 | {Image: Printable card with notes} | - Printable Card Distribution. |
| - Outline pitch ideas: | ||
| - One side: Business idea. | ||
| - Other side: Key points for your pitch. | ||
| - Use the vocabulary discussed! | ||
| 5 | {Image: Students presenting} | - Pitch Preparation Time: 10 minutes. |
| - Pitchers: Be persuasive! | ||
| - Investors: Think of questions to ask! | ||
| - Let’s prepare! | ||
| 6 | {Image: Students engaging in Q&A} | - Pitch Presentations: |
| - Groups present their business ideas to the class. | ||
| - Investors: Listen and prepare questions for post-pitch discussion. | ||
| 7 | {Image: Teacher collecting cards} | - Collection and Feedback Gathering: |
| - Collect printable cards. | ||
| - Provide feedback on vocabulary and clarity of ideas. | ||
| 8 | {Image: Classroom discussion} | - Wrap-Up Discussion: |
| - Key points from pitches. | ||
| - Importance of effective communication. | ||
| - Homework: Reflect on learnings and areas of improvement for future pitches. |
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is an entrepreneur? | |
| How does an investment differ from revenue? | |
| Why is it important to use persuasive language when pitching a business idea? | |
| What are some key elements that make a strong pitch? | |
| How can teamwork enhance the quality of a business pitch? | |
| What types of questions should investors consider asking after a pitch? | |
| Can you identify a business idea that you believe could attract investment? | |
| Why is it essential to listen carefully during a pitch presentation? | |
| What vocabulary did you find most useful during the pitch preparation? | |
| How can you improve your pitch based on the feedback received from your peers? |
What qualities do you think a successful entrepreneur needs to possess, and why are they important in business?
Can you explain how you would differentiate your business idea from a competitor's in a real-world scenario?
How would you approach an investor who seems hesitant to support your business idea? What strategies would you use to persuade them?
Reflecting on your pitch preparation, which key vocabulary terms did you find most helpful, and how did you incorporate them into your pitch?
If you were an investor, what criteria would you use to evaluate a business idea, and why would those criteria be significant for making an investment decision?