Educator toolkit
Run Launch League in 6 classes.
A practical plan that takes a class from a first idea to a submitted competition entry — lesson plans, slides, worksheets, marking, and every Ontario expectation in BEM1O, BEP2O and Career Studies marked covered, partly covered or not. Free, and yours to copy for classroom use.
Start here
Everything for Monday
Pick a class. You get the lesson plan — minute by minute, with a hook to read out, five minutes of prep and what to do when it goes sideways — and a set of slides to project. Nothing to write, nothing to build.
Class 1
Problems & business ideas
Students find a real problem worth solving — before anyone talks about solutions.
Class 2
Customers & validation
Students define one specific customer and test whether the problem is real.
Class 3
Offer, pricing & revenue
Students build an offer and a reasoned price, not a guess.
Class 4
Marketing & sales
Students choose how customers will find them and map the path to a sale.
Class 5
Business plan & numbers
Students calculate the economics of one sale and pull everything into a one-page plan.
Class 6
Pitch & submission
Students build and record their pitch and submit a complete competition entry.
Teaching a whole course?
Ontario put entrepreneurship in Grade 9 and Grade 10, revised Career Studies and added a financial literacy graduation requirement. The six classes don't reach every expectation in those courses, so these four do the rest: real entrepreneurs, how markets work, money in both directions, and being responsible for someone else. Each has the same lesson plan and slides as the others.
Extension class 7
Entrepreneurs around us
Students research a real entrepreneur — ideally a local one — and name what made it hard and what helped.
Extension class 8
How markets work
Students explain why prices move, who else is in their market, and which rules apply to them.
Extension class 9
Money: the business's and yours
Students keep the business's money separate from their own, and understand borrowing, interest, tax and the scams aimed at new businesses.
Extension class 10
Leading and managing people
Students can lead one other person clearly and fairly, and know what they owe anyone who works for them.
The paperwork
- Ontario's business requirements, and what we coverThe new Grade 9 and 10 business courses, the revised Career Studies and the financial literacy graduation requirement — then every specific expectation in BEM1O, BEP2O and GLC2O marked covered, partly covered or not covered, with where.
- Assessment rubric and marking sheetThe one-page plan and the work behind it, assessed in the Ontario achievement chart's four categories at four levels, plus a quick per-module check and a marking sheet you can hand back.
- Ontario curriculum alignmentEvery class against the Ontario business studies courses it supports — by expectation code for BEM1O and BEP2O, by strand and overall expectation for the 2006 Grade 11 and 12 courses, which have no codes — with the evidence each class produces and an honest list of what this program does not cover.
- Curriculum alignment: Launch Sprint and Summer CompanyWhat a student actually starting a business gives you evidence of — every Launch Sprint stage against real Ontario expectations, by code for BEM1O and BEP2O and by strand for the 2006 Grade 11 and 12 courses — plus Summer Company, and an honest list of what neither covers.
- Co-op: requirements and curriculumOntario's cooperative education requirements on one sheet — age, hours, the Work Education Agreement, the learning plan, health and safety, monitoring — with every expectation in the 2018 curriculum marked covered, partly covered or not, and the plain-language version students actually read.
- SHSM: the five components, and what we can put towards themEvery Specialist High Skills Major component with its real requirement — the bundle of 9 for Business, the 4 compulsory and 2 elective certifications, experiential learning, reach ahead, and the sector-partnered experience — plus a ready-to-run six-hour ICE SPE, its self-assessment, and which award each of the 19 sectors would enter.
- OYAP and dual credits: requirements, and where we fitWhat OYAP and dual credits actually require — age and credits, how OYAP credits are earned through co-op, Registered Training Agreements, OYAP-FAST, the two dual credit categories and the four-credit cap — with a straight answer on what Launch League can and cannot put towards them.
- The 40 hours: what counts, and what doesn'tPPM 124 on one sheet — who approves, who verifies, when students can start, and all fourteen ineligible activities in the ministry's words with a plain version beside each — plus a straight answer to whether Launch League work counts (mostly no) and community projects that are the right shape to be approved.
- The financial literacy requirement: rules and practiceOntario's Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement on one sheet — who, when, the 70% and two attempts, what happens after two attempts, the transition exemptions — plus the seven areas TVO lists, each with a plain explanation, a worked example and a practice question with the answer, and where it sits in MTH1W and Career Studies.
- Letter home and permission slipA one-page letter a parent can read in ninety seconds — what the program is, what it costs, the account and consent, who sees the work, and how they can help — with a tear-off permission slip.
- Class trackerOne grid for the whole class: every student against the six classes, the plan and the entry.
The plan
The six classes
Each class maps to Business 101 and ends with something students have made. Timings are yours — run it over six periods, or stretch it across a unit.
Class 1: Problems & business ideas
Business 101: Find Something Worth Solving
Students find a real problem worth solving — before anyone talks about solutions.
Before class
Students read Business 101, Module 1.
In class
- Warm-up: problems students noticed this week (home, school, part-time job, community).
- Teach: pain, frequency and what people already do about it.
- Practice: turn a solution ("an app for…") back into the problem underneath it.
- Plan interviews: who will each student talk to, and what will they ask? Approve each list: people students know or adults at school, in public or supervised settings, and no sharing of personal contact details.
How to run it
The lesson is the interview, not the idea. Run one interview live at the front: you play a parent, a student asks the two questions, and the class notices how much comes out of "tell me about the last time". Approve every interview list before students leave the room.
Students leave with
A draft problem statement and a list of five people to interview, approved by the teacher.
Class 2: Customers & validation
Business 101: Know Who You're Building For
Students define one specific customer and test whether the problem is real.
Before class
Students complete at least five customer conversations (with the people you approved) and Module 2.
In class
- Share-out: the most surprising thing a customer said.
- Teach: one primary customer, their alternatives, and positioning.
- Validate: sort evidence into 'confirms', 'challenges' and 'unclear'.
- Revise the problem statement based on what they heard.
How to run it
Run a "too big / just right" round: a student reads their customer description, and the class votes on whether you could go and find that person today. Two rounds of narrowing fixes most of the class.
Students leave with
A customer definition and a validation summary.
Class 3: Offer, pricing & revenue
Business 101: Build an Offer People Want to Buy
Students build an offer and a reasoned price, not a guess.
Before class
Students read Module 3.
In class
- Teach: an offer is more than a product — packaging, speed, risk, what happens next.
- Compare: one-time vs recurring revenue for their idea.
- Price it: cost to deliver, what the alternative costs, what the result is worth.
- Peer review: would you say yes? Why not?
How to run it
Do a price defence round. Each student says their price and one sentence for why. The class can only ask one question: "compared to what?" Students who can't answer it go back to alternatives from Module 2.
Students leave with
A one-page offer with a price and the reasoning behind it.
Class 4: Marketing & sales
Business 101: Get Attention & Find Your First Customers, Sell, Deliver & Earn Trust
Students choose how customers will find them and map the path to a sale.
Before class
Students read Modules 4 and 5.
In class
- Teach: channels — outreach, partnerships, referrals, content, search.
- Choose two channels and justify them for their customer.
- Map the journey: attention → lead → conversation → sale → delivery → review → referral.
- Role-play: asking for the business.
How to run it
Make the real action happen in class: 10 minutes to write the message or poster, then send or post it before they leave (with your approval on who it goes to). Results in the next class are far more interesting than plans.
Role-play in pairs, three minutes each way: one is the customer with a real objection ("it's too much"), the other has to listen first and then ask for the sale. Most students discover they've never said the asking sentence out loud before.
Students leave with
A customer-acquisition plan and a customer journey map.
Class 5: Business plan & numbers
Business 101: Know Your Numbers, Build a Business That Can Grow
Students calculate the economics of one sale and pull everything into a one-page plan.
Before class
Students read Modules 6 and 7.
In class
- Worked example: price, variable costs, gross profit, margin, break-even.
- Students run the numbers for their own business.
- Set a 90-day priority and three numbers to track.
- Draft the one-page business plan (the free builder prefills from Business 101 answers).
How to run it
Do the phone-case example on the board first, then have students do theirs on paper before typing. The most common fix is missing costs: go around the room and have the class add one forgotten cost to each other's lists.
Checklist swap: students trade written processes and try to follow someone else's without asking questions. Every missing step gets found in about four minutes, and the point about writing things down lands on its own.
Students leave with
Unit economics and a one-page business plan.
Class 6: Pitch & submission
Business 101: Tell the Story & Pitch It
Students build and record their pitch and submit a complete competition entry.
Before class
Students read Module 8 and draft a 60-second pitch.
In class
- Teach: customer-first story — problem, solution, evidence, how it works, numbers, the ask.
- Rehearse in pairs; each listener names the one unclear part.
- Record the three videos (a phone is fine).
- Check every entry against the submission checklist before submitting.
How to run it
Two rounds of 30 seconds with a timer. After round one, the listener may only say what they didn't understand. Students rewrite for five minutes, then go again. The improvement between rounds is the lesson.
Students leave with
A recorded pitch and a submitted competition entry.
Printables
Worksheets and guides
For you
Free with a free account. Sign in to open or print anything below.
- Teacher quick-start guideEverything you need to run Launch League with a class, on one page.
- Run Launch League in 6 classesA class-by-class plan mapped to Business 101, ending in a submitted entry.
- Judging rubricThe published 100-point rubric judges score against, with what each line is really asking in plain words.
A pack for every module
One printable sheet per Business 101 module: the lesson in plain words, the words to define, how to run the class, what students go and do, examples to read out, what usually goes wrong, the writing prompts and an exit ticket.
All 8 teacher packsEvery module, in order, ready to print as one booklet.- Module 1 teacher pack: Find Something Worth SolvingEverything for Module 1 in one sheet: the lesson in plain words, the vocabulary, how to run the class, what students do, examples, common mistakes, the writing prompts and an exit ticket.
- Module 2 teacher pack: Know Who You're Building ForEverything for Module 2 in one sheet: the lesson in plain words, the vocabulary, how to run the class, what students do, examples, common mistakes, the writing prompts and an exit ticket.
- Module 3 teacher pack: Build an Offer People Want to BuyEverything for Module 3 in one sheet: the lesson in plain words, the vocabulary, how to run the class, what students do, examples, common mistakes, the writing prompts and an exit ticket.
- Module 4 teacher pack: Get Attention & Find Your First CustomersEverything for Module 4 in one sheet: the lesson in plain words, the vocabulary, how to run the class, what students do, examples, common mistakes, the writing prompts and an exit ticket.
- Module 5 teacher pack: Sell, Deliver & Earn TrustEverything for Module 5 in one sheet: the lesson in plain words, the vocabulary, how to run the class, what students do, examples, common mistakes, the writing prompts and an exit ticket.
- Module 6 teacher pack: Know Your NumbersEverything for Module 6 in one sheet: the lesson in plain words, the vocabulary, how to run the class, what students do, examples, common mistakes, the writing prompts and an exit ticket.
- Module 7 teacher pack: Build a Business That Can GrowEverything for Module 7 in one sheet: the lesson in plain words, the vocabulary, how to run the class, what students do, examples, common mistakes, the writing prompts and an exit ticket.
- Module 8 teacher pack: Tell the Story & Pitch ItEverything for Module 8 in one sheet: the lesson in plain words, the vocabulary, how to run the class, what students do, examples, common mistakes, the writing prompts and an exit ticket.
After the plan: the Launch Sprint
For students who keep going and actually start the business. One sheet per stage, including plain-English help for registration, HST, insurance and the rest of the paperwork.
- All 7 Launch Sprint packsEvery stage, in order, as one printable booklet.
- Launch Sprint 1: Define the offerStage 1 of the Launch Sprint on one sheet: what it means in plain words, the vocabulary, every task with plain-English help, examples, common mistakes and a done-when check.
- Launch Sprint 2: Validate itStage 2 of the Launch Sprint on one sheet: what it means in plain words, the vocabulary, every task with plain-English help, examples, common mistakes and a done-when check.
- Launch Sprint 3: Build the basicsStage 3 of the Launch Sprint on one sheet: what it means in plain words, the vocabulary, every task with plain-English help, examples, common mistakes and a done-when check.
- Launch Sprint 4: Business setupStage 4 of the Launch Sprint on one sheet: what it means in plain words, the vocabulary, every task with plain-English help, examples, common mistakes and a done-when check.
- Launch Sprint 5: First saleStage 5 of the Launch Sprint on one sheet: what it means in plain words, the vocabulary, every task with plain-English help, examples, common mistakes and a done-when check.
- Launch Sprint 6: ImproveStage 6 of the Launch Sprint on one sheet: what it means in plain words, the vocabulary, every task with plain-English help, examples, common mistakes and a done-when check.
- Launch Sprint 7: GrowStage 7 of the Launch Sprint on one sheet: what it means in plain words, the vocabulary, every task with plain-English help, examples, common mistakes and a done-when check.
- One-page plan: teacher packThe five boxes of the one-page plan, with what a good answer contains, sentence starters, a finished example for each box, and a check before students export.
- Curriculum alignment: Launch Sprint and Summer CompanyEvery stage against real Ontario expectations, plus Summer Company and what neither covers.
Entering the competition
What a pitch competition is in plain words, a recording plan for each of the three videos, and Summer Company — the Ontario grant your students can apply to on their own.
- All competition packsEntry, the three videos, and Summer Company, as one printable booklet.
- Competition entry: teacher packEverything a class needs to enter on one sheet: what a pitch competition is in plain words, the vocabulary, the steps in order, the written pitch with starters and an example, common mistakes and a pre-submit check.
- The three pitch videos: teacher packOne sheet per class period on filming: what each of the three required videos is for, a minute-by-minute plan students can follow with a phone, and the mistakes that cost points.
- Run a classroom challenge or school championshipA class pitch day or a school championship on the same 100-point rubric the provincial competition uses: two class periods, a judging sheet, feedback for every team, and how it sits beside a competition your school already runs.
- Summer Company: teacher packWhat Summer Company is in plain words, the vocabulary, what each eligibility question is really asking, what applying looks like, and the mistakes that cost students a summer.
For students
Print these for your class. A free account opens them.
Complete student workbookEvery worksheet, in class order, ready to print.- Customer interview worksheetTalk to real people about a real problem — and ask about the past, not the future.
- Validation worksheetSort what you heard into evidence — and decide what to change.
- Offer & pricing worksheetBuild an offer people want to buy, and a price you can explain.
- Customers & sales worksheetHow customers will find you, and the path from attention to a referral.
- Numbers worksheet: the economics of one salePrice, costs, margin and break-even — for one sale.
- One-page business plan worksheetThe same sections as the free online plan builder — for planning on paper first.
- Pitch worksheetA customer-first story at 30 seconds, 60 seconds and five minutes.
- Pitch deck outlineA simple slide order for the slide walkthrough video.
- Competition & submission checklistCheck every item before submitting your entry.
Slides included
Every class has a projectable deck, built from the same lesson — no deck to make. Want Launch League to visit your class? Become a School Champion or get in touch.
Related
Keep going
- For educators: classroom entrepreneurship projectCurriculum fit, consent and safeguarding, a term plan, and the published rubric.
- School ChampionsFor teachers and school staff who want to bring Launch League to their students.
- Business 101 — free, practical 8-module courseBuild a business, not just a business plan: problem, customer, offer, customers, sales, numbers, systems and pitch.
- Official rules and the 100-point judging rubricExactly how entries are scored, published in full before you write a word.