Future innovators: designing entrepreneurial solutions for environmental challenges
Before the lesson, you will need to...
Storyboard template
Rubric - student self assessment
Rubric - teacher assessment
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How to prototype guide - Tinkercad (optional)
How to prototype guide - cardboard (optional)
How to prototype guide - craft materials (optional)
How to prototype guide - Canva (optional)
How to prototype guide - Minecraft (optional)
Syllabus content
New NSW Syllabus:
PDHPE
- PD3-2: Investigates information, community resources and strategies to demonstrate resilience and seek help for themselves and others.
- PD3-7: Proposes and implements actions and protective strategies that promote health, safety, wellbeing and physically active spaces.
- PD3-2: Investigates information, community resources and strategies to demonstrate resilience and seek help for themselves and others.
- PD3-7: Proposes and implements actions and protective strategies that promote health, safety, wellbeing and physically active spaces.
Geography
- GE3-2: Explains interactions and connections between people, places and environments.
- GE3-3: Compares and contrasts influences on the management of places and environments.
- GE3-2: Explains interactions and connections between people, places and environments.
- GE3-3: Compares and contrasts influences on the management of places and environments.
Science & Technology
- ST3-3DP-T: Defines problems, and designs, modifies and follows algorithms to develop solutions.
- ST3-2DP-T: Plans and uses materials, tools, and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity.
- ST3-3DP-T: Defines problems, and designs, modifies and follows algorithms to develop solutions.
- ST3-2DP-T: Plans and uses materials, tools, and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity.
Current NSW Syllabus:
Science and Technology
- ST3-SCI-01: Uses evidence to explain how scientific knowledge can be used to develop sustainable practices.
- ST3-DDT-01: Uses design processes to create, evaluate and modify designed solutions.
- ST3-SCI-01: Uses evidence to explain how scientific knowledge can be used to develop sustainable practices.
- ST3-DDT-01: Uses design processes to create, evaluate and modify designed solutions.
HSIE
- HS3-GEO-01: Examines global citizenship and how people organise, protect and sustainably use the environment, using geographical information.
- HS3-GEO-01: Examines global citizenship and how people organise, protect and sustainably use the environment, using geographical information.
PDHPE
- PH3-IHW-01: Examines and explains factors that influence identity, health and wellbeing of individuals and groups.
- PH3-SMI-01: Evaluates and applies self-management and interpersonal skills in a range of contexts.
- PH3-CWT-01: Creates written texts to communicate understanding of health, safety and wellbeing.
- PH3-IHW-01: Examines and explains factors that influence identity, health and wellbeing of individuals and groups.
- PH3-SMI-01: Evaluates and applies self-management and interpersonal skills in a range of contexts.
- PH3-CWT-01: Creates written texts to communicate understanding of health, safety and wellbeing.
Assessment
Teacher background information
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs are individuals who identify problems or gaps in society and create innovative solutions. They often take risks to turn their ideas into reality, using skills like curiosity, empathy, resilience and collaboration. Entrepreneurs are critical for solving complex issues like climate change because they bring new perspectives and technologies to the table.
Source / more information
Investopedia (n.d.). What is an entrepreneur?
Entrepreneurs are individuals who identify problems or gaps in society and create innovative solutions. They often take risks to turn their ideas into reality, using skills like curiosity, empathy, resilience and collaboration. Entrepreneurs are critical for solving complex issues like climate change because they bring new perspectives and technologies to the table.
Source / more information
Investopedia (n.d.). What is an entrepreneur?
Blue sky thinking
Blue sky thinking refers to brainstorming without limitations to encourage creativity and innovation. It involves imagining solutions that might seem impossible at first but could lead to breakthrough ideas. This approach helps students think 'outside the box' and embrace unconventional solutions to problems like transportation pollution.
Source / more information
Travers, M. (2023, October 20). Why blue skying can unleash creativity you didn’t know you had. Forbes.
Blue sky thinking refers to brainstorming without limitations to encourage creativity and innovation. It involves imagining solutions that might seem impossible at first but could lead to breakthrough ideas. This approach helps students think 'outside the box' and embrace unconventional solutions to problems like transportation pollution.
Source / more information
Travers, M. (2023, October 20). Why blue skying can unleash creativity you didn’t know you had. Forbes.
Empathy
Empathy is crucial for students because it fosters a sense of connection and understanding that drives meaningful problem-solving. When students practice empathy, they are better able to identify and address real-world challenges that impact others. This skill empowers them to create solutions that are not only innovative but also deeply aligned with the needs of their community or stakeholders. Encouraging empathy helps students develop emotional intelligence, which is vital for teamwork, leadership and becoming active citizens in a diverse world.
Source / more information
VentureWell. (n.d.). Empathy: A critical tool for STEM entrepreneurs.
Empathy is crucial for students because it fosters a sense of connection and understanding that drives meaningful problem-solving. When students practice empathy, they are better able to identify and address real-world challenges that impact others. This skill empowers them to create solutions that are not only innovative but also deeply aligned with the needs of their community or stakeholders. Encouraging empathy helps students develop emotional intelligence, which is vital for teamwork, leadership and becoming active citizens in a diverse world.
Source / more information
VentureWell. (n.d.). Empathy: A critical tool for STEM entrepreneurs.
Curiosity
Curiosity is a vital trait for students as it encourages them to explore, question, and dig deeper into the “why” and “how” of the world around them. This intrinsic motivation drives engagement and self-directed learning, helping students discover their passions and develop critical thinking skills. By fostering curiosity, teachers can help students approach challenges with a growth mindset, seeing them as opportunities to learn and innovate. This is especially important in preparing students for a rapidly changing world where adaptability and lifelong learning are key.
Curiosity is a vital trait for students as it encourages them to explore, question, and dig deeper into the “why” and “how” of the world around them. This intrinsic motivation drives engagement and self-directed learning, helping students discover their passions and develop critical thinking skills. By fostering curiosity, teachers can help students approach challenges with a growth mindset, seeing them as opportunities to learn and innovate. This is especially important in preparing students for a rapidly changing world where adaptability and lifelong learning are key.
Resilience
Resilience equips students with the ability to persevere through challenges and setbacks, which are inevitable in both learning and life. By fostering resilience, teachers help students build confidence in their ability to overcome obstacles and view failures as opportunities to grow. Resilient students are more likely to take risks, try new approaches and embrace innovation—all essential traits for future entrepreneurs and problem-solvers. Developing resilience also promotes mental well-being, enabling students to manage stress and maintain focus even in difficult situations.
Source / more information
Rising Innovator. (2023, August). 3 effective ways to teach resilience to young entrepreneurs.
Resilience equips students with the ability to persevere through challenges and setbacks, which are inevitable in both learning and life. By fostering resilience, teachers help students build confidence in their ability to overcome obstacles and view failures as opportunities to grow. Resilient students are more likely to take risks, try new approaches and embrace innovation—all essential traits for future entrepreneurs and problem-solvers. Developing resilience also promotes mental well-being, enabling students to manage stress and maintain focus even in difficult situations.
Source / more information
Rising Innovator. (2023, August). 3 effective ways to teach resilience to young entrepreneurs.
Storyboarding
Storyboarding is a visual planning tool often used by entrepreneurs to map out ideas step by step. It combines sketches and short descriptions to communicate ideas clearly and effectively. Storyboarding helps students structure their thoughts and refine their problem-solving approaches.
Storyboarding is a visual planning tool often used by entrepreneurs to map out ideas step by step. It combines sketches and short descriptions to communicate ideas clearly and effectively. Storyboarding helps students structure their thoughts and refine their problem-solving approaches.
Sustainable transport
Sustainable transport refers to modes of transport that minimise environmental impact, such as walking, cycling, electric vehicles and public transport. Solutions like the 'walking school bus' and battery-swapping for e-scooters are examples of sustainable transport innovations.
Source / more information
United Nations. (n.d.). Sustainable transport.
Sustainable transport refers to modes of transport that minimise environmental impact, such as walking, cycling, electric vehicles and public transport. Solutions like the 'walking school bus' and battery-swapping for e-scooters are examples of sustainable transport innovations.
Source / more information
United Nations. (n.d.). Sustainable transport.
Prototyping
Prototyping is an essential process for students as it transforms abstract ideas into tangible solutions. It encourages students to test their ideas early, uncover potential challenges, and refine their thinking through iteration. Prototyping helps students develop critical problem-solving and design skills while fostering a mindset of adaptability and resilience. By creating prototypes, students gain hands-on experience with trial and error, learning that failure is a valuable part of innovation and discovery. Prototyping also builds collaboration skills, as students share their models, receive feedback and incorporate suggestions to improve their designs. This iterative process mirrors real-world practices and prepares students to think critically and creatively in addressing complex problems.
Source / more information
EdTech Class. (2022, February 24). Prototyping and testing in the classroom.
Prototyping is an essential process for students as it transforms abstract ideas into tangible solutions. It encourages students to test their ideas early, uncover potential challenges, and refine their thinking through iteration. Prototyping helps students develop critical problem-solving and design skills while fostering a mindset of adaptability and resilience. By creating prototypes, students gain hands-on experience with trial and error, learning that failure is a valuable part of innovation and discovery. Prototyping also builds collaboration skills, as students share their models, receive feedback and incorporate suggestions to improve their designs. This iterative process mirrors real-world practices and prepares students to think critically and creatively in addressing complex problems.
Source / more information
EdTech Class. (2022, February 24). Prototyping and testing in the classroom.
Encouraging systemic change and innovations
Encouraging systemic change and innovation empowers students to address complex, large-scale challenges by thinking critically about the root causes of problems and developing sustainable solutions. Systemic change involves creating long-term improvements in interconnected systems, such as education, transportation, or environmental management. By fostering innovative thinking, students learn to question existing structures, consider diverse perspectives, and design solutions that bring meaningful, scalable impact. Encouraging systemic change equips students with the skills to not only solve immediate problems but also to anticipate future challenges and opportunities. This aligns with fostering an entrepreneurial mindset, as innovation requires creativity, resilience, and collaboration.
Encouraging systemic change and innovation empowers students to address complex, large-scale challenges by thinking critically about the root causes of problems and developing sustainable solutions. Systemic change involves creating long-term improvements in interconnected systems, such as education, transportation, or environmental management. By fostering innovative thinking, students learn to question existing structures, consider diverse perspectives, and design solutions that bring meaningful, scalable impact. Encouraging systemic change equips students with the skills to not only solve immediate problems but also to anticipate future challenges and opportunities. This aligns with fostering an entrepreneurial mindset, as innovation requires creativity, resilience, and collaboration.
Lesson content
Canva part 1 - "Introduction"
Video 1. Saul Griffith
Video 2. Megan Fisher, “Entrepreneurs identify opportunities”
Storyboard template (or create your own)
Use this storyboard template to plan your entrepreneurial transportation solution. You may wish to design your own storyboard template.
Use this storyboard template to plan your entrepreneurial transportation solution. You may wish to design your own storyboard template.
Video 3. Megan Fisher, “Turning ideas into reality”
Canva part 2: "Optional: prototyping"
Rubric - Entrepreneurship student self assessment
Use this student self assessment rubric to assess your entrepreneurial solution.
Use this student self assessment rubric to assess your entrepreneurial solution.
Rubric - Entrepreneurship teacher assessment
Teacher use this assessment rubric to assess students' entrepreneurial solutions.
Link to rubric
Teacher use this assessment rubric to assess students' entrepreneurial solutions.
Link to rubric
How to prototype guide - Tinkercad (optional)
Use this how-to guide to create a prototype in Tinkercad.
Link to guide
Use this how-to guide to create a prototype in Tinkercad.
Link to guide
How to prototype guide - cardboard (optional)
Use this how-to guide to create a prototype using cardboard.
Link to guide
Use this how-to guide to create a prototype using cardboard.
Link to guide
How to prototype guide - craft materials (optional)
Use this how-to guide to create a prototype using craft materials.
Link to guide
Use this how-to guide to create a prototype using craft materials.
Link to guide
How to prototype guide - Canva (optional)
Use this how-to guide to create a prototype in Canva.
Link to guide
Use this how-to guide to create a prototype in Canva.
Link to guide
How to prototype guide - Minecraft (optional)
Use this how-to guide to create a prototype in Minecraft.
Link to guide
Use this how-to guide to create a prototype in Minecraft.
Link to guide
Extension Opportunities
Prototyping entrepreneurial ideas
Encourage students to take their entrepreneurial ideas further by creating prototypes. Students can use recycled materials, craft supplies, or digital tools (e.g., Minecraft, Tinkercad or Canva) to build a physical or digital representation of their solution. See 'how to guides' included in lesson content.
Encourage students to take their entrepreneurial ideas further by creating prototypes. Students can use recycled materials, craft supplies, or digital tools (e.g., Minecraft, Tinkercad or Canva) to build a physical or digital representation of their solution. See 'how to guides' included in lesson content.
Pitch competition
Host a mini “pitch competition” where students present their ideas to the class as if they were pitching to potential investors.
Students explain the problem, their solution, why it’s important, and how it works. They can use their prototypes, storyboards, or visuals as part of their pitch.
Criteria for evaluation: clarity, creativity, feasibility, and impact.
Host a mini “pitch competition” where students present their ideas to the class as if they were pitching to potential investors.
Students explain the problem, their solution, why it’s important, and how it works. They can use their prototypes, storyboards, or visuals as part of their pitch.
Criteria for evaluation: clarity, creativity, feasibility, and impact.
‘Squiz Kids Newshounds Unit’
Incorporate elements of the 8 sessions of Squiz Kids “Newshounds Unit,” (free account) which teaches students how to research, fact-check, and report on issues they care about.
Students could research a transport-related issue they identified (e.g., air pollution from cars or the lack of bike paths) and create a mini-report or news segment.
Incorporate elements of the 8 sessions of Squiz Kids “Newshounds Unit,” (free account) which teaches students how to research, fact-check, and report on issues they care about.
Students could research a transport-related issue they identified (e.g., air pollution from cars or the lack of bike paths) and create a mini-report or news segment.
Interview an expert
Arrange for students to interview a local entrepreneur, environmentalist, or transport planner (virtually or in-person) to get insights into real-world problem-solving and innovation.Have students prepare questions in advance about the expert’s work, challenges they’ve faced, and how they’ve created systemic change.
Arrange for students to interview a local entrepreneur, environmentalist, or transport planner (virtually or in-person) to get insights into real-world problem-solving and innovation.Have students prepare questions in advance about the expert’s work, challenges they’ve faced, and how they’ve created systemic change.
Map the problem
Use mapping tools to visualize where transport-related issues occur in their community. Students mark locations on a map (digital or printed) where they see transport problems, like traffic jams, unsafe bike paths, or limited public transport.
Use mapping tools to visualize where transport-related issues occur in their community. Students mark locations on a map (digital or printed) where they see transport problems, like traffic jams, unsafe bike paths, or limited public transport.
Create an advocacy campaign
Turn their entrepreneurial idea into an advocacy campaign. Students design posters, social media posts, or short videos to raise awareness about their problem and solution.
Turn their entrepreneurial idea into an advocacy campaign. Students design posters, social media posts, or short videos to raise awareness about their problem and solution.
Explore global innovations
Research global examples of innovative solutions to transport and environmental issues (e.g., Swap Energi in Indonesia or electric aircraft in China).
Students create a comparative infographic showing how their idea relates to existing innovations worldwide.
Research global examples of innovative solutions to transport and environmental issues (e.g., Swap Energi in Indonesia or electric aircraft in China).
Students create a comparative infographic showing how their idea relates to existing innovations worldwide.
Vocabulary
Learning journal prompts
What did I learn?
What problem did you identify, and why do you think it’s important to solve?
What examples of transport or environmental problems did you see during brainstorming?
What did you learn about how curiosity and empathy help entrepreneurs identify opportunities?
What is “Blue Sky Thinking,” and how did it help you come up with creative ideas?
What problem did you identify, and why do you think it’s important to solve?
What examples of transport or environmental problems did you see during brainstorming?
What did you learn about how curiosity and empathy help entrepreneurs identify opportunities?
What is “Blue Sky Thinking,” and how did it help you come up with creative ideas?
Connecting & acting
How does the problem you identified connect to your community or school environment?
Why is solving this problem important for the environment or the people around you?
How did you improve your idea based on feedback?
What changes did you make to your storyboard or prototype after reflecting on the problem?
How does the problem you identified connect to your community or school environment?
Why is solving this problem important for the environment or the people around you?
How did you improve your idea based on feedback?
What changes did you make to your storyboard or prototype after reflecting on the problem?
Personal reflections
How did you feel when brainstorming ideas or sharing your storyboard?
What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
How did practicing resilience and being open-minded help you today?
Would you like to be an entrepreneur and make a difference in the future? How or why?
How did you feel when brainstorming ideas or sharing your storyboard?
What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
How did practicing resilience and being open-minded help you today?
Would you like to be an entrepreneur and make a difference in the future? How or why?
Congratulations! You have completed all 8 lessons.
