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 As a VentureLab instructor, you are enabling student confidence,
self-efficacy and ingenuity, ultimately preparing students to use an
entrepreneurial mindset to pave their own path. For your own journey
as an instructor, please use the resources below to complement the
VentureLab curriculum. There, you’ll find tips on how to create an
impactful learning experience.

USER ENTREPRENEURIAL
GUIDE MINDSET & SKILLSET

INTRODUCTORY
VIDEO

© 2021 VentureLab
VentureLab is a nonprofit organization supporting entrepreneurial initiatives in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. All
intellectual property rights in the Curriculum are owned by VentureLab. AlI use of this curriculum must be done in accordance with
VentureLab’s license.
If you intend to use the VentureLab curriculum in a commercial manner, please contact VentureLab for a commercial license.
This is a summary of, not a substitute for, the full license agreement.
 CONTENTS
LESSON OVERVIEW /04

LESSON PREPARATION /06

ACTIVITY 1: PROTOTYPING CHALLENGE /10

Duration: 20 minutes

ACTMTY 2: EMPATHIZE & DEFINE /13

Duration: 20 minutes

ACTMTY 3: IDEATE AND PROTOTYPE /16

Duration: 20 minutes
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8/16/2018 VentureLab: Grades 3-5 Design Thinking and Prototyping A

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 LESSON PREPARATION
DAY BEFORE LESSON
1) Read through entire lesson

2) Prepare prototype materials for Activity 1 and Activity 3

3) Watch Ready, Set, Design!

4) Watch l<id Engineer: Uplift Wheelchair video
5) Watch Design Thinking Prototype - Cecilia Wong video

6) Watch How to make a cardboard prototype video

7) Read Design Process Student Guide

8) Read Design Process Instructor Guide

DAY OF LESSON
1) Read through lesson again

2) Ensure files are downloaded and ready to be projected

3) Cue up videos
4) Collect and organize bag of materials for each group for Activity 1

MATERIALS
(�) Video: "Ready, Set, Design" () Video: "Design Thinking Prototype - Cecilia Wong"

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() Paper, Pencil

() 3 different materials for Activity 1:

• One object that can serve as a fastener Ex: pipe cleaners, rubber bands,
paper clips
• One object that can serve as a surface E>c coffee filters, cardboard squares

• One object that can help create structure E>c straws, tongue depressors,
tin foil
(--� Bags for Activity 1 materials - 1 per group (2-4 students per group)
-{..__)�
, _,/

Assorted materials for Activity 3:

• Poster paper, markers, stick notes, tape, construction paper, lined paper,
cardboard, scissors, hobby knives, etc (any safe, reusable material)

Design Challenge Prompts (Instructor Use)

Entrepreneur Mindset & Skillset
Group Up!

Entrepreneur Song and lyrics

Design Thinking Process Posters

Design Thinking Process Student Guide

Design Thinking and Prototyping A Slides

 DOWNLOADS

DESIGN CHALLENGE PROMPTS

SLIDES SLIDES WITH NOTES (INSTRUCTOR USE)

Design Challenge Prompts

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PROCESS STUDENT GUIDE
PROCESS POSTERS USER GUIDE

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ENTREPRENEUR SONG
GROUP UP! ENTREPRENEUR SONG LYRICS

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8/16/2018 VentureLab: Grades 3-5 Design Thinking and Prototyping A

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 ACTIVITY 1: PROTOTYPING
CHALLENGE
INTRODUCTION
This design thinking activity will get students straight into generating solutions for a
user or client's problems by creating a prototype. Students will be given 3-5 different,
basic materials and asked to consider a particular problem and then present a solution
in the form of a prototype. A prototype is NOT meant to look like the final product but
rather should be used to brainstorm visually and show others what their ideas might
look like. Designers use prototypes,, or rough models, to discover new ways of
approaching a problem and gain information from their users. Entrepreneurs use
prototypes to test their ideas and fail early without investing time and money in
creating a product that will not work or that customers do not want. Remember,
EVERYTHING is a prototype that can be tested and changed! With this perspective, even
"finished" products can be reimagined and reinvented.

MATERIALS and RESOURCES

--�
(__) Bag of materials
,--,
t_) Design Challenge Propmts (Instructor Use)
,,�-�,
',__,1 Video:"Ready, Set, Design!"

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,

INSTRUCTIONS
1) Before beginning, play the Entrepreneur Song for students. Have them take out
their lyric page (glued into their Idea Journal if they haven't already) and follow
along as you play the song the first time. Play again and have them sing along. See
User Guide for more information about the song.

2) Introduce the idea of prototyping by showing the image on Slide 3 of a surgery

tool prototype and telling the story of a doctor who had an idea of how to improve
nose surgery. She tried to e><plain her idea for the new instrument, but people
didn't understand, so she quickly grabbed random materials and made a prototype.
Everyone immediately understood her idea. The idea took shape, and after much
testing and more prototypes, was sold and used in actual surgeries.

3) Tell students that they will be given a problem to solve and must do so by building
the solution.

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4) Split students into groups of 2 to 4. Use Group Up! for ideas on grouping kids.

5) Show students the Ready, Set, Design video from minute 1:00 to 2:25. Do NOT
show students e><amples after minute 2:25.

6) Give each group a bag of materials. Select a problem from the Design Challenge
Prompts and write it somewhere all students can see.

7) Set a timer for 15 minutes.

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8) At least once during the activity, redirect students' attention to how the group is
collaborating, how individuals are feeling, and which mindsets and skillsets are
being used.

9) At the end of the 15 minutes, as time permits, have groups present their
prototypes. See Pitching Lesson A and Pitching Lesson B for activities that help
students gain skills and confidence in public speaking.
8/16/2018 VentureLab: Grades 3-5 Design Thinking and Prototyping A

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ACTIVITY 2: EMPATHIZE & DEFINE
INTRODUCTION
This activity includes the first stages of the design process: empathizing with someone
and defining the problems they face. Students will use either real life situations or
Visual Idea Generation Cards from the Idea Generation Lesson B to create a scenario in
which they can empathize by observing and interviewing a person. The information
gathered and recorded will help them define the person's challenge and work toward
creating a solution.

MATERIALS and RESOURCES

(-)Visual Idea Generation Cards
__ , -----------
() Design Thinking Process Posters
() Design Thinking Process Student Guide

C) Video: "l<id Engineer: Wheelchair Uplift"

INSTRUCTIONS

Empathize

1) Show the l<id Engineer: Wheelchair LiRlift video as an introduction to the design

thinking process. It highlights all of the steps of the design process: empathize,
define, ideate, prototype, test and iterate. Display the Design Thinking Process
Posters where students can see. Tell them they will be working through each step
of the design thinking process as entrepreneurs! Then ask students what they think
about the kid just like them who is helping people with cerebral palsy.
8/16/2018 VentureLab: Grades 3-5 Design Thinking and Prototyping A

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 ACTIVITY 3: IDEATE &
PROTOTYPE
INTRODUCTION
Students will learn more about the various ways to prototype. Then they will ideate
(brainstorm) multiple solutions to their problems defined in Activity 2 and create
various prototypes. The prototypes will be used in Design Thinking and Prototyping
Lesson 2.

MATERIALS and RESOURCES

() Video: "Design Thinking Prototype - Cecilia Wong"

,.-,
r,__) Design Thinking Process Student Guide
,.-...
(__) Materials for ideating: Large paper, sticky notes, markers, pens, pencils
,,-...
t__) Materials for prototyping, including poster paper, markers, stick notes, tape,
construction paper, lined paper, cardboard, scissors, hobby knives

INSTRUCTIONS
1) Before groups begin ideating solutions to the problems they defined, show the
How to make a cardboard prototype and Design Thinking Prototype videos so
students understand how products as well as apps and services can be prototyped
and tested.

2) Use the following e><ample to illustrate how a defined problem can be solved with
a variety of products or services.

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 Example
PROBLEM: Dale has a sandwich that is too big to bite into.

PRODUCT: A shrinking ray to make it smaller.

SERVICE: A food delivery service that uses the measurements of your

mouth to make a sandwich the perfect size.

APP: Finds hungry friends who are close and allows you to invite
them to share the sandwich.

Ideate
3) Student will now come up with ways to solve the user's needs as written on the
Define handout. Pass out or display Ideate (Brainstorm) page. Review rules of
brainstorming at the top.

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Prototype
4) Each student will now select one solution they would like to prototype and create
it individually. Review the Prototyping Process slide. They shouldn't worry about
cost or ease of building the solution, yet. Refer to Activity 1 Introduction. Observe
students and remind them that what they are making is their first iteration. In the
the ne><t step, in Lesson B, they will make changes to the prototype based on user
feedback as they interact with the prototype.

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LtSSon 2

Design Thinking and Prototyping A (Grades 3-5)

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DESIGN THINKING
AND PROTOTYPING
 CONTENTS

LESSON OVERVIEW /04

LESSON PREPARATION /06

ACTIVITY 1: WHAT IS ITERATION? /09

Duration: 20 minutes

ACTIVITY 2: TEST & FEEDBACK LOOP /12

Duration: 45 minutes

ACTIVITY 3: REFLECT & SHARE /15

Duration: 25 minutes
LESSON OVERVIEW
“Prototyping is the conversation you have
TOTAL DURATION with your ideas.”
-Tom Wuject
90 minutes

INTRODUCTION
VentureLab is a non-profit organization that is helping create the next
generation of innovators and changemakers.

No matter a student’s age, background, or experiences, we believe they

have the power to change the world. Our entrepreneurial learning
curriculum prepares youth for the 21st century and helps decrease the
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