The Hot Chocolate Stand Project is a project based learning Entrepreneur Activity for students in grades 4-7. 

Objective: The primary objective of this project is to immerse students in the entrepreneurial world, providing them with a clear understanding of the key aspects of running a Hot Chocolate Stand. Through this experience, students will develop vital skills in planning, teamwork, decision-making, and resource management. The project offers a holistic view of entrepreneurship, covering essential areas such as branding, menu development, pricing strategies, and customer service.

Motivating Question: The central question guiding this project is: "How can we create and operate a successful Hot Chocolate Stand?"

Learning Outcomes: The "Hot Chocolate Stand" project is a Project-Based Learning (PBL) activity that integrates multiple subject areas, providing a comprehensive learning experience for students. This project is designed to  incorporate writing, strategic planning, math, research skills, artistic expression, and critical thinking.

The project has a total of 18 activities, which can be conveniently printed and organized into a binder or stapled together. Students are encouraged to utilize various resources, including the internet, textbooks, maps, and peer collaboration, to successfully complete the project.  The use of colored pencils, markers, crayons, and other creative tools is encouraged to enhance the visual appeal of their project materials.

Additionally, there are resources and extension activities available for students interested in deepening their understanding of the subject matter.

Project Activity Pages

• Brainstorming Your Hot Chocolate Stand
• My Stand Theme
• Design your Menu
• List of Ingredients
• Name, Logo, Branding
• Recipe Development
• Market Research
• Marketing Strategies
• Cocao-gram
• Customer Service Plan - How Many Workers?
• Supplies Needed
• Calculating Costs
• Determining Profit
• Start-up Investment
• Making Money
• What if…Challenges
• Reflection
• Final Projects

Student Decision-Making: Throughout the "Hot Chocolate Stand" project, students will be entrusted with the autonomy to make decisions that mimic real-life entrepreneurial scenarios. They will choose elements such as the stand's name, logo, menu offerings, pricing structures, and assigned roles within the business. This decision-making process empowers students to think critically and creatively while honing their entrepreneurial skills.

Student Inquiry: A fundamental component of this project is fostering students' investigative skills. Students will also investigate marketing strategies and techniques to attract customers, enabling them to make informed decisions for their Hot Chocolate Stand.

 Feedback/Revisions: Students will actively participate in the feedback and revision process. They will reflect on their experiences, offering insights into what aspects of the project went well, what challenges they encountered, what went well, and what they would do differently.  

Published Product: Upon completion of the project, students will have the opportunity to choose how they present their entrepreneurial journey. Options include creating an awareness campaign for their Hot Chocolate Stand, compiling a book of unique hot chocolate recipes. These choices encourage creativity and enable students to showcase their newfound knowledge and skills in an innovative way.

Extension Activities include: a menu innovation challenge, marketing campaign development, and a customer feedback/survey.

How to Use:

Any or all of the pages in the pdf file can be printed and used for students across a wide range of ages/skills, or collaboratively with kids of different ages. For example, younger kids may focus more on the design and drink recipes for the stand while older kids may also include the business plan and profit margin aspects of the project.

Depending on your student’s needs, there are several pages of scaffolding information, including vocabulary, facts, reading list, weblinks. Scaffolding can be done at any stage throughout the project as needed.

Total Pages: 43 pages

Answer Key: Included

Project Duration: approximately 2 Weeks