Gain Creators / Outcomes

• Students gain skills like research and data management, decision making, problem solving, teamwork, oral presentation, as well as improve skills like math, reading and interpreting data.
• Students have a better understanding of “how a business works” in Europe (a region of their choosing)
• Teachers become more entrepreneurial and learn more about EE
• Short term programme

Gains / Needs

Educators need:

• Practical learning-by-doing approaches in the classroom
• Easy-to-implement activities that fit well within the curriculum
• Content that is relevant and engaging for students aged 10-12
• Activities that will expose young people to real-world businesses and entrepreneurs
• Time flexibility to deliver another course

Target Group

Educators (students aged 10-12)

Implementation Method

Distribution

• Through the JA network:  JA offices reach out to local schools or teachers register with their local JA office to participate in the programme.
• The programme’s educational kit is distributed to participating schools for the preparation of teachers and volunteers

Implementation

• The programme is delivered in collaboration with national partners from public and business sector;
• JA provides training and support for educators and volunteers to deliver the programme in the classroom.

Europe & Me

Europe and Me is interactive classroom programme for students aged 10 -  12 which increases the understanding of how businesses operate in Europe and explores various economic issues that impact people and businesses.

In the 6 lessons, students will:

• identify and analyze different types of resources in different regions,
• learn what resources are required by business to produce a good or service and how some businesses choose their locations based on resources,
• investigate how raw materials can have added value,
• identify advantages and disadvantages to undertaking production in particular countries,
• define income, expense, profit, and loss,
• demonstrate how a business tracks income and expenses,
• solve simple business problems,
• define scarcity and explain why it forces people to make choices, identify the basic what, how, and who decisions that people in all economies face,
• define economy and specialization,
• recognize economic interdependence in a region and among different regions,
• understand the importance of cash flow to businesses, record business income and expenses, recognize the role of loans in business.

Activities

Using hands on activities students are guided through the 6 lessons in the programme by volunteers from the business world and:

• understand how businesses operate in Europe
• explore various economic issues such as ‘sustainability’ and ‘interdependency’
• discover the relationship between the natural, human, and capital resources found in different countries
• explore European businesses that produce goods and services for consumers

Resources

Curricula , training and support for educators & business volunteers:

• manual and materials for students, volunteers and teachers
• Training session for teachers and volunteers
• JA follow-up and support

Manpower:

• Business volunteers – recruited by JA,
• Support staff from JA side

Pain Relievers / Solutions

• Provide ready-to-go easy-to-use materials for teachers; digital options available
• Activities that are hands-on; student-centred
• Use interaction with business volunteers who bring real-world perspective when they present the content and add a ‘cool factor’
• Use the practical entrepreneurship experience as a way to build confidence, change attitudes and behaviours

Pains / Challenges

• Lack of good content/materials activities in EE for this age group
• Teachers lack training in learning-by-doing ‘entrepreneurial’ methods
• Difficult age group to motivate