Curriculum Planning Level: Career Sustaining (CS)

Though it might not seem as “glamorous” as inventing new products or creating marketing campaigns, accounting is an absolutely vital part of business success. Teach your students about the importance of accounting—what it is, why businesses need it, and how they use it. Explain to them the difference between managerial and financial accounting, and help them discover each step in the accounting cycle. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all...

Finance affects just about every aspect of a business. In Money Matters (Role of Finance), students will discover the various responsibilities of financial managers and explore the relationship between finance and other business functions. In the Gray Zone, students will explore a challenging ethical dilemma commonly faced by finance professionals. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This...

Financial information is important for all of us – but especially important for businesses! Use By the Numbers (The Need for Financial Information) to teach your students about the types of financial information businesses use as well as how they use it. In the activities, students will get hands-on experience with financial information, helping them better understand the various characteristics of quality financial information. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional...

Human resources management is a lot more than just interviewing and hiring! HR managers administer benefits, oversee training and development, ensure compliance, and more. People Pusher (Nature of Human Resources Management) shows students just how influential the HR function is in every business. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT!...

Teach your students about the types of data that marketers need for effective decision-making, where marketers can locate data, how marketers use data, and how data usage can impact business. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about the need for marketing data, a (So What?) discussion of why it's...

Show your students how the growth of sports and sports marketing impacts the world. The Wide, Wide World of Sports Marketing (Nature of Sports Marketing) explains how the popularity of sports has created a diverse industry that impacts everyone from corporate sponsors to soccer parents. Anyone leading an active lifestyle or watching a sporting event can appreciate the fun that sports provide. This LAP includes activities, videos, and supplemented readings to show how sports marketing creates...

How would your students define marketing? As advertising? As selling? If so, they’re not alone. But there’s so much more that marketers do to create exchanges in our marketplace. Check out Have It Your Way! to help your students develop an appreciation for all that marketers do for us every day. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission)...

Goals, strategies, and tactics are important whether you’re planning a vacation or marketing products to customers. This LAP shows how marketers choose the best road—or marketing strategy—to get where they need to go. It also explains how the four elements of the marketing mix work together. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission)...

Do your students understand the word “market,” and how it is used to describe mass groups of consumers as well as smaller, more specific groups? Have We Met? (Market Identification) explains mass marketing and market segmentation, with examples from the NBA and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It also includes target-marketing activities to engage students in examining consumers’ traits and purchasing motives. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages...

All businesses rely on information for decision-making and other important business activities. Successful businesses learn to manage information efficiently and effectively through the use of people, processes, and technology. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about the nature of Information...

Show your students how shopping for the best deals can become a career with Buy Right (Purchasing). In this LAP, they'll learn about the importance of purchasing, the types of purchasing, and the process that purchasing specialists follow. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about purchasing, a (So...

Production is all around us and crucial to businesses and society. This LAP gives a detailed look at the resources used in production and explains the importance of each stage of the production process. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about the nature of production, a (So What?) discussion of why it's...

Teach your students the importance of every activity involved in the operations process—from production planning to expense control—and the impact those activities have on the overall production of goods and services. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about the nature of operations, a (So What?)...

Deliver the Goods (Concept of Supply Chain) introduces students to one of the most essential components of the business world: the supply chain. Students will learn about the different activities and roles within the supply chain, such as suppliers, manufacturers, and supply chain managers. Furthermore, this LAP describes various types of supply chain models and how different designs meet the needs of different businesses. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional...

No matter the size or nature of any project, they all require planning. Plan On It! (Planning Projects) focuses on teaching students the importance of planning ahead when completing all kinds of projects—at work, at school, and in their personal lives. This LAP includes the benefits of planning projects, factors that impact project planning, tools for project planning, and steps to planning a project. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all...

While working on a project, it is important to check on its progress periodically to make sure the work is turning out the way it should be. Check Your (Project) Pulse (Monitoring Projects and Taking Corrective Actions) explains why it is important to monitor projects and what aspects of the project should be monitored. It also provides step-by-step instructions so students can learn how to monitor projects and take the necessary corrective actions to get their projects back on track. LAPs...

Once a project has been completed, how do you know whether it was successful? At the end of any project, it is important to evaluate its success. This LAP guides students through the process of evaluating project success so they can understand what went well, what didn’t, and how to improve in the future. Students will also gain an understanding of why it is important to measure the success of a project. With hands-on activities and relevant examples, this LAP will help students master a key...

Decision-making skills are crucial for success in life, so prepare your students with Weigh Your Options (Decision-Making). Not only does this LAP teach students an organized way to make good decisions at home, in school, and at work, but it also explains the benefits of using a decision-making model. The LAP provides student activities that promote critical thinking and include opportunities to make hypothetical personal and business decisions in their daily lives. LAPs (Learning Activity...

A person who knows what they want is much more likely to achieve success. That's why goal setting is so important! Go for the Goal (Goal Setting) explains what goals are, what makes them work, and how anyone can benefit from setting them. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about goal setting, a (So...

Careers in business come in many shapes and sizes. The possibilities are endless, but it’s important to know what options are available. Go for It! (Careers in Business) teaches your students about different business careers and what traits, skills, and educational requirements are needed to succeed in the business world. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student...

Events are everywhere! Whether they are large sporting events or small community picnics, events all create career opportunities in sports and event marketing. Score a Career in Sports and Event Marketing (Careers in Sports/Event Marketing) will show your students the different talents, skills, and interests that can help them excel in a variety of sports/event marketing careers. Activities, videos, and much more show students many careers available in sports/event marketing and how they can...

Every year, more and more people start their own businesses—and many of those entrepreneurs are teenagers! This LAP describes the benefits and risks of entrepreneurship and explains what it takes to be successful. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about career opportunities in entrepreneurship, a (So...

Problems aren't always easy to solve, but that doesn't mean solving them is impossible! No Problem (Demonstrating Problem-Solving Skills) explains the three basic categories of problems and why problem-solving is an important skill. It also details how to solve problems by using intuition, the seven-step method, and creativity. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student...

Innovation. It drives business and economic growth. Businesses create, design, and redesign to compete in today’s changing market. This LAP, Ideas in Action (Innovation Skills), will teach your students the importance of innovation and how companies achieve it. Its videos and activities will expose students to some inventive products from the past as well as the newer innovations of 4D printing, autonomous driving, and virtual reality. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive...

Whether we like it or not, rules are a part of life—at home, at school, and at work. Learning how to adhere to organizational guidelines is an integral skill for students of all backgrounds and interests, as well as for current job-seekers and young professionals. In this LAP, students will learn the importance of company protocols, policies, and procedures, as well as the personal and organizational benefits of adhering to them. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive...

Learning how to follow rules of conduct is essential to being a member of any organization, team, or workplace. This LAP will guide your students in learning what rules of conduct are, what consequences occur when rules are broken, and techniques to successfully follow rules of conduct. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that...

Businesses of all shapes, sizes, and industries implement chains of command to keep their operations flowing smoothly and efficiently. Whatever career path students decide to pursue, they will need to know how to work within a chain of command. In Don’t Cheat the Chain (Following Chain of Command), students will discover the personal benefits of following the chain of command, as well as concrete steps for working within a hierarchical system. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are...

People encounter graded products every day, but what do these grades mean? This LAP explains why grades and standards are used, how they are set, and what types of products have grades and standards. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about grades and standards, a (So What?) discussion of why it's...

Footballs, jerseys, concerts, and conventions are just a few of a wide range of sport/event products. The variety of these and other sport/event products, along with their unique characteristics, make sports/event marketing an interesting and challenging task. More Than a Ticket (Elements of Sport/Event Products) uses activities, videos, and more to teach students about special considerations when marketing sports, events, and other sport/event products. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are...

In today’s era of rapidly evolving technology, warranties and guarantees are important. But what is guaranteed exactly? Do your students understand how warranties and guarantees benefit them and the businesses that provide them? Check out the LAP Promises, Promises (Warranties and Guarantees), with examples from Apple, Chanel, and Fairfield Inn & Suites, to help your students understand the basics of these agreements, how the law regulates them, and much more! LAPs (Learning Activity Packages)...

Businesses, government agencies, special interest groups, and individuals—they all use promotion at one time or another! This LAP explains what makes promotion effective, discusses the benefits of using it, and details the three most common objectives of promotion. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information...

Promotion is all around us every day—but what are the types of promotion? How do companies use it to sell products and create an image? What are its benefits and drawbacks? Find out with this LAP!LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about product and institutional promotion, a (So What?) discussion of why...

Your students might not think selling has much to do with their lives. But good sales skills can help them at home, at school, and on the job, even if they don't work in sales! Help your students learn the traits of successful salespeople with Sell Away (The Nature and Scope of Selling). LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that...

The selling process is a complex procedure that varies across industries, products, and customers. In this LAP, students will gain valuable insight into the selling process that will help them in their current or future roles as salespeople. They’ll learn what steps are involved, how those steps are implemented differently across different situations, and why the sales process matters to salespeople, companies, and customers. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional...

To be successful, salespeople must be well prepared. They must know as much as possible about the products they sell—but salespeople have some important questions to answer first. Why is knowing product information so important? What types of information are customers looking for? Where can salespeople find this information? Use Get Informed (Acquiring Product Information for Use in Selling) to learn the answers to these questions and more! LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive...

Quality customer service is a lot more than just a department. In Go Beyond the Sale (Customer Service in Selling), students will learn what salespeople can do to go above and beyond while serving customers—increasing their sales and benefiting their business along the way! In the Gray Zone, students will examine the ethicality of a common sales practice—making false promises to a customer to close a sale. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include...

Part of being a salesperson involves recommending specific products to customers based on their needs and wants. Sounds easy – but it can be more complicated than it seems! In Get Specific (Recommending Specific Products), students will learn how to recommend products in various tricky situations, such as when a product is out of stock or doesn’t suit a customer’s unique needs. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a...

A company’s selling policies are essential components of its sales practice. In Sell Right (Selling Policies), students will discover the importance of selling guidelines as well as the various kinds of policies that businesses use to help salespeople succeed. Students will also learn about federal regulations that shape company selling policies such as the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Sherman Act. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include...

Use Manage This! (Concept of Management) to walk students through the basics of management—what managers do, what skills they need, and what types of resources they manage—as well as what levels of management most companies have. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about the concept of management, a (So...