Students' Business Ideas Sink or Swim

Shark Tank is required viewing in most households and the show has inspired a new entrepreneurship program at Australian Christian College Darling Downs.

A group of Year 6 students this term stepped into the shoes of real-world entrepreneurs through a hands-on Shark Tank project designed to spark creativity, critical thinking and communication skills.

Students had to independently research, design and pitch a business. Each student tackled real-world business questions around sustainability, pricing, production costs and market need and pitched their ideas to a panel as part of their speaking and listening assessment.

Backed by the Year 6 curriculum the project pushed students to develop business plans, persuasive presentations and infographics using tools like Canva, all before delivering their pitch live to their classmates.

Year 6 teacher, Kate Quintana, who is leading the initiative says it is developing not just bright ideas but capable, future-ready students.

“The project sparked creativity and entrepreneurial thinking while building critical skills like problem-solving, ethical decision-making, and persuasive communication,” says Quintana.

“I was incredibly impressed by the thoughtful, innovative, and well-presented ideas from our young business minds!” 

The initiative linked directly to multiple subjects:
English - oral presentations and persuasive writing
HASS - exploring economic and business concepts like consumer needs and sustainability
Digital Technologies - using Canva to create infographics and conducting online research

The project also closely aligned with the Year 6 SCSA (School Curriculum and Standards Authority) curriculum across several learning areas. In HASS, students explored economic and business concepts such as consumer needs, sustainability, and responsible resource use. In English, they developed persuasive writing and oral communication skills. Through the use of Canva, the project also supported the Digital Technologies curriculum, as students engaged in online research and digital content creation.

This cross-curricular approach helped students see the practical application of what they learn in class.

Students developed a diverse range of innovative ideas, including: An avocado-based moisturiser enriched with vitamins and marketed in biodegradable packaging (PHA) to combat dry skin; a freeze-dried, sugar-free candy alternative to reduce sugar-related health risks and a small plant business offering affordable seedlings to counter high retail prices and promote community values.

Student 1 who invented the moisturiser says, “Dry skin is a globally common issue that many people face, but with our product, dry skin will disappear within a few weeks.  Our moisturiser is enriched with Vitamins E, A and D and has numerous health nutrients, resulting in a radiant glow.

“Plus, our product uses PHA (polyhygroxyalkanoates) which is known for its biodegradability and can break down in various different environments, replacing ordinary plastics.

“The most challenging part during the creation of our product was to produce the PHD, since the production cost is between $2 - @7 per kilogram.  This is because the cost of carbon substrates used for microbial fermentation along with following expenses increase the price of the PHA, making it a challenge during the making.”

Student 2 who created a business plan for freeze-dried candy which undergoes a process of extracting all liquids and sugars and makes it crunchy and good for munching says the idea was to offer a healthy, sugar free candy that is affordable.

“This problem solves kids eating high sugar products or candy that resolves to negative health issues such as high blood pressure, or it can increase chronic inflammation.

“The most challenging part for this product was gathering all the research and information needed to create this business.”

Student 3 who created Little Ones, a plant business that sells high quality seedings, says that every dollar raised goes directly to creating better and improved products for all customers. 

“Our commitment isn't selling products; it is for fostering a sense of community and ensuring our products are accessible for everyone.

“My product solves the problem of big companies like Bunnings of overpricing their customers on plants.  My plants are sold for $17.50 for a tray of six.  Unlike the average price for big companies, which is $5 for 1 plant.

“The most challenging part of the business plan was making my products high-quality while keeping them cheap and accessible for all families.  It was also difficult to budget the business carefully.”