Big Idea Week brings entrepreneurs into schools to share their stories and to serve as mentors for the students as they embark on a creative journey over the course of the week. Teachers follow lesson plans that guide students through the process of identifying common problems and thinking of innovative ways to solve them, culminating in a pitch of their own. 

The program is suitable for grades 4-8 and can be run with as many students as you like, with one caveat. A maximum of 10-15 student groups can present at the Friday assembly due to time constraints. More information is available in the Coordinator's Guide, which is sent to schools after they register. Register your school here. 

The week kicks off with a one-hour assembly where mentors "pitch" their big ideas to students and share their process of product conception and development. The presentations introduce the concept that many of the best ideas and inventions start as solutions to simple problems.  

For the next three days, students work through the Big Idea Week lesson plan in groups of 3 or 4. With the guidance of their teachers, students brainstorm ideas, make sketches and models, and practice their own pitch presentations. 

The week comes full circle with a final assembly where students are the presenters. Mentors return to the school to hear the students pitch their ideas and to provide feedback on the products and presentations.

As a culminating event, students have the opportunity to visit the founders at their offices for a tour and more Q&A. Students learn about how creative startup companies work and see the tools that entrepreneurs use to bring their ideas to life.