Students at every grade level can participate in classroom marketing activities, which challenge critical thinking skills and build business knowledge. Educators can use marketing activities in conjunction with social studies, economics or business curricula from elementary school through college. This early introduction to the basics of marketing will give students a solid business foundation as they continue their academic careers -- and eventually step into the real world.
Product Pitch
A product pitch is an effective way for young students to learn the basics of marketing. Introduce middle or high school students to marketing by giving the class a product -- real or fictional -- to pitch to the class. Divide the students into groups, and assign each group a specific medium in which to build an advertisement for the product. One group can create a plan for a television advertisement, another can focus on a radio ad and yet another can focus on print media. Let the groups present their advertising campaigns to the class.
Market Analysis
A market analysis helps build students' analytical and research skills. This activity is particularly effective for older students at the high school level and up. Ask each student to create a fictional business and analyze the market for that business in his local area. The market analysis should include a look at the demographics of the region, and if those demographics satisfy the business' need. Also, ask students to measure the competition as well as the need for the business in the market.
Marketing Q&A
High school and college students considering a career in marketing can benefit from a discussion with successful marketing professionals in their region. Invite marketing professionals into the classroom for a question-and-answer session with students. Ask each professional to talk about her day-to-day marketing tasks. Then, open the floor up for students to ask questions, from how the professionals got their start in marketing to what advice they have for students who want to enter the field.
Marketing Plan
Students who have studied marketing throughout a semester or school year can benefit from a comprehensive end-of-class assignment. Ask students to build a marketing plan for a product or service of their choice. The marketing plan will encompass all of the marketing strategies students have learned. They should include a market analysis as well as goals for the marketing efforts. Then, students should build a marketing package for the product that mixes a range of strategies -- from advertisements to direct marketing -- to effectively sell the product.
Tags: market analysis, another focus, basics marketing, benefit from, build marketing