Treats & Goals: Sweet Success Project

12th Grade Project 5 weeks

Treats & Goals: Sweet Success Project

Anthony V

Content Expertise

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Collaboration

Effective Communication

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Purpose

Your senior project is a dynamic opportunity to develop essential skills through a real-world entrepreneurial venture. As you explore starting your small business, you'll gain hands-on experience in crafting a sustainable business plan, mastering the art of effective communication, and engaging with community partners. This project fosters critical thinking and collaboration, allowing you to understand complex business facets and refine your culinary offerings, ensuring they resonate with your school's and community's needs.

Learning goals

Develop critical business skills by creating a detailed and effective business plan that reflects sustainability and profitability principles. Enhance collaboration and communication skills by working with peers and community partners to refine marketing strategies and product offerings. Apply critical thinking and problem-solving abilities to address challenges in managing costs, revenues, and operations through practical financial assessments. Utilize reflection to deepen your understanding of your progress and devise solutions for obstacles encountered in real-world business endeavors. Engage the community in authentic discussions about the impact and viability of your culinary venture through exhibitions and showcases.

Competencies

Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.

Products

By the end of the project, you will establish a fully operational small business featuring a range of homemade culinary treats such as Tres leches and chocolate chip cookies, ready for sale at both your school and local soccer games. You will develop a booth that effectively showcases your products, providing insights on your business plan, production process, and strategic market analysis. Through the 'Bakery Business Showcase,' you'll engage the community by demonstrating your entrepreneurial journey and the sustainability measures of your venture.

Launch

Start your project with a 'Tasting and Feedback Fair,' where you invite peers to sample a variety of your homemade treats, such as Tres leches and chocolate chip cookies. Gather feedback on taste, presentation, and marketability, allowing you to refine your offerings and make informed decisions in your business plan. This kickoff event will activate interest, engage your audience, and set a collaborative tone for the rest of your project.

Exhibition

Host a 'Bakery Business Showcase' where you highlight the journey of your entrepreneurial project, displaying your developed business plan alongside samples of your treats. Invite community members and local businesses to engage in discussions about sustainability and profitability. Use poster boards and digital presentations to illustrate key components such as pricing strategies, competitive analysis, and financial success. Encourage interactive dialogue to collect feedback and explore potential partnership opportunities for future business growth.

Rubric

Competency Progression Rubric Competency-first rubric

Category	Learning Goal	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3	Stage 4
Deeper Learning Competencies	Content Expertise	I can develop and present a comprehensive business plan that outlines the steps to create a sustainable and profitable small business My plan clearly demonstrates my knowledge of product development, market analysis, and financial planning, showing how each contributes to the success of my entrepreneurial venture.	I can demonstrate my ability to develop and present a straightforward business plan that includes clear ideas on sustainability and profitability for my culinary venture, showing my understanding of key concepts through practical examples and community feedback.	I can create a detailed business plan that clearly outlines my products, marketing strategies, and sustainability measures, showcasing my understanding of entrepreneurial principles I can effectively gather and analyze feedback from peers during the 'Tasting and Feedback Fair' to refine my offerings and improve my business plan I can demonstrate my ability to manage and present my product booth, explaining my production process and market analysis during the 'Bakery Business Showcase' with confidence and clarity.	I can create and present a detailed business plan that effectively integrates sustainability and profitability principles, showcasing a deep understanding of culinary trends and market demands I confidently engage community members and peers during the showcase, using clear and persuasive communication to explain my strategic marketing decisions and receive valuable feedback for continuous improvement.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Critical Thinking & Problem Solving	I am beginning to explore solutions by trying out different ways to improve my business plan, and I seek guidance to help identify areas where my culinary product offerings can be enhanced.	I can explore different ways to improve my products by gathering feedback during the 'Tasting and Feedback Fair,' which helps me find better solutions for taste and presentation challenges I identify specific feedback themes from my peers and use them to make thoughtful adjustments to my business plan and marketing strategies.	I can effectively analyze feedback from my peers at the 'Tasting and Feedback Fair' to identify strengths and areas for improvement in my culinary products, using this information to refine my business plan and enhance marketability I demonstrate the ability to explore and evaluate different sustainable and profitable approaches for my small business by engaging in thoughtful discussions with community members, identifying potential business opportunities, and contributing practical solutions to challenges faced during the 'Bakery Business Showcase.'	I can confidently develop and implement innovative business strategies that address community needs, effectively using feedback to refine my product offerings I proactively solve challenges related to costs and operations, demonstrating effective analytical skills through practical financial assessments, all while maintaining sustainability and profitability in my venture.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Collaboration	I can effectively team up with my peers to develop our business venture by actively participating in decision-making processes, sharing responsibilities evenly, and valuing everyone's ideas, leading to a cohesive plan at our Bakery Business Showcase.	I can collaborate with my peers to gather and incorporate their feedback, ensuring our culinary creations meet both taste and presentation goals I work with others to make joint decisions about key aspects of the project, such as ingredients and marketing strategies, strengthening our business plan by valuing different perspectives and ideas.	I can actively contribute to team discussions, valuing each member's ideas and perspectives to refine our product offerings and marketing strategies collaboratively My participation is pivotal in achieving shared goals, and I take initiative by suggesting innovative solutions during conflict resolution, ensuring our project's success.	I can lead my team in developing a cohesive and innovative project, actively listen to and incorporate diverse ideas from my peers, and effectively mediate any conflicts that arise to maintain a positive and productive team environment My leadership ensures that our project aligns with our shared vision and goals, as evidenced by our successful 'Tasting and Feedback Fair' and 'Bakery Business Showcase.'
Deeper Learning Competencies	Effective Communication	I can confidently present my business ideas and products by clearly explaining my business plan and marketing strategies to my peers and community during the Bakery Business Showcase I make sure to actively listen to feedback, ask clarifying questions, and share my reflections on the process using both verbal communication and visual aids like poster boards and digital presentations.	I can engage in meaningful conversations during the Tasting and Feedback Fair, where I actively listen to peer feedback about my culinary treats and use this information to enhance my business plan I effectively share my project's purpose, goals, and the value of my products through clear and empathetic communication that invites community involvement and discussion.	I can effectively communicate the highlights of my culinary venture by presenting clear and engaging information during the Bakery Business Showcase I confidently explain my business strategies and sustainability measures to community members, using visual aids like poster boards and digital presentations to enhance understanding and encourage interactive discussions.	I can confidently present my business plan and culinary creations at the Bakery Business Showcase, using clear and engaging language to explain my pricing strategies, competitive analysis, and sustainability efforts I listen actively to feedback from community members and peers, responding thoughtfully to questions and incorporating constructive suggestions to enhance my venture.

Learning Journey

Empathize

You will conduct user interviews and surveys with potential customers, such as peers and attendees at local events, to gather insights into their preferences and expectations for your treats, culminating in a profile of your target market's needs and desires.

Days 1 - 3

Milestone Activities

Meet the Tasting Audience

Launch 60m

You will conduct solo interviews with peers and event attendees to learn about flavor preferences, presentation expectations, and what makes a treat feel market-ready. Use a short question guide, record insights, and summarize patterns to inform your tasting fair and product decisions.

Content Expertise

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Effective Communication

Define

You will synthesize relevant research and business insights to craft a clear and compelling problem statement that defines the essential challenge you aim to address with your culinary venture, setting a strong foundation for your business plan development.

Days 4 - 6

Milestone Activities

POV, HMW, and Personas

Deliverable 90m

Conduct direct user research with a peer or community member to understand the core challenge your culinary venture will address. Produce artifacts including a Point-of-View (POV) statement that clearly defines the user and their need, 3–5 How Might We (HMW) questions that open design opportunities, 1–2 user persona profiles representing target customers, and a simple problem tree or systems map showing root causes and constraints impacting your venture. Include evidence from interviews or observations (quotes, needs, pain points). These artifacts will frame your problem definition for the Bakery Business Showcase and inform your initial business plan.

Content Expertise

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Collaboration

Effective Communication

Ideate

You will brainstorm multiple treat ideas, evaluate their uniqueness and market potential, conduct peer reviews to gather input, and refine your business strategies to address the essential question of creating a sustainable and profitable venture.

Days 7 - 10

Milestone Activities

Concept Kickoff Sketches

Deliverable 90m

In small groups, draft several concept ideas for your bakery venture. Produce quick brainstorm notes (quantity over quality), sketch or storyboard how each concept would work in practice, build a simple feasibility/impact matrix to compare potential, and select your top 3 concepts with rationale. Share and iterate based on peer input to strengthen your approach.

Content Expertise

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Collaboration

Effective Communication

Prototype

You will develop prototypes for your treat offerings, using feedback from community partners and peers to refine your recipes, presentation, and business strategies, and conduct a peer-led critique session to evaluate the prototypes' marketability in preparation for your upcoming showcase.

Days 11 - 15

Milestone Activities

Prototype Iteration Sprint

Deliverable 60m

Create a sequence of prototype versions—from rough, low-fidelity models (paper/cardboard) to a mid-fidelity functional mockup—and document changes in a concise iteration log. Work in small groups to refine your treat presentations, packaging, and overall marketable aspects based on feedback from peers and community partners.

Content Expertise

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Collaboration

Effective Communication

Test/Present

You will host a final 'Bakery Business Showcase' where you present your developed business plan, offer a sampling of your refined treats to engage stakeholders, and discuss how feedback and market insights have influenced sustainability and profitability decisions.

Days 16 - 20

Milestone Activities

Stakeholder Empathy Mapping

Deliverable 60m

Interview at least two authentic stakeholders (for example, a teacher, a parent, a local bakery owner, or a student leader) to uncover needs around taste, price sensitivity, convenience, and sustainability. Create empathy maps and a clear user‑need statement. Collect quotes, photos, or notes and bring artifacts to class to share in a brief gallery.

Content Expertise

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Collaboration

Effective Communication

Prototype Menu & Pricing

Deliverable 75m

Develop two mini prototypes of signature treats (Tres Leches–inspired bite and a chocolate chip cookie sample). Conduct a quick tasting with 6–8 testers from peers and staff. Gather feedback on flavor, presentation, and perceived value; draft a pricing rationale with rough costs. Record iterations in a shared log.

Content Expertise

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Collaboration

Effective Communication

Sustainability Scorecard

Deliverable 60m

Create a Sustainability Scorecard outlining packaging choices, waste reduction, energy use, and supplier ethics. Gather stakeholder input on priorities. Use a simple rubric to compare options and propose adjustments that balance environmental impact with cost and profitability.

Content Expertise

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Collaboration

Effective Communication

Plan

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Phase	Empathize Define
Activities	Meet the Tasting Audience Launch 60m	No activities added	No activities added	POV, HMW, and Personas Deliverable 90m
Preparation

Week 2	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7	Day 8
Phase	Define Ideate
Activities	No activities added	No activities added	Concept Kickoff Sketches Deliverable 90m	No activities added
Preparation

Week 3	Day 9	Day 10	Day 11	Day 12
Phase	Ideate Prototype
Activities	No activities added	No activities added	Prototype Iteration Sprint Deliverable 60m	No activities added
Preparation

Week 4	Day 13	Day 14	Day 15	Day 16
Phase	Prototype Test/Present
Activities	No activities added	No activities added	No activities added	Stakeholder Empathy Mapping Deliverable 60m
Preparation

Week 5	Day 17	Day 18	Day 19	Day 20
Phase	Test/Present
Activities	Prototype Menu & Pricing Deliverable 75m	Sustainability Scorecard Deliverable 60m	No activities added	No activities added
Preparation