How I Turned My Classroom Into A Shark Tank—And Why You Should Too
Spoiler alert: No students were harmed by actual sharks during this simulation. But their business ideas? Absolutely grilled—and they loved every second of it.
If you’ve ever wished your economics or social studies students could actually feel the highs and lows of the real-world economy—without the risk of bankruptcy or becoming the next Fyre Festival—then you’re going to love this.
I recently ran a Shark Tank classroom simulation, and let me tell you—it was the most engaged I’ve seen my students all semester. Phones were down, hands were up, and ideas were flowing faster than caffeine during finals week.
Let me show you how it works (and why it’s easier than it sounds).
🎬 What Is a Shark Tank Classroom Simulation?
Imagine this: Your students form small teams, create a business from scratch, develop a product or service, craft a marketing strategy, build a (fake but fabulous) pitch, and then stand in front of real staff members acting as Sharks to earn investment dollars.
It’s like economics class… if economics class were co-hosted by Mr. Wonderful and your assistant principal.
💼 Why It Works
Let’s be honest—teaching entrepreneurship and economic principles can be a little dry if we’re sticking to lectures and textbook definitions. But when students actually become entrepreneurs?
Supply and demand? Now they care.
Profit margins? They’re crunching numbers like real MBAs.
Teamwork, creativity, critical thinking? Check, check, and check.
It’s project-based learning that actually sticks—and your students will remember it long after they’ve forgotten how to calculate opportunity cost.
Students Presenting to the Sharks!
🧭 Here’s How the Simulation Flows:
Students create a business using a guided planning document (I’ve got you covered with editable templates).
They develop a 2-page promotional pitch to hook early investors (a.k.a. your colleagues).
Teacher investors get $1 million in fake money to invest in student companies using a simple Google Form.
Students use their “funding” to build a full-blown Shark Tank presentation—this time with startup costs, projected profits, and all the juicy details.
They present to a panel of four staff members acting as Sharks (yes, your principal can be the next Lori Greiner).
Sharks ask tough questions, then invest $2 million each.
The team with the most investment wins. Bragging rights are forever.
🧠 What Students Learn (Without Even Realizing It)
How to write a pitch that sells
How to work as a team under pressure
How to speak confidently and answer questions on the fly
How the economy works from the inside out
Bonus: It’s a safe space to fail. And fail fast. And bounce back stronger. You know—the stuff actual entrepreneurs do every day.
🧰 What Teachers Get (Besides Engagement)
A full project that takes minimal prep with more time to plan on other things
Built-in flexibility for class size, time, and student needs
Editable Google Docs, rubrics, and email templates
A simulation that covers multiple social studies and economics standards
A reason for your admin to walk in and say, “Wow—this is amazing.”
🛒 Ready to Jump In the Tank?
I’ve bundled everything into a classroom-ready resource on Teachers Pay Teachers and also available right here on my site. It includes:
Teacher directions
Student planning docs
Editable pitch templates
Investment tracking tools
Rubrics, schedules, scripts, and more
All you have to do is click, assign, and let the business battles begin.
📣 Final Thought: If Your Class Was a Business......would you invest in it?
You would! Make your class a place where ideas matter, voices are heard, and students walk away feeling like CEOs-in-training. With this Shark Tank Simulation, you’re not just teaching economics—you’re creating future leaders, innovators, and maybe even the next Mark Cuban.
So let’s make entrepreneurship fun, fearless, and unforgettable. Your classroom deserves it.
Want to see more creative simulations and practical resources for middle and high school social studies?
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Stay Savvy,
Mister Harms
Economics Teacher | Curriculum Creator | Shark Whisperer 🦈