Stardew Valley Lesson Plan: A Creative Entrepreneurship Project for Teens

Engage your middle school students with this project-based lesson plan using the world of Stardew Valley! This resource guides teens through the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, economics, and marketing. Students will analyze the Pelican Town economy to find a business opportunity, develop a complete business plan, and design creative marketing materials. Perfect for teaching real-world business skills in a fun, interactive way. This lesson includes activities for creative writing and graphic design, plus assessment rubrics and extension ideas.

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Lesson Plan: From Pelican Town to Prosperity

Subject Focus: Entrepreneurship, Economics, Creative Writing, and Graphic Design

Target Age: 13

Core Concept: This lesson uses the world of Stardew Valley as a launchpad for students to develop their own business plan, applying real-world economic and marketing principles in a creative and engaging way.

Materials Needed

  • Notebook and pencil/pen
  • Access to a computer with a word processor and/or simple design software (like Canva or Google Slides)
  • Art supplies (markers, colored pencils, paper - optional, for a hand-drawn approach)
  • Access to Stardew Valley (or detailed knowledge of the game's economy, characters, and locations)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

  • Analyze a simple economy to identify a business opportunity or community need.
  • Develop a basic business plan that outlines a product or service, target audience, and unique value.
  • Create a piece of marketing material (e.g., a flyer or advertisement) designed to persuade a specific audience.
  • Articulate their business idea clearly, connecting it to the needs of a community.

Lesson Activities

Part 1: The Quest Begins - Market Research (30-45 minutes)

Teacher prompt: "Imagine you've just inherited a small, empty storefront in Pelican Town, right next to Pierre's General Store. Mayor Lewis has sent you a letter: 'Welcome! We're thrilled to have a new entrepreneur in town. Before you open up shop, take some time to understand our community. What do we need? What could make life in Pelican Town even better?' Your first quest is to perform 'market research' by analyzing Pelican Town."

Student Activity:

  1. Analyze Existing Businesses: In your notebook, list the main businesses in Stardew Valley (e.g., Pierre's General Store, JojaMart, Clint's Blacksmith, Marnie's Ranch, Robin's Carpenter Shop, The Stardrop Saloon, Harvey's Clinic). For each one, write down:
    • What product or service do they provide?
    • Who are their main customers? (e.g., Farmers, adventurers, everyone)
  2. Identify the Gaps: Now, brainstorm what's missing in Pelican Town. Think about the villagers' daily lives, complaints, and wishes.
    • Does anyone sell high-quality fishing tackle?
    • Is there a place to get tailored clothing besides Emily's occasional gifts?
    • Could adventurers use a Guild that offers prepared meals and potions for the mines?
    • Is there a delivery service for busy farmers?
  3. Choose Your Niche: From your list of gaps, pick the most interesting and promising business idea. This will be the foundation for your project.

Part 2: The Blueprint - Creating Your Business Plan (45-60 minutes)

Teacher prompt: "Great! You have an idea. Now it's time to craft a blueprint for your business. A good plan will help you succeed and convince the other villagers to become your customers. Let's outline the core of your new venture."

Student Activity:

In your notebook or a new document, create a simple business plan. Answer the following questions in detail:

  • Business Name: What is the catchy, memorable name of your shop or service? (e.g., "The Ferngill Forager," "Pelican Town Outfitters," "Evelyn's Baked Goods Delivery")
  • The "What": What exactly will you sell or do? Be specific. Instead of "sell food," try "sell gourmet, pre-packaged meals perfect for taking into the mines, like Spicy Eel and Crab Cakes."
  • The "Who": Who is your ideal customer? Describe them. Is it Abigail the adventurer? Harvey the health-conscious doctor? Penny who loves books? Why would they come to you instead of somewhere else?
  • The "Secret Sauce": What makes your business special? This is your unique value. Do you use only Gold-star quality ingredients? Do you offer the friendliest service in the valley? Do you have items no one else stocks?
  • Location & Hours: Where is your business located (your new storefront!)? What days and hours will you be open? (Consider the town's schedule, like closing on festival days).

Part 3: Spreading the Word - Marketing Your Business (30-45 minutes)

Teacher prompt: "Your business plan is solid! But no one will show up if they don't know you exist. It's time to create an advertisement. You're going to post it on the bulletin board right between the 'Help Wanted' requests and Lewis's shorts."

Student Activity:

Using paper and art supplies or a simple computer design tool, create a flyer for your new business. It must include:

  • Your Business Name (big and bold!)
  • A catchy slogan or headline.
  • A brief, exciting description of your products or services.
  • At least one "special offer" to attract first-time customers (e.g., "Grand Opening! 10% off all purchases!" or "Free coffee with every purchase on Wednesdays!").
  • Your location and hours.
  • An illustration or design that fits the Stardew Valley aesthetic.

Part 4: The Pitch - Presenting to the Mayor (15 minutes)

Teacher prompt: "Mayor Lewis is ready to hear your proposal. Present your business idea clearly and confidently. Explain why Pelican Town needs your business and how you plan to succeed."

Student Activity:

Present your business plan and marketing flyer to your parent/teacher. Explain:

  1. The business you created.
  2. The community need you are filling.
  3. Who your target customers are and why they will love your shop.
  4. Why your marketing flyer will be effective.

Extension & Differentiation ("Going Further")

  • Economics Challenge: Create a simple budget. List 5-10 "start-up" items you'd need to buy (e.g., a furnace, a counter, ingredients). Estimate their cost in Gold (g) based on in-game prices. Then, set prices for 3 of your main products and calculate how many you'd need to sell to cover your start-up costs.
  • Creative Writing Challenge: Write a short story (1-2 pages) about the Grand Opening of your business. Describe which villagers show up, what they buy, and a funny or interesting conversation you have with one of them.
  • Community & Relationships: Design a "Heart Event" that would happen in your shop with one of the Stardew Valley villagers. What would trigger the event? What happens? What dialogue choices would the player have?

Assessment Rubric

The final project (business plan, flyer, and presentation) can be assessed on the following criteria:

  • Clarity & Detail (40%): The business plan is well-defined, specific, and easy to understand. The student clearly articulates what they are selling and to whom.
  • Creativity & Connection (30%): The business idea is original and fits believably within the world of Stardew Valley. The flyer is creative and captures the game's spirit.
  • Application of Concepts (30%): The student successfully identified a market gap and designed a business and marketing strategy to fill it, demonstrating an understanding of basic economic and marketing principles.