Ontario Farming STEMterprise Grade 5
A unique curriculum-based program that helps Ontario students develop STEM and entrepreneurship skills as they explore food, farming, and the human body through a pizza shop business.
Got a question for the Good in Every Classroom team? Send us an email to web@gfo.ca.
Putting STEM to work
Are your students budding entrepreneurs? Engage their interest with Ontario Farming STEMterprise created for Grade 5 classrooms. Students build skills in science, health, language, math, technology, and more as they develop their own pizza shop business.
Our FREE, easy-to-use, curriculum-based program connects entrepreneurship, food, the human body, and Ontario agriculture through hands-on, real-world learning. You’ll be impressed by what your students can create!
Project Overview Educator Information PacketRecommended grades: Designed specifically for Grade 5, with additional supports for combined Grade 4/5 and Grade 5/6 classrooms
Resources: Downloadable lesson plans; teaching slides with speaking notes; embedded videos; student worksheets; assessment supports; optional coding and career connections; combined-grade STEM challenges; and optional seed kits
Class Delivery Options: In person; adaptable for different classroom settings
Time: Lessons average approximately 60 minutes. The project can be completed over a term, in approximately 10 weeks, or woven throughout the school year.
Curriculum connections: Science and Technology; Mathematics; Language; Health and Physical Education; The Arts; Financial Literacy; Coding; Environmental Education; and Entrepreneurship
Additional information: The program and resources are editable and adaptable via Google Docs, Slides, Sheets and Forms. Additionally, the program and resources can be downloaded via PDF’s. Educators can complete the full project or select the stages and lessons that best suit their students, schedule, and classroom needs. Pizza making is optional, and the project can be completed without preparing or working with food at school.
Educators can request STEMterprise classroom kits to use with this program.
Grade 5 STEMterprise lesson plans and resources
Click on the stage titles below to expand details and materials.
Access All materials in Google Download All MATERIALS As PDFsPreview materials for the project
(Note: these are included in the two project download packages above, but will need to be downloaded separately if you choose to download lessons one-by-one)
- Parent sample letter home
- STEMterprise Grade 5 assessment planning
- Student resource packet
- Career connection slides
- Coding connection slides
- STEMterprise deliverables tracker
Looking for a place to kick off STEMterprise with your students? Help your student become familiar with the vocabulary they might encounter in this project with STEMterprise Jeopardy!
For educators:
For students:
Supporting Grade 4 and 6 Students in Combined Grade 4/5 and 5/6 STEMterprise Classrooms
The Grade 5 STEMterprise Pizza Shop Project builds STEM skills from Strand A of the Ontario Science Curriculum. In most of the lessons, activities can be used as planned in a combined Grade 4/5 or 5/6 classroom. However, in Stage 2, the learning expectations vary considerably between Grade 5 Life Systems and Grade 4 and Grade 6 Science expectations.
To help make planning easier, we’ve developed a few optional learning opportunities designed especially for Grade 4 and 6 students. These activities connect to the Pizza Project and link directly to the Grade 4 structures and mechanisms expectations and Grade 6 flight and energy Science expectations.
Stage 2, Grade 4
Stage 2, Grade 6
Stage 1: Starting a Business
Students are challenged to become entrepreneurs and create their own pizza shop business. They will explore what makes a business successful, form business teams, and begin developing a name, logo, and marketing plan.
Lesson 1 – Pizza Challenge
An introduction to the project and to entrepreneurship. Students discover what they will create and begin thinking about the skills entrepreneurs need.
S1.L1 – Lesson Plan S1.L1 – SlideshowLesson 2 – Pizza Shop Business
Students build their business vocabulary and brainstorm ideas for their own pizza shop.
S1.L2 – Lesson Plan S1.L2 – SlideshowLesson 3 – Introduction to Market Research
Students form their business groups and explore how businesses use market research to understand their customers and make informed decisions.
S1.L3 – Lesson Plan S1.L3 – SlideshowLesson 4 – Introduction to Marketing Strategies
Students examine how branding and logos change over time, then create a name and logo for their pizza shop business.
S1.L4 – Lesson Plan S1.L4 – SlideshowStage 2: Food & Our Body
Before designing their pizza products, students investigate how food supports the body. Through hands-on activities, they explore the digestive and circulatory systems, food labels, whole grains, and Canada’s Food Guide.
Lesson 1 – The Digestive System
Students explore the organs and processes involved in digestion through a hands-on activity that models how food moves through the digestive system.
S2.L1 – Lesson Plan S2.L1 – SlideshowLesson 2 – Canada’s Food Guide
Students explore Canada’s Food Guide, whole grains, and Nutrition Facts tables as they consider ingredients for their pizza products. An optional grain-planting activity is also included.
S2.L2 – Lesson Plan S2.L2 – SlideshowLesson 3 – Heart Health
Students investigate the circulatory system and explore how dietary fibre functions in both the digestive and circulatory systems. An interactive game reinforces their learning.
S2.L3 – Lesson Plan S2.L3 – SlideshowOptional Coding Connection – The Circulatory System
Students use Ozobots to model how blood travels through the circulatory system.
S2 – Coding Connections SlideshowStage 3: Market Research & Business Plan
Students gather and analyze information to guide their business decisions. They will conduct surveys, create graphs, identify their target audience, and use the results to shape their products, advertising, and packaging.
Lesson 1 – Conducting Surveys
Students design and distribute a survey to gather information about pizza preferences. Digital and printable survey options are provided.
S3.L1 – Lesson Plan S3.L1 – SlideshowLesson 2 – Analyzing Surveys
Students organize and analyze their survey results using charts and graphs. Optional extensions introduce mean, median, and mode.
S3.L2 – Lesson Plan S3.L2 – SlideshowLesson 3 – Promotional Materials
Students learn how businesses communicate with different audiences and create promotional materials for their pizza shop. They use peer feedback to improve their work.
S3.L3 – Lesson Plan S3.L3 – SlideshowLesson 4 – Packaging
Students explore how packaging supports branding, marketing, and product protection. They also consider environmental impact as they design sustainable packaging for their pizza product.
S3.L4 – Lesson Plan S3.L4 – SlideshowStage 4: Food Systems & Farming
Students trace pizza ingredients from farm to plate and explore the role Ontario agriculture plays in our food system. They will also investigate how farmers use technology to make decisions, improve efficiency, and support environmental sustainability.
Lesson 1 – Food Origins
Students investigate where common pizza ingredients come from and follow their journey through the food system from farms to consumers.
S4.L1 – Lesson Plan S4.L1 – SlideshowLesson 2 – Pizza Recipes
Students review a selection of recipes and choose or adapt one for their business using the results of their market research.
S4.L2 – Lesson Plan S4.L2 – SlideshowLesson 3 – Farm Technology
Students discover how modern farmers use technology to grow crops, make informed decisions, and farm more efficiently. Optional extensions connect the lesson to broadcasting, podcasting, renewable energy, and coding with Micro:bit.
S4.L3 -Lesson Plan S4.L3 -SlideshowStage 5: Create & Pitch
Students bring together their science, math, language, health, and business learning to finalize their pizza shop plans. They calculate costs, refine their products and marketing materials, and prepare to share their businesses with an audience.
Lesson 1 – Pricing
Students calculate the cost of making their pizza products while exploring financial literacy concepts such as unit rates, taxes, budgeting, and comparing prices.
S5.L1 – Lesson Plan S5.L1 – SlideshowLesson 2 – Finalizing Plans
Students review and revise their business plans, promotional materials, and packaging. They prepare to present, promote, or sell their pizza products during the final showcase.
S5.L2 – Lesson Plan S5.L2 – SlideshowLesson 3 – Pizza Making
Students may make pizzas or pizza pinwheels in class, at home, or through another hands-on option that suits their classroom. Food preparation is optional and is not required to complete the project.
S5.L3 – Lesson Plan S5.L3 – SlideshowLesson 4 – Business Showcase
Students celebrate and share their learning through a final business presentation. Showcase options include a STEM Den, cooking show, restaurant simulation, food blog, or business showcase with voting.
S5.L4 – Lesson Plan S5.L4 – Slideshow
Get Notified
We’re busy creating more resources and learning materials. Subscribe to our Good in Every Classroom newsletter to be notified when they are available.
