Elevator Pitch Template for Students

Q: How do I adapt the elevator pitch for grades 6–8?

Grades 6–8 can use the three-cell version : problem, solution, and benefit. For TagBack, that is Jordan's lost hoodie, a classmate scanning the tag, and the hoodie coming home. High school students build all six cells and time the spoken pitch. Career classes can reuse the same structure for a personal pitch for a job or internship.

Q: How can I extend the Elevator Pitch activity?

Have students record the pitch as a narrated slideshow from their storyboard, or run a pitch round where listeners ask one question after each pitch. Then ask: what did people remember, the problem, the magic solution, or the benefit? Strong pitches can become the opening of the later Pitch to Investors activity.

Elevator Pitch - Entrepreneurship Example

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Lesson Plan Overview

Template and Class Instructions

Lesson Plan Overview

An elevator pitch explains an idea in the time it takes to ride an elevator: about 30 to 60 seconds. Most students try to pitch by listing features. A storyboard forces them to do something better: show a person with a problem, and show how their life gets better. If a listener can picture it, they remember it.

This activity uses the six-cell Product → Solution → Benefit framework from our How to Create an Elevator Pitch article, where you'll find the full business example and more templates. After the storyboard, students turn each cell into one or two spoken sentences, and the pitch is done.

Before You Begin

Prerequisite: Spot a Real Problem (cells 1–2 can be reused).
Time needed: 45 minutes for the storyboard; 20 minutes to script and rehearse.
Practice: students pitch to a partner, who must repeat the problem and the benefit back in their own words. If they can't, revise.
Assessment: under 60 seconds spoken; the benefit is something the customer gains, not a feature.

The Six Cells

CELL	WHAT IT DOES	EXAMPLE: TAGBACK
1. Context / Problem	Show a real person with a real, painful problem.	Jordan's hoodie went missing from the gym locker again.
2. The First "But"	Why existing fixes don't work.	The lost-and-found bin is full, but nothing has a name on it.
3. Product Intro	How the customer discovers the product.	Jordan's parent sees TagBack in the school newsletter.
4. Magic Solution	The core idea, shown simply: the "magic button."	A classmate finds the hoodie and scans the tag with a phone.
5. And Then	What happens right after the magic.	Jordan's parent gets a message; no phone number is shared.
6. User Benefit	The lasting value for the customer.	Lost things come home, and the family stops buying replacements.

Differentiation

Grades 6–8: use a three-cell quick version: problem, solution, benefit.
Pitching yourself: the same structure works for a personal elevator pitch for a job, internship, or college interview: the "problem" is what the employer needs, the "solution" is you.
Extension: record the pitch as a slideshow with narration using the storyboard.

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Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Create a six-cell storyboard of your elevator pitch, then write a script you can say in 60 seconds.

Click "Use This Template" from the assignment.
Cell 1: show a person with a real problem.
Cell 2: show the first "But": why today's fixes don't work.
Cell 3: show how the customer finds your product.
Cell 4: show your solution working.
Cell 5: show what happens right after.
Cell 6: show the lasting benefit for the customer.
Under each cell, write one or two sentences you will say out loud. Practice until the whole pitch takes 60 seconds or less.
Save and submit your storyboard.

Elevator Pitch - Entrepreneurship Template

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 6-12

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual, Partner, or Group

Type of Activity: Diagram a Process

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Lesson Plan Overview

Before You Begin

Prerequisite: Spot a Real Problem (cells 1–2 can be reused).
Time needed: 45 minutes for the storyboard; 20 minutes to script and rehearse.
Practice: students pitch to a partner, who must repeat the problem and the benefit back in their own words. If they can't, revise.
Assessment: under 60 seconds spoken; the benefit is something the customer gains, not a feature.

The Six Cells

CELL	WHAT IT DOES	EXAMPLE: TAGBACK
1. Context / Problem	Show a real person with a real, painful problem.	Jordan's hoodie went missing from the gym locker again.
2. The First "But"	Why existing fixes don't work.	The lost-and-found bin is full, but nothing has a name on it.
3. Product Intro	How the customer discovers the product.	Jordan's parent sees TagBack in the school newsletter.
4. Magic Solution	The core idea, shown simply: the "magic button."	A classmate finds the hoodie and scans the tag with a phone.
5. And Then	What happens right after the magic.	Jordan's parent gets a message; no phone number is shared.
6. User Benefit	The lasting value for the customer.	Lost things come home, and the family stops buying replacements.

Differentiation

Grades 6–8: use a three-cell quick version: problem, solution, benefit.
Pitching yourself: the same structure works for a personal elevator pitch for a job, internship, or college interview: the "problem" is what the employer needs, the "solution" is you.
Extension: record the pitch as a slideshow with narration using the storyboard.

Copy Activity

Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Create a six-cell storyboard of your elevator pitch, then write a script you can say in 60 seconds.

Click "Use This Template" from the assignment.
Cell 1: show a person with a real problem.
Cell 2: show the first "But": why today's fixes don't work.
Cell 3: show how the customer finds your product.
Cell 4: show your solution working.
Cell 5: show what happens right after.
Cell 6: show the lasting benefit for the customer.
Under each cell, write one or two sentences you will say out loud. Practice until the whole pitch takes 60 seconds or less.
Save and submit your storyboard.

More options

Copy This Storyboard

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 6-12

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual, Partner, or Group

Type of Activity: Diagram a Process

Copy Activity

How to Run the Elevator Pitch Activity in Storyboard That

Assign the elevator pitch template

Assign the six-cell template from your Teacher Dashboard. For grades 6–8, trim it to three cells: problem, solution, and benefit.

Have students build the six cells

Students storyboard the problem, the first "But," the product intro, the magic solution, what happens next, and the user benefit. They can reuse cells from Spot a Real Problem.

Write a script under each cell

Students add one or two spoken sentences under each cell, keeping the whole pitch to 60 seconds or less.

Practice with a partner

Partners listen and repeat the problem and benefit back. If they can't, the student revises the storyboard and script.

Review and give feedback

Check that the benefit is something the customer gains, not a feature, and comment on any cell that is unclear.

Present the pitches

Students show their storyboard in presentation mode while delivering the script live, or record it as a narrated slideshow.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Elevator Pitch Activity

How do I grade the Elevator Pitch storyboard and script?

Score the six cells 0–2 points each, then add points for delivery: 2 for finishing in 60 seconds or less and 2 if a partner can repeat the problem and benefit. Mark down benefits that are really features. "Has a QR code" is a feature; TagBack's "the family stops buying replacements" is a benefit.

How long does the Elevator Pitch activity take?

Allow 45 minutes for the storyboard and 20 minutes to script and rehearse. Students who finished Spot a Real Problem can reuse cells 1 and 2, which saves time. If every team will pitch to the whole class, add a second period, since each pitch plus feedback takes about three minutes.

How do I adapt the elevator pitch for grades 6–8?

Grades 6–8 can use the three-cell version: problem, solution, and benefit. For TagBack, that is Jordan's lost hoodie, a classmate scanning the tag, and the hoodie coming home. High school students build all six cells and time the spoken pitch. Career classes can reuse the same structure for a personal pitch for a job or internship.

How can English learners prepare to give an elevator pitch?

Let the storyboard do the heavy lifting: students point to each cell as they speak, so listeners can follow even simple language. Have them write one sentence per cell, rehearse with a partner, and record a narrated version before presenting live. Dropping the 60-second limit for a first attempt also lowers the pressure.

How can I extend the Elevator Pitch activity?

Have students record the pitch as a narrated slideshow from their storyboard, or run a pitch round where listeners ask one question after each pitch. Then ask: what did people remember, the problem, the magic solution, or the benefit? Strong pitches can become the opening of the later Pitch to Investors activity.