Financial literacy activity
Build a Brand
Create a name and a colorful logo for your pretend business! Draw it big and bold. Pick your business colors and make a sign to hang up.
Materials and setup
- paper
- markers
- colored pencils
- cardboard
- scissors
- glue
How this changes by age
Pre-K (ages 3–4)
Create a name and a colorful logo for your pretend business! Draw it big and bold. Pick your business colors and make a sign to hang up.
Steps
- Think of a fun name for your pretend business (e.g., 'Sunny Snacks' or 'Leo's Toy Shop').
- Pick 2-3 favorite colors for your business.
- Draw a big logo: a picture that represents your business (a sun for Sunny Snacks, a teddy bear for a toy shop).
- Write the business name in big letters on a sign using your brand colors.
- Hang up your sign and pretend to welcome customers!
Learning objectives
- Create a business name that relates to the product
- Design a simple logo using shapes and colors
- Understand that businesses use names and pictures to be recognized
Kindergarten (ages 5–6)
Build a complete brand identity! Design a logo, choose brand colors, create a slogan, and make business materials like a sign, business card, and price tag all matching your brand style.
Steps
- Name your business and write 3 words that describe it (fun, yummy, fast).
- Design a logo that includes a picture and your business name.
- Create a catchy slogan: 'Sunny Snacks — the tastiest treats on the block!'
- Choose 2 brand colors. Use them on everything you make.
- Create matching brand materials: a big sign, a small business card, and a price tag.
- Show your brand materials to family: Does everything look like it belongs together?
Learning objectives
- Develop a brand identity with name, logo, colors, and slogan
- Create consistent visual materials that match a brand style
- Understand that branding helps customers recognize and remember a business
Early elementary (ages 6–8)
Develop a professional brand package. Study real brands for inspiration, then create a brand guide with logo variations, color palette, fonts, slogan, and apply it across multiple materials (sign, packaging, business card, flyer).
Steps
- Study 3 brands you love. What do you notice about their logos, colors, and slogans? Write down what makes each one memorable.
- Create your brand: business name, logo (draw 3 versions and pick the best), 3 brand colors, a slogan, and a brand personality (friendly? cool? adventurous?).
- Make a 'Brand Guide' page showing your final logo, colors (with names), slogan, and 3 rules for how your brand should look.
- Apply your brand to 4 items: a storefront sign, a business card, product packaging (decorate a box or bag), and a flyer or menu.
- Ask 3 people: 'Which logo version is best? Is the slogan catchy?' Use feedback to refine.
- Display all materials together. Does everything look cohesive and professional?
Learning objectives
- Analyze real brand strategies and identify effective elements
- Create a brand guide with consistent visual standards
- Apply brand identity across multiple marketing materials
- Collect feedback and refine brand elements
Upper elementary (ages 8–10)
Create a complete brand strategy including brand story, target audience persona, competitive positioning, visual identity system, and a brand launch campaign. Research what makes brands successful and apply those principles.
Steps
- Research brand strategy: What is a brand story? What is a target audience? What is positioning? Study 2 successful brands and analyze each element.
- Define your brand: Write a Brand Story (why your business exists, what problem it solves, what makes it special).
- Create a Target Audience Persona: give your ideal customer a name, age, interests, and explain why they would choose your brand.
- Competitive Positioning: How is your brand different from competitors? Write a positioning statement: 'For [audience] who want [need], [brand] is the [category] that [unique benefit].'
- Design a full Visual Identity System: logo (3 sizes), color palette with hex codes or specific color names, 2 font styles, and a mood board of images that represent your brand.
- Plan a Brand Launch Campaign: How would you introduce your brand? Create 3 pieces of content (poster, social media post mockup, and a 30-second elevator pitch script).
- Present your complete brand strategy to your family.
Learning objectives
- Research and apply professional brand strategy concepts
- Create detailed audience personas and competitive positioning
- Design a cohesive visual identity system with multiple elements
- Plan and present a brand launch campaign
Safety and evidence note
Read the full activity before beginning. An adult should supervise tools, heat, food, outdoor work, movement, and experiments as appropriate. Completion records that the activity was done; the child’s explanation, work sample, photo, or demonstration is stronger evidence of learning than a completion check alone.
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