Adventures of Entrepreneurial Jack (L2)

The Adventures of Entrepreneurial Jack is an educational practice based on the adaptation of Janusz Korczak’s novella The Bankruptcy of Little Jack. The project is implemented in Poland for students in grades 4–8 of primary school (ages 10–15). Its goal is to develop students’ entrepreneurial and financial competencies through engaging, practice-oriented activities inspired by literature and everyday life. The program is integrated into subjects such as Polish language, mathematics, social studies, and geography. Its core objective is to spark an interest in economics and to build basic financial literacy and entrepreneurial thinking in children.

Key Activities and Student Experience
The central activity involves exploring the adventures of the main character—Jack, a schoolboy who manages a cooperative and faces challenges in management, accounting, and marketing. Students solve practical tasks: calculating capital, income, and expenses; analyzing the causes of bankruptcy; simulating businesses; and discussing ethical dilemmas. Through discussions, business games, creative assignments, and economic simulations, students develop critical thinking, financial responsibility, planning skills, teamwork, and decision-making abilities. Key competencies include initiative, communication, leadership, and foundational financial literacy.

Program Features and Principles
The practice combines cultural heritage with modern educational approaches. Based on Korczak’s humanistic pedagogy, the program emphasizes values such as honesty, hard work, responsibility, and social justice. Its uniqueness lies in blending literary narrative with interactive educational methods. It highlights the relevance of real-life scenarios, conscious attitudes toward money, and the role of entrepreneurship in society. The learning process revolves around concrete storylines that illustrate entrepreneurial principles in action.

Methodology and Structure
The program consists of a series of thematic 45-minute lessons, each supported by a detailed lesson plan, presentation, activity cards, and book excerpts. The methodology includes project- and problem-based learning, discussion, text work, case analysis, and the use of gamified elements. Lessons are designed to engage students actively in understanding concepts like “capital,” “investment,” “profit,” and “bankruptcy,” and to build rational financial behavior.

Expected Outcomes and Value
The practice fosters entrepreneurial thinking, financial literacy, confidence, and planning abilities. Students learn to make informed decisions, understand the importance of resources and investments, anticipate consequences, and mitigate risks. For teachers, it offers a ready-to-use toolkit that is both inspiring and deeply engaging, with clear instructional logic and rich content. It supports cross-curricular integration and helps students develop sustainable 21st-century skills. The Adventures of Enterprising Jack stands as a model of successful synergy between cultural heritage and modern entrepreneurship education.