Activity can be taught in the classroom or online
Google, Windows, & Mac-friendly!
All documents are editable to meet your classroom needs.
This activity is included in the Marketing Mix Products - Part 1- Unit Plan
Teach students to think like marketers with this hands-on, real-world activity.
This engaging 90-minute activity helps students explore how businesses classify products and build marketing strategies around them. Students will work through four distinct sections, covering consumer product categories, business product types, marketing mix applications, and brand positioning, using real-world examples such as Nike, Tesla, and Starbucks.
Perfect for marketing, business, entrepreneurship, or intro to business courses, this activity builds foundational marketing knowledge through analysis, critical thinking, and collaboration.
What’s Included:
Editable 4-Part Student Worksheet (Digital or Printable)
Full Teacher Instructions & 90-Minute Pacing Guide
Answer Key with Classifications & Justifications
Brand Positioning Analysis Framework
Optional Exit Ticket & Extension Ideas
Activity Breakdown:
Part 1: Consumer Product Classification: Classify everyday items, such as toothpaste, laptops, and sneakers, into the four consumer product categories.
Part 2: Business Product Classification: Analyze products like steel, office chairs, and commercial trucks using business product categories.
Part 3: Marketing Mix Strategy Matching: Match product types to promotion, pricing, and distribution strategies tailored to each category.
Part 4: Brand Differentiation & Positioning: Use the core-actual-augmented product model to evaluate top brands like Tesla, iPhone, and Starbucks.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the classification of both consumer and business products
Apply the 4 Ps of marketing to product strategy
Analyze how branding and positioning drive market success
Develop critical thinking through product justification and peer discussion
Why Teachers Love It:
Editable & Easy to Use: Comes fully ready-to-teach with digital and print options
Real-World Connections: Uses recognizable products and brands students relate to
Skill-Based Learning: Promotes analysis, application, and marketing fluency
No Prep Needed: Includes everything you need for a meaningful 90-minute lesson
Add this activity to your classroom today and give your students a marketing mindset they can apply to any business concept.