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Career Quest

Tamara Conneely

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Career Quest Lesson Plan

Students will identify their interests and strengths, research aligned career options, and reflect on potential future pathways to begin planning their goals.

Early career exploration builds self-awareness, motivates academic engagement, and helps students set realistic goals by connecting passions to real-world opportunities.

Audience

8th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive surveys, guided research, and reflective discussion.

Materials

  • Career Interest Survey, - Career Research Template, - Career Reflection Worksheet, - Projector or Smartboard, - Sticky Notes, and - Pens or Pencils

Prep

Teacher Preparation

5 minutes

  • Review the Career Interest Survey, Career Research Template, and Career Reflection Worksheet
  • Print one copy of each handout per student
  • Arrange classroom for small-group work and whole-class discussion
  • Queue up any online career exploration websites if using digital research

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Display prompt: “What do you enjoy doing outside of school?”
  • Have students jot answers on sticky notes and post on board
  • Briefly group similar interests and note patterns to spark discussion

Step 2

Interest Survey

8 minutes

  • Distribute the Career Interest Survey
  • Instruct students to complete questions honestly about hobbies, skills, and values
  • Circulate to support and clarify any questions

Step 3

Career Research

10 minutes

  • Pair students and give each pair the Career Research Template
  • Assign each pair a career area based on common interests identified earlier
  • Students research required education, daily tasks, and salary using textbooks or approved websites
  • Pairs complete their template with key findings

Step 4

Reflection & Goal Setting

7 minutes

  • Hand out the Career Reflection Worksheet
  • Students individually reflect on which careers resonated and why
  • Ask students to write one short‐term goal related to developing a skill for their chosen career
  • Invite volunteers to share one insight or goal with the class
lenny

Slide Deck

Career Quest

Exploring Your Future Paths
8th Grade Tier 1 Lesson

Welcome students! Introduce the lesson: “Today we’re going on a Career Quest to explore jobs that match your passions and strengths.” Explain that over 30 minutes, they’ll discover, research, and reflect on potential future careers.

Lesson Objectives

• Identify your interests and strengths
• Research careers that align with what you enjoy
• Reflect on findings and set a short-term goal

Read aloud the objectives. Emphasize that self-awareness is key to making good decisions and that this process will help them set realistic goals.

Warm-Up: Your Passions

  1. Think of 2–3 activities you love
  2. Write each on a sticky note
  3. Post on the board under “My Interests”

Display “What do you enjoy doing outside of school?” Prompt students to think of hobbies, sports, games, clubs, and write 2–3 things on sticky notes. Collect and group them on the board.

Step 1: Complete Interest Survey

• Distribute the Career Interest Survey
• Answer questions about hobbies, skills, and values
• Work quietly and ask questions if you need help

Explain the Career Interest Survey. Pass out the survey, and instruct students to answer honestly. Circulate to support anytime a question is unclear.

Step 2: Paired Career Research

• Pair up and get the Research Template
• Choose a career area based on your interests
• Research required education, daily tasks, and pay
• Fill in key details on your template

Demonstrate how to use the Career Research Template. Pair students based on similar interests. Remind them to record education, tasks, and salary information.

Step 3: Reflection & Goal

• Complete the Reflection Worksheet
• Which career resonated and why?
• Write one short-term goal to build a related skill
• Be ready to share one insight

Hand out the Career Reflection Worksheet. Guide students through reflecting on what they learned and writing a personal skill-building goal.

Share & Next Steps

• Volunteers share one insight or goal
• Discuss how today’s steps help plan your future
• Keep your notes for further career exploration

Invite volunteers to share their insights and goals. Reinforce the importance of connecting passions to future choices and encourage students to keep thinking about next steps.

lenny

Worksheet

Career Interest Survey

Instructions: Please answer the following questions honestly. There are no right or wrong answers.

  1. What activities or hobbies do you enjoy most outside of school?






  2. Which subjects at school do you like best and why?






  3. What are three skills or talents you feel you are good at? List and describe each.






  4. When working in a team, what role do you prefer (e.g., leader, researcher, organizer, supporter)? Why?






  5. What type of work environment do you think you’d enjoy most (e.g., indoors, outdoors, active, creative, structured)? Explain.






  6. Describe one value that is important to you (e.g., helping others, creativity, leadership, security) and explain why.






  7. From the list below, circle three words that describe you best: Creative, Analytical, Energetic, Caring, Organized, Adventurous, Detail-Oriented, Competitive.
    Then explain why you chose each word.






  8. Name a job or career you’ve heard about that sounds interesting. What appeals to you about it?






  9. What is one personal or academic goal you have for the future?






  10. Based on your answers so far, list two careers you might want to explore further and why.






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lenny

Worksheet

Career Research Template

Instructions: In pairs, research the assigned career and complete each section below with accurate information.

1. Career Title:




2. Brief Description of the Career:







3. Required Education or Training (degrees, certifications, years):







4. Typical Daily Tasks and Responsibilities:













5. Expected Salary Range:




6. Skills and Qualities Needed:







7. Pros (advantages) of this Career:







8. Cons (challenges) of this Career:







9. Resources Used (websites, books, interviews):







10. Personal Reflection: Why might this career be a good fit for someone with your interests and strengths?












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lenny

Worksheet

Career Reflection Worksheet

Instructions: Reflect on the career you researched, synthesize your findings, and set a short-term goal.

  1. Career Title:



  2. Summarize what you learned about this career’s required education/training, daily tasks, and salary range.






  3. Which aspects of this career interest you most and why?






  4. Which aspects of this career concern you or do not align with your preferences?






  5. Based on your interests, skills, and values, how well does this career fit you? Explain.











  6. Identify one skill or quality needed for this career that you would like to develop. What is your short-term goal related to this skill?






  7. List specific steps/actions you will take in the next week or month to work toward this goal.






  8. How will you measure your progress and know when you have reached your goal?






  9. Reflection: How has this research influenced your thinking about your future career?






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lenny

Warm Up

Passion Brainstorm

Instructions:

  1. Think of 2–3 activities or hobbies you enjoy outside of school.
  2. Write each activity on a separate sticky note.
  3. Post your sticky notes on the board under My Interests.

My Ideas Before Posting:

  1. Activity 1:



  2. Activity 2:



  3. Activity 3:



Once everyone has posted, we’ll group similar interests and discuss common themes.

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lenny

Cool Down

Goal Share

Instructions: Reflect on today’s Career Quest lesson and complete the exit ticket below.

  1. What is one key insight or takeaway you gained today?






  2. What is one short-term goal you will set to develop a skill or explore your chosen career further?






  3. What specific action will you take in the next week to work toward this goal?






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