Lesson Plan
Career Quest Lesson Plan
Students will explore different career paths and understand the skills needed for each, sparking early career interest.
Early exposure to diverse careers helps students start considering future goals and builds foundational awareness for career planning.
Audience
7th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion and hands-on activities.
Materials
Prep
Lesson Prep
5 minutes
- Review the Career Quest Lesson Plan for detailed instructions.
- Prepare any aids (charts, career cards, etc.) for interactive discussion.
- Ensure the classroom setup supports group discussion.
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Welcome students and introduce the theme of career exploration.
- Ask students what they know about different careers to engage prior knowledge.
Step 2
Main Activity
20 minutes
- Present a variety of career options and their related skills.
- Divide students into small groups to discuss which career interests them and why.
- Have each group share their findings and ideas with the class.
Step 3
Conclusion
5 minutes
- Recap the key points learned about various careers and required skills.
- Encourage students to think about steps they can take to explore their chosen career further.
Slide Deck
Welcome to Career Quest!
Discover different careers and the skills needed. Let's start our journey into the future!
Introduce the lesson with energy. Mention that today's session is about exploring various careers and thinking about the skills needed for each.
What is Career Exploration?
Career exploration involves learning about various job fields and understanding the skills each job requires. Why is it important? Early awareness helps in planning and achieving future goals.
Explain what career exploration means and why it's important to start early. Engage the class with some questions.
Explore Career Paths
Some career examples include:
• Science & Technology
• Arts & Entertainment
• Healthcare
• Business & Finance
• Education
• Trades & Services
What careers interest you?
Show visuals or icons related to different careers such as science, arts, technology, healthcare, etc. Ask students to name some careers they know.
Group Activity
In your groups, discuss:
- Which career interests you the most?
- What skills do you think are important for that career?
Then, share your ideas with the class.
Encourage students to discuss in small groups which career paths interest them and why. Monitor group discussions and prompt further thought.
Next Steps
Key Points:
• Early exploration builds the foundation for your future career.
• Identify skills needed for careers that interest you.
• Keep exploring and learning!
What is one step you can take to learn more about your chosen career?
Summarize the key takeaways. Remind students that exploring careers is an ongoing journey and encourage them to think about steps they can take.
Activity
Career Exploration Group Activity
Welcome to the Career Exploration Group Activity! In this activity, you'll work together with your classmates to explore different career paths and understand the skills needed for each. This is a fun, interactive way to think about what you might want to do in the future.
Activity Guidelines
-
Form Groups:
- Divide into small groups of about 3-4 students.
- Choose a group name if you like!
-
Discussion Points:
- Career Interest: As a group, discuss which careers interest you the most. Think about different industries such as science & technology, arts & entertainment, healthcare, business & finance, education, and trades & services.
- Required Skills: Identify at least two skills that are important for the career(s) you discussed. For example, if you choose engineering, you might think about problem-solving and teamwork.
- Personal Connection: Talk about why these careers interest you. Do you already have a hobby or skill that relates to one of these careers?
-
Group Work Time:
- Time Allotment: Spend about 15 minutes discussing within your groups.
- Use the discussion questions as a guide and make sure everyone has a chance to share their ideas.
-
Sharing with the Class:
- After group discussions, one volunteer from each group will share what your group talked about. Describe which career(s) you discussed, why it interests your group, and which skills you think are important.
Follow-up Questions for Discussion
- What additional skills might be needed for more advanced roles in the career you discussed?
- How do you think these skills can be developed in school or at home?
- Are there any unexpected challenges in the careers you explored?
Student Work Space
Your Group's Brainstorm (Write down your ideas together):
Career(s) of Interest:
Skills Needed:
Personal Reasons or Experiences That Connect to These Careers:
Reflections (Individual Reflection after group's sharing):
- What did you learn from your group discussion?
- Is there a new career you're interested in learning more about?
Remember, this activity is all about exploring your interests and starting to think about future career paths. Enjoy the discussion and have fun learning about different careers!