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Future Quest: College & Careers

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Britton Smith

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Session 1: Dream Big!

Introduce 6th-grade students to college and careers through a five-session series that inspires goal-setting and self-exploration.

Early exposure to future planning boosts motivation, helps students connect personal interests with education and career opportunities, and sets a foundation for academic success.

Audience

6th Grade

Time

5 x 30 minutes

Approach

Interactive, discussion-based, and activity-driven sessions.

Materials

4th Period: Dream Big!, 5th Period: Future Skills, 6th Period: Education Matters, 7th Period: Exploring Careers, and 8th Period: Do-It-Yourself Future Plan

Prep

Preparation for Future Quest: College & Careers

20 minutes

  • Review each period's lesson plan and materials, including 4th Period: Dream Big!.
  • Familiarize yourself with the new materials for periods 5th through 8th to confidently facilitate discussions.
  • Prepare any necessary visuals or digital resources (projector, computer) for interactive parts of the lesson.
  • Ensure the classroom environment is conducive to group activities and personal reflection.

Step 1

4th Period: Dream Big!

30 minutes

  • Begin with a brief discussion on the meaning of 'dreaming big' and why it matters.
  • Guide students through activities to identify their personal interests and aspirations.
  • Encourage sharing and group interaction to build a positive, supportive atmosphere.
  • Refer to 4th Period: Dream Big! for detailed activity steps.

Step 2

5th Period: Future Skills

30 minutes

  • Introduce the concept of essential skills for college and career readiness such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
  • Engage students with a hands-on activity where they identify skills they already have and skills they want to develop.
  • Use interactive discussion prompts and examples to relate skills to everyday experiences.
  • Refer to 5th Period: Future Skills for additional structure.

Step 3

6th Period: Education Matters

30 minutes

  • Discuss the role of education in achieving dreams and creating career opportunities.
  • Facilitate a brainstorming session on subjects and extracurricular activities that align with various career interests.
  • Include a quick quiz or game to reinforce learning about different educational paths.
  • Refer to 6th Period: Education Matters for more activity ideas.

Step 4

7th Period: Exploring Careers

30 minutes

  • Highlight various career paths using real-world examples and stories.
  • Organize a small-group activity where students research a career and present fun facts to their peers.
  • Encourage questions about what different careers entail and discuss the importance of aligning passions with careers.
  • See 7th Period: Exploring Careers for supporting materials.

Step 5

8th Period: Do-It-Yourself Future Plan

30 minutes

  • Have students create a simple, personalized ‘future plan’ outlining educational and career goals.
  • Guide them through reflecting on the past periods and combining their insights into actionable next steps.
  • Allow time for students to share their plans and receive constructive feedback from peers.
  • Consult 8th Period: Do-It-Yourself Future Plan for templates and graphic organizers.
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Slide Deck

4th Period: Dream Big!

  • What does it mean to dream big?
  • Identify personal interests and aspirations
  • Group sharing and supportive discussion

Introduce the overall theme of the lesson series, highlighting how dreaming big and setting goals is the first step in planning for college and careers. Emphasize the importance of self-reflection and sharing in a supportive environment.

5th Period: Future Skills

  • Identify skills for success (communication, teamwork, problem-solving)
  • Hands-on activity: What skills do you have?
  • Discussion on how these skills help in college and careers

This slide introduces the idea of building essential skills for the future. Use engaging examples and discussion prompts to help students connect everyday skills with future success.

6th Period: Education Matters

  • Discuss the role of education in career success
  • Brainstorm subjects and extracurriculars linked to interests
  • Interactive quiz/game on educational paths

Highlight the critical role of education in achieving dreams and opening career opportunities. Reinforce ideas with interactive questioning and brief quizzes where possible.

7th Period: Exploring Careers

  • Review various career options
  • Small-group activity: Research a career
  • Share fun facts and discuss the alignment of passions with careers

Focus on career exploration by detailing different career paths with relatable, real-world examples. Encourage group research and short presentations to make the session interactive.

8th Period: Do-It-Yourself Future Plan

  • Create a personalized future plan: Educational and career goals
  • Reflect on previous sessions
  • Share plans and exchange constructive feedback

Conclude the series with a guided session where students create their personal future plans. Highlight the importance of integrating lessons learned from all sessions.

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Activity

Dream Big! Activity

Objective:

In this activity, you'll get to imagine your future and think about what makes you unique. You'll reflect on your interests, talents, and dreams, and then create a colorful representation of your future goals.

Instructions:

  1. Think About Your Dreams:

    • Begin by closing your eyes and imagining what you might like to be when you grow up. Think of a job you find exciting or a field you're curious about.
    • Consider your hobbies, favorite subjects, and moments when you felt really happy or proud.


  2. Draw Your Dream:

    • On a piece of paper or using a digital drawing tool, create a picture that shows your dream job or a future scene where you are doing something you love.





  3. Write About Your Dream:

    • Next to your drawing, write a few sentences describing what you drew. Answer these questions:
      • What is your dream?
      • Why did you choose this dream?
      • How does it make you feel?





  4. Share and Discuss:

    • Once you are finished, be ready to share your drawing and writing with a partner or small group. Listen to others, and discuss what you have in common and what makes your dreams unique.

Reflection:

  • What new things did you learn about yourself during this activity?
  • How do you think your dreams can shape your future?

Enjoy the process of dreaming and remember, no dream is too big!










lenny
lenny

Activity

Future Skills Workshop

Objective:

In this workshop, you'll explore the key skills that will help you succeed in college and your future career. You will assess your current strengths, identify areas for growth, and learn how to develop skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Instructions:

  1. Skill Self-Assessment:

    • Start by reflecting on your everyday activities. What are some skills you use when talking to friends, working on a group project, or solving a puzzle?
    • Write down or discuss in small groups three skills you feel confident about.


  2. Identify Areas for Growth:

    • Think about skills you want to improve or learn. Perhaps you want to be better at public speaking, working in a team, or thinking creatively to solve problems.
    • Make a list of at least two skills you’d like to develop further.





  3. Interactive Activity – Skill Mapping:

    • Use a graphic organizer (a simple table on paper) with two columns: one for the skill you already have and one for the skill you want to improve.
    • For each skill, write one real-life example where that skill helped you or where you see potential for growth.










  4. Group Discussion:

    • Share your skill maps with a partner or small group. Discuss how these skills are important in college and careers.
    • Listen to your peers and come up with one new strategy together for improving an identified skill.


Reflection:

  • What did you learn about the skills you already have?
  • Are there any surprising skills you discovered you need to work on?
  • How can improving these skills help you in your future academic and career plans?










Enjoy the workshop, and remember every skill you build today paves the way for your success tomorrow!

lenny
lenny

Game

Education Matters Quiz

Objective:

This quiz is designed to reinforce the importance of education in achieving career goals. Students will answer questions about different educational paths and explore how education connects to various career opportunities. By participating in this interactive quiz, students will learn through immediate feedback and engaging questions.

Game Instructions:

  1. Introduction:

    • Begin by explaining that education opens doors to different career paths. Discuss briefly how subjects and interests connect to real-world jobs.
    • Share examples of how education has helped individuals succeed in various careers.



  2. Quiz Format:

    • Present a series of multiple-choice questions. You may use a digital platform (like PowerPoint, Kahoot, or an online quiz tool) or conduct the quiz verbally in the classroom.
    • Each question will have 3-4 answer choices. Allow students to think quietly for 30 seconds before discussing answers as a class.






  3. Questions:

    Question 1: What is one benefit of having a strong educational background?

    • A. It makes you rich automatically
    • B. It opens up diverse career opportunities
    • C. It guarantees a perfect life
    • D. It only matters in school

    Question 2: Which subject might help you if you're interested in engineering?

    • A. History
    • B. Mathematics
    • C. Art
    • D. Physical Education

    Question 3: How can extracurricular activities support your education and career plans?

    • A. They help you build teamwork and leadership skills
    • B. They distract you from studying
    • C. They are only for fun, not learning
    • D. They have no impact on college admissions

    Question 4: Why is it important to explore different subjects in school?

    • A. To confuse yourself with too many options
    • B. To discover new interests and potential career paths
    • C. To have a busy schedule
    • D. It isn’t important at all




  4. Feedback and Discussion:

    • After each question, reveal the correct answer and explain why it is correct. For example, after Question 1, discuss how education expands career choices and builds important skills.
    • Encourage students to share why they chose their answer. This discussion helps solidify their understanding.











  5. Wrap-Up:

    • Conclude the quiz with a recap of key points: the role of education in shaping career paths and how exploring different subjects can help discover individual strengths.
    • Ask the students to reflect on which educational path might align with their dreams and discuss any new ideas they may have picked up.












Follow-Up Questions:

  • What new information from the quiz surprised you?
  • How do you see your current education helping you achieve your dream career?
  • In what ways can you further explore subjects that interest you?

Enjoy the quiz and let's discover how education can shape a bright future!

lenny
lenny

Project Guide

Do-It-Yourself Future Plan Project

Objective:

In this project, you will create a personalized future plan that outlines your educational and career goals. This project combines insights from previous sessions — from dreaming big, identifying future skills, understanding the role of education, and exploring different careers — to help you design a roadmap for success.

Instructions:

  1. Reflect on Previous Sessions:

    • Think about the activities and discussions from the earlier sessions. What were the key takeaways about your interests, dreams, and skills?


  2. Template and Organizer:

    • Use the provided template and graphic organizer to jot down your future goals. The organizer should include sections for:
      • Your Dream: Describe what you aspire to be and why.
      • Skills Assessment: List the skills you currently have and the ones you need to develop.
      • Educational Path: Outline subjects or courses that interest you and how they connect to your career goals.
      • Action Steps: Create a list of small, actionable steps you can take towards your dream.


  3. Personalize Your Plan:

    • Add creative touches to your plan. Draw, color, or include symbols that represent your goals and aspirations. This is your personal roadmap, so make it uniquely yours!


  4. Share and Discuss:

    • Once your future plan is complete, share it with a partner or small group. Discuss your action steps and ask for constructive feedback. Use this discussion as a chance to refine your future plan.


Materials:

  • Use the graphic organizers and templates provided by your teacher. If you need extra copies or digital versions, please ask!


Reflection:

  • What did you learn about your future while creating this plan?
  • How does planning ahead make you feel about achieving your dreams?
  • What is one small step you can take immediately to start working towards your goal?










lenny
lenny

Activity

Exploring Careers Activity

Objective:

In this activity, 6th-grade students will explore a variety of career paths. The goal is to help them connect their personal interests and skills to potential careers by researching, discussing, and presenting their findings.


Instructions:

  1. Career Brainstorming:

    • Spend 5 minutes writing down as many careers as you can think of. Don't worry about whether they seem realistic or not—just list them!





  2. Research a Career:

    • Choose one career from your list that interests you the most.
    • Use classroom resources or approved online sites (ask your teacher for recommendations) to find out more about this career. Focus on these questions:
      • What does a person in this career do on a daily basis?
      • What skills or education are needed?
      • What makes this career exciting or important?
    • Take notes as you research.





  3. Create a Career Poster:

    • On a sheet of paper or using a digital tool, create a colorful poster that highlights your chosen career. Include:
      • A catchy title with the name of the career
      • Key facts, such as job responsibilities, required skills, and education
      • A picture or drawing that represents the career (you can draw it or use a printed image with proper citations)
    • Be creative so your poster stands out!





  4. Presentation and Discussion:

    • Prepare to share your poster with the class or a small group. Explain why you chose this career and what exciting opportunities it offers.
    • After presentations, participate in a group discussion where you compare different careers and reflect on what you learned.





Reflection:

  • What did you find most interesting about the career you researched?
  • How can understanding different careers help you with your own future plans?
  • Is there something about your chosen career that you didn’t know before today?

Enjoy the exploration and have fun discovering the exciting possibilities out there!










lenny
lenny