High School Application Adventure

Jessica Handley

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

High School Application Adventure

Prepare for high school application

This lesson engages 8th-grade students in an interactive and fun exploration of the high school application process. Students will work collaboratively to fill out a sample application form, write creative personal statements, and discuss their academic interests and extracurricular activities. This lesson is important as it demystifies the high school application process, making it less intimidating and more approachable for students. By actively participating, students will gain confidence and a clearer understanding of what is required to successfully apply and register for high school.

Audience

8th Grade Students

Time

40 minutes

Approach

Experiential Learning, Game-Based Learning, Active Learning

Materials

Sample Application Form, Discussion Questions, Pens, and Paper

Step 1

Introduction

5 mins

Briefly introduce the lesson objective: preparing for high school applications.
Explain the activity: students will engage in a fun and interactive exploration of the application process.

Step 2

Interactive Application Exploration

25 mins

Distribute the "Sample Application Form" to each student.
Encourage students to fill out the form with their personal information, academic interests, and extracurricular activities.
Provide creative writing prompts for the personal statement section, such as "Describe a challenge you overcame" or "What makes you unique?"
Organize a role-playing activity where students act as admissions officers reviewing applications.
Conduct peer interviews where students ask each other questions from the application form to practice verbal communication skills.
Allow students to share their personal statements with a partner or small group for feedback and discussion.
Facilitate a class discussion on the importance of each section of the application and how to effectively present oneself.

Step 3

Discussion

7 mins

Use the "Discussion Questions" to facilitate a class discussion.
Encourage students to share their experiences and insights from the activity.

Step 4

Closure

3 mins

Summarize key takeaways from the lesson.
Encourage students to think about their own high school application process and what steps they might need to take.

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Worksheet

Sample Application Form

A sample application form for students to practice filling out during the activity. It includes sections for personal information, academic history, and extracurricular activities.

Full Name:

Enter your first and last name.

Date of Birth:

Enter your date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format.

Current School:

Enter the name of your current school.

Academic Interests:

List any subjects or areas you are particularly interested in.

Extracurricular Activities:

List any clubs, sports, or activities you participate in outside of school.

Why are you interested in attending this high school?

Write a brief statement about your interest in the school.

Discussion

High School Application Discussion

A discussion to reflect on the high school application activity.

What was the most interesting part of filling out the application?

Encourage students to think about which section they enjoyed the most.

How did you decide what to include in your personal statement?

Discuss the thought process behind choosing topics and examples.

What did you learn about presenting yourself in an application?

Highlight key insights and strategies for effective self-presentation.