Lesson Plan
STAR Strategy Lesson
Students will learn the STAR method to structure behavioral interview answers and apply it to real questions, boosting their confidence in interviews.
Mastering STAR helps students articulate experiences clearly, demonstrating problem-solving and teamwork—skills valued by colleges and employers.
Audience
9th Grade
Time
55 minutes
Approach
Direct teach, practice, then apply STAR in realistic scenarios.
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Questions That Shine Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with STAR visuals and examples.
- Print enough copies of Common Question Brainstorm Activity Sheet and STAR Method Practice Sheets for all students.
- Prepare breakout pairs or small groups for guided and independent practice.
- Open and test the Panel Interview Drill Instructions slides so you can project scenarios clearly.
- Have the Post-Interview Email Draft Template ready to share digitally or in print.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Brainstorm Common Questions
5 minutes
- Distribute Common Question Brainstorm Activity Sheet.
- In pairs, students list as many interview questions as they can (e.g., “Tell me about yourself,” “Describe a challenge you overcame”).
- Share top questions with the class for a master list on the board.
Step 2
Direct Teaching: Introducing STAR
10 minutes
- Project the Questions That Shine Slide Deck.
- Define STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
- Walk through one example on slides, highlighting each element.
- Answer any clarifying questions.
Step 3
Guided Practice: STAR Worksheets
15 minutes
- Hand out STAR Method Practice Sheets.
- Assign each pair one question from the warm-up master list.
- Pairs fill in STAR steps on the worksheet.
- Circulate to support and model strong responses.
Step 4
Independent Practice: Panel Interview Drill
15 minutes
- Divide class into small panels (3–4 students per panel).
- Use Panel Interview Drill Instructions to assign roles: panelist or candidate.
- Each candidate delivers two STAR answers to panel questions.
- Panels provide 1–2 pieces of feedback per answer.
Step 5
Cool-Down: Draft Follow-Up Email
10 minutes
- Share Post-Interview Email Draft Template.
- Students individually write a brief thank-you email following interview etiquette.
- Volunteers can read theirs aloud; discuss tone and clarity.
Slide Deck
Questions That Shine
Mastering Behavioral Interview Questions with the STAR Method
Welcome students! Today we begin by exploring high-impact interview questions and how to shine when answering them. Emphasize that good questions reveal their skills.
Why Behavioral Questions Matter
• Reveal how you handle real situations
• Show problem-solving, teamwork, leadership
• Give concrete evidence of your strengths
Explain that behavioral questions ask about real past experiences because past behavior predicts future performance. Highlight key points.
Common Interview Questions
• Tell me about yourself
• Describe a challenge you overcame
• Give an example of teamwork
• How do you handle criticism?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
Read through each common question. Invite students to share if they’ve heard these before, or other questions they’ve encountered.
Introducing the STAR Method
S – Situation: Set the scene
T – Task: Your responsibility
A – Action: What you did
R – Result: Outcome & impact
Introduce the STAR framework step by step. Stress that it helps organize answers clearly and concisely.
STAR Breakdown Example
Question: “Describe a time you overcame a deadline challenge.”
Situation: Our class project was two days behind schedule.
Task: As team lead, I needed to get us back on track.
Action: I re-divided tasks, held a quick check-in daily, and coordinated resources.
Result: We finished on time and earned an A.
Walk through this example slowly. Point out how each part maps to S, T, A, and R.
Your Turn: Brainstorm & Outline
- Pair up and list 5 additional common questions.
- Pick one question and sketch your STAR outline.
- Use the Common Question Brainstorm Activity Sheet.
In pairs, students will brainstorm more questions and begin mapping one using STAR. Remind them to use their activity sheet.
Next Steps
• Complete your STAR outlines on the STAR Method Practice Sheets
• Prepare to role-play in panels with the Panel Interview Drill Instructions
• Draft a follow-up using the Post-Interview Email Draft Template
Explain next steps: they’ll complete the full body of work on their worksheets and move into STAR practice.
Warm Up
Common Question Brainstorm
Instructions:
In pairs, list as many common interview questions as you can think of. Aim for at least 10. Afterwards, circle your top 5 to share with the class.
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Worksheet
STAR Method Practice Sheets
Name: __________________________ Date: _______________
Instructions: Choose one interview question below (or use a question from your brainstorming session). For each, complete the STAR graphic organizer to craft a clear, concise response.
1. Question: Tell me about yourself.
Situation:
Task:
Action:
Result:
2. Question: Describe a challenge you overcame.
Situation:
Task:
Action:
Result:
3. Question: Give an example of teamwork.
Situation:
Task:
Action:
Result:
4. Question: How do you handle criticism?
Situation:
Task:
Action:
Result:
5. Question: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Situation:
Task:
Action:
Result:
After completing your STAR outlines, choose two questions to practice aloud with a partner or small panel using the Panel Interview Drill Instructions.
Activity
Panel Interview Drill
Objective: Practice delivering STAR responses in a simulated panel setting and give constructive feedback to peers.
Time: 15 minutes
Materials:
- Panel Interview Drill Instructions (this sheet)
- Prepared question cards (from brainstorm list or sample questions below)
Setup (2 min):
- Divide students into panels of 3–4.
- Within each panel, assign roles:
• 1️⃣ Candidate (uses STAR to answer)
• 2️⃣–3️⃣ Panelists (ask questions & give feedback) - Prepare one question card per candidate (rotate so each practices two questions).
Sample Questions:
• Tell me about yourself.
• Describe a challenge you overcame.
• Give an example of teamwork.
• How do you handle criticism?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
Round 1 (7 min)
- Candidate draws a question card.
- Panelists give candidate 30 seconds to think.
- Candidate delivers STAR answer (1–2 minutes).
- Panelists ask 1 follow-up question (15–30 seconds).
- Candidate answers briefly (30 seconds).
- Panelists provide feedback (2 min total):
• Strength: What the candidate did well (e.g., clear Situation, strong Action detail).
• Area to improve: One suggestion (e.g., speak more slowly, add Result impact).
Round 2 (7 min)
- Roles rotate so a new student becomes the candidate.
- Repeat steps 1–6 with a different question card.
Feedback Guidelines:
- Be specific: Cite which STAR element was strongest.
- Be kind: Phrase suggestions positively ("You might try…").
- Be concise: Limit feedback to 1 strength + 1 suggestion per answer.
Debrief (1 min):
- Reconvene as a class.
- Invite one or two volunteers to share a key takeaway about using STAR.
After this drill, move into drafting your follow-up email using the Post-Interview Email Draft Template.
Cool Down
Post-Interview Email Draft
Instructions: Use this template to craft a professional thank-you email after your interview. Fill in the bracketed sections and personalize with details from your conversation.
Subject: [Your Name] – Thank You for the Interview
Dear [Interviewer Name],
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today regarding the [Position Title/Class project role]. I appreciated the opportunity to discuss [specific topic or question you discussed].
I was especially excited to learn about [something you found interesting about the role or organization], and I believe my experience with [relevant skill or past experience] would allow me to contribute by [how you can add value].
Please let me know if I can provide any additional information. Thank you again for your consideration—I look forward to the possibility of working together.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Email Address] | [Your Phone Number]