Lesson Plan
My Future Career Quest Lesson Plan
Students will explore diverse careers, assess their interests and strengths, and set a personal future career goal through interactive activities.
Introducing career options early fosters self-awareness, connects learning to real-world roles, and builds goal-setting skills that support long-term motivation and development.
Audience
3rd Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Hands-on exploration, self-inventory, and group reflection.
Materials
- Career Cards Deck, - Interest Inventory Sheet, - Future Career Reflection Worksheet, - Chart Paper, - Markers, and - Pencils
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Print and cut out enough sets of Career Cards Deck for groups of 3–4 students
- Make copies of Interest Inventory Sheet for each student
- Print Future Career Reflection Worksheet
- Post Chart Paper on the board or wall and gather Markers and Pencils
Step 1
Introduction & Hook
5 minutes
- Ask: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” and invite 3–4 volunteers to share
- Explain that there are many different careers and today we’ll explore some options
- Display chart paper titled “Our Dreams” to record quick ideas
Step 2
Career Card Exploration
10 minutes
- Divide students into groups of 3–4 and give each group a set of Career Cards Deck
- Instruct students to sort cards into “I’m Interested” or “Not Sure” piles
- Circulate to prompt discussion on why they chose each category
Step 3
Interest Inventory Activity
7 minutes
- Distribute Interest Inventory Sheet to each student
- Students individually circle activities they enjoy (e.g., drawing, solving puzzles) and write one new interest
- Encourage them to think about how interests connect to jobs
Step 4
Group Share
5 minutes
- Invite each group to share one career from their “I’m Interested” pile and explain why
- Record shared careers on the “Our Dreams” chart paper
- Highlight connections between interests and careers
Step 5
Reflection & Goal Setting
3 minutes
- Hand out Future Career Reflection Worksheet
- Students write down one career they want to learn more about and one action step (e.g., “Ask a parent about their job”)
- Collect worksheets to review goals and provide feedback
Slide Deck
My Future Career Quest
Grade 3 Career Exploration
Today’s Goal: Discover jobs that match our interests and strengths!
Welcome students! Today we’ll explore different careers, connect them to what you love, and set a goal for your future. Share your name and what you hope to learn.
Hook: Share Your Dreams
• What do you want to be when you grow up?
• Why does that career interest you?
Let’s collect ideas on our “Our Dreams” chart!
Ask volunteers “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Record answers on chart paper under “Our Dreams.” Encourage 3–4 students to share.
Activity: Career Card Exploration
- In groups, sort your Career Cards Deck into:
• I’m Interested
• Not Sure - Discuss why you placed each card where you did.
Divide into groups of 3–4. Hand out a set of Career Cards Deck to each group. Instruct students to sort cards into “I’m Interested” or “Not Sure.” Circulate and prompt thinking.
Activity: Interest Inventory
• Complete your Interest Inventory Sheet
• Circle activities you love (e.g., drawing, building)
• Write one new interest you’d like to try
Distribute the Interest Inventory Sheet to each student. Ask them to circle activities they enjoy and add one new interest. Guide them to think how interests connect to jobs.
Group Share
• Each group shares:
– One career you liked
– Why it fits your interests
We’ll add these to our “Our Dreams” chart!
Invite each group to share one career from their “I’m Interested” pile and explain why. Record these on the “Our Dreams” chart. Highlight how interests connect to careers.
Reflection & Goal Setting
• Use your Future Career Reflection Worksheet
• Write:
- One career to explore
- One next action (e.g., “Ask a parent about their job”)
Hand out the Future Career Reflection Worksheet. Instruct students to write one career they want to learn more about and one action step. Collect for review.
Conclusion & Next Steps
Great job! Remember:
• Your interests can guide your career choices
• Keep asking questions and exploring
• Share your action step with a family member tonight!
Summarize key takeaways: exploring careers starts with your interests and strengths. Encourage students to talk with family or research their chosen career. Remind them of action steps.
Worksheet
Career Cards Deck
Teacher Instructions:
- Prepare one complete set of cards for each group of 3–4 students.
- Introduce the activity: explain that students will explore different jobs by sorting cards into two piles—“I’m Interested” and “Not Sure.”
- Distribute pre-cut cards (or have students help cut them out).
- Ask each group to discuss why they placed each career in its pile.
- Circulate the room, prompting deeper thinking with questions like:
- “What about this job sounds fun or challenging?”
- “Which of your interests or strengths connects to this career?”
- After sorting, bring the class back together for a brief share-out: invite groups to name one career from their “I’m Interested” pile and explain why.
Career Cards
Below are 12 career cards. Cut them out along the lines before distributing to student groups. Each card now lists its direct image URL below the job name. Teachers can copy-paste each URL into a browser to save or print the image directly.
- Doctor
Image URL: https://via.placeholder.com/100?text=Doctor - Teacher
Image URL: https://via.placeholder.com/100?text=Teacher - Firefighter
Image URL: https://via.placeholder.com/100?text=Firefighter - Police Officer
Image URL: https://via.placeholder.com/100?text=Police+Officer - Chef
Image URL: https://via.placeholder.com/100?text=Chef - Artist
Image URL: https://via.placeholder.com/100?text=Artist - Scientist
Image URL: https://via.placeholder.com/100?text=Scientist - Engineer
Image URL: https://via.placeholder.com/100?text=Engineer - Farmer
Image URL: https://via.placeholder.com/100?text=Farmer - Pilot
Image URL: https://via.placeholder.com/100?text=Pilot - Athlete
Image URL: https://via.placeholder.com/100?text=Athlete - Musician
Image URL: https://via.placeholder.com/100?text=Musician
Use these cards in your group sorting activity to help students connect their interests to real-world careers.
Worksheet
Interest Inventory Sheet
Circle the activities you enjoy:
○ Drawing pictures
○ Writing stories
○ Building with blocks or Legos
○ Solving puzzles
○ Playing sports
○ Playing music or singing
○ Helping others
○ Cooking or baking
○ Painting or crafting
○ Using computers or coding
Write one new activity you’d like to try:
Worksheet
Future Career Reflection Worksheet
-
Write one career you want to learn more about:
-
Why does this career interest you?
-
What is one action step you will take to learn more about this career? (For example, ask a parent about their job, read a book, watch a video)
-
Who will you share your action step with?
Warm Up
Dreams Warm-Up
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: Chart Paper, Markers
- Before class, the teacher posts a large sheet of chart paper titled “Our Dreams.”
- Ask students to think silently for 30 seconds: “What’s one thing you dream of doing when you grow up?”
- Turn to a partner and take turns sharing your dream.
- Invite 3–4 volunteers to come up and write or draw their dream on the chart paper.
- As students share, highlight connections (e.g., “That’s a dream of building things—like an engineer!”)
This quick discussion gets everyone thinking about careers and connects smoothly into our lesson’s hook.
Cool Down
Goal Check Exit Ticket
Name: ____________________ Date: ___________
-
What is one career you explored today that interests you?
-
What is one thing you learned about your own interests or strengths?
-
What is one clear next step you will take to learn more about this career?
(For example, ask a family member, read a book, or watch a video)
-
Who will you share your next step with, and when will you do it?