Skills for Success: Building Career Competencies

Dianna Wyllie

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Skills for Success: Building Career Competencies

Develop key career skills

This lesson focuses on helping 8th-grade students identify and develop essential skills for career success, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Through engaging activities that simulate real-world work environments, students will gain practical experience and insights into how these skills are applied in various careers. This lesson is important as it prepares students for future challenges and opportunities, fostering a mindset of lifelong learning and adaptability.

Audience

8th Grade Students

Time

1 hour

Approach

Develop key career skills

Materials

Post-it notes, Pens, Whiteboard and markers, Skills for Success Worksheet, and Skills for Success Discussion Questions

Step 1

Introduction

10 mins

Begin with a brief discussion on the importance of skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving in careers.
Ask students to share examples of when they have used these skills in their own lives.

Step 2

Activity: Team Challenge

20 mins

Divide students into small groups and assign each group a task that requires teamwork and problem-solving (e.g., building a tower with limited materials).
Encourage students to communicate effectively and work together to complete the task.
Observe and take notes on how each group collaborates.

Step 3

Reflection and Discussion

15 mins

Bring the class back together and discuss the challenges and successes each group experienced.
Use the Skills for Success Discussion Questions to guide the conversation.
Highlight key observations about communication and teamwork.

Step 4

Worksheet Completion

10 mins

Distribute the Skills for Success Worksheet to each student.
Have students individually reflect on the skills they used during the activity and how they can apply these skills in future scenarios.

Step 5

Closure

5 mins

Summarize the key points of the lesson and emphasize the importance of developing these skills for future success.
Encourage students to think about how they can continue to practice these skills in their daily lives.

Discussion

Skills for Success Discussion

A guided discussion to reflect on the team challenge activity and explore the importance of communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

What challenges did your group face during the activity?

Encourage students to think about specific moments where communication or teamwork was tested.

How did your group overcome these challenges?

Discuss strategies that were effective in resolving issues and promoting collaboration.

Why are communication and teamwork important in a work environment?

Guide students to consider real-world applications and the impact of these skills on career success.

Worksheet

Skills for Success Worksheet

A reflective worksheet for students to identify and evaluate the skills they used during the team challenge activity.

Describe a moment during the activity where you used communication skills.

Think about how you shared ideas or listened to others.

How did teamwork contribute to your group's success?

Consider the roles each member played and how you worked together.

What problem-solving strategies did you use?

Reflect on how you approached challenges and found solutions.