Lesson Plan
Discover Your Strengths Blueprint
Students will identify and reflect on their personal strengths, complete an interest inventory carousel, and connect their unique skills to potential post-secondary options, culminating in a personalized next-step action plan.
Understanding their strengths and interests empowers students to make informed choices about college and careers, boosting confidence and motivation for future planning.
Audience
9th Grade Students
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Guided reflections, interactive carousel, and group discussion.
Prep
Review and Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Compass Presentation slides and key talking points.
- Print or set up digital stations for the Interest Inventory Carousel.
- Ensure each student has access to the My Passions Reflection Journal (digital or paper).
- Prepare exit ticket template for the Next Step Snapshot Cool-down.
Step 1
Introduction & Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Display the first slide of the Career Compass Presentation to introduce the lesson’s goals.
- Ask: “What are three strengths you believe you possess?”
- Have students turn to a partner and share their answers briefly.
Step 2
Self-Discovery Reflection
15 minutes
- Distribute the My Passions Reflection Journal.
- Prompt students to answer guided questions:
- "What activities make you feel energized?"
- "Which skills have you been praised for?"
- "When do you feel most in your element?"
- Students write detailed responses and highlight top 3 strengths.
Step 3
Interest Inventory Carousel
15 minutes
- Set up four stations around the room, each featuring a different career cluster.
- At each station, students spend 3 minutes completing that section of the Interest Inventory Carousel.
- After 3 minutes, students rotate clockwise until all stations are complete.
- Encourage quick notes on careers that stand out.
Step 4
Career Matching Discussion
15 minutes
- Reconvene as a class and display relevant slides from the Career Compass Presentation showing strength-to-career matches.
- In small groups, students share their top strengths and interest inventory results.
- Groups discuss which post-secondary options align most closely with collected data and why.
Step 5
Next Step Snapshot Cool-down
10 minutes
- Hand out the Next Step Snapshot Cool-down template.
- Prompt each student to write one concrete action they will take this week to explore a chosen career or college path (e.g., research a program, talk to a counselor).
- Collect responses as exit tickets to gauge readiness and follow-up needs.
Slide Deck
Career Compass Presentation
Which Path Suits You?
Navigating Your Strengths to Post-Secondary Success
Welcome everyone! Today, we’ll introduce the Career Compass Presentation. Use this slide to set the stage – share the lesson title, objectives, and spark excitement about exploring strengths and future pathways.
Today's Journey
• Discover your personal strengths
• Learn career cluster basics
• Map strengths to potential careers
• Complete reflection and carousel activities
• Discuss and plan your next step
Walk students through today’s agenda so they know what to expect: identifying strengths, exploring career clusters, and planning next steps.
Why Your Strengths Matter
• Strengths are your natural talents and skills
• Aligning strengths with careers leads to satisfaction and success
• Early self-awareness empowers informed post-secondary choices
Explain why understanding strengths matters: it boosts confidence, guides decision-making, and informs career or college choices.
What Are Strengths?
• Skills or talents you perform well and enjoy using
• Examples: Leadership 🡒 student council president
Creativity 🡒 art or design projects
Problem-solving 🡒 math puzzles
• Reflect: What comes naturally to you?
Define what we mean by “strengths.” Give examples (communication, critical thinking, creativity) and invite 1–2 quick student examples.
Exploring Career Clusters
• Groups of related occupations and industries
• Examples of clusters:
– Health Science
– Information Technology
– Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications
– Business Management & Administration
• Each cluster offers pathways based on skills and interests
Introduce the concept of career clusters. Briefly highlight a few clusters (e.g., Health Science, Information Technology, Arts & Communication).
Mapping Strengths to Careers
Strength → Career Examples:
• Communication → Marketing, Journalism
• Analytical Thinking → Engineering, Data Science
• Compassion → Nursing, Social Work
• Creativity → Graphic Design, Architecture
Show a simple table or bullet mapping strengths to careers. Encourage students to see patterns between their strengths and possible fields.
Self-Discovery Reflection
• Open your My Passions Reflection Journal
• Answer:
– What activities energize you?
– Which skills have you been praised for?
– When do you feel most “in your element”?
• Highlight your top 3 strengths
Prompt students to grab their journals. Guide them through key reflection questions from My Passions Reflection Journal.
Interest Inventory Carousel
• Visit one of four stations around the room
• Each station covers a different career cluster via the Interest Inventory Carousel
• Spend 3 minutes per station
• Jot quick notes on careers that catch your eye
Explain the carousel activity: four stations featuring different career clusters. Students rotate in 3-minute intervals.
Connecting Insights
• Review your carousel notes and journal highlights
• Identify overlaps between your strengths and career clusters
• Mark 2–3 clusters that align best with you
• Prepare to share your findings
After carousel rotations, show how to match inventory notes with strengths. Encourage students to look for overlaps.
Group Discussion
In groups of 3–4:
• Share your top 3 strengths
• Reveal your preferred career clusters
• Discuss why these align with you
• Take notes on classmates’ ideas for inspiration
Provide clear instructions for the small-group discussion: share top strengths and favorite clusters, explain why they fit.
Plan Your Next Step
• Open the Next Step Snapshot Cool-down
• Write one specific action for this week:
– Research a program online
– Interview a family friend in that field
– Visit the school counselor for guidance
• This becomes your personal action plan
Introduce the final planning step. Students will write a concrete action in the Next Step Snapshot Cool-down. Explain examples.
Closing & Questions
• Any questions about today’s activities?
• Remember: Understanding strengths is an ongoing journey
• Keep referring back to your journal and action plan
• Let’s chart our path to future success!
Wrap up the session, invite questions, and remind students of how they’ll follow up on their action plans.
Activity
Interest Inventory Carousel
Overview:
In this four-station activity, students explore a different career cluster at each station. They’ll complete a short inventory sheet—rating their interest in various careers and jotting quick notes—before rotating to the next station.
Materials & Setup:
• Four printed station sheets (one per cluster) placed around the room
• Timer or stopwatch (set for 3-minute intervals)
• Clipboards or hard surfaces for writing
• Pens or pencils
Activity Steps:
- Divide students into four equal groups and assign each group to a starting station.
- At each station, students have 3 minutes to complete the inventory sheet.
- When the timer rings, groups rotate clockwise to the next station until all four are completed.
- After rotations, reconvene for the Career Matching Discussion in the lesson plan.
Station 1: Health Science
Instructions: Rate each career 1 (low interest) to 5 (high interest). Add notes on what appeals or concerns you.
| Career | Interest (1-5) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse | ||
| Pharmacist | ||
| Physical Therapist | ||
| Medical Laboratory Technician |
Station 2: Information Technology
Instructions: Rate your interest and jot a quick thought about why.
| Career | Interest (1-5) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | ||
| Network Administrator | ||
| Cybersecurity Analyst | ||
| Data Analyst |
Station 3: Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications
Instructions: Mark your interest level and any creative ideas that come to mind.
| Career | Interest (1-5) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | ||
| Journalist/Reporter | ||
| Film/Video Editor | ||
| Public Relations Specialist |
Station 4: Business Management & Administration
Instructions: Rate and note any leadership or organizational strengths you spot.
| Career | Interest (1-5) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | ||
| Human Resources Specialist | ||
| Accountant | ||
| Entrepreneur/Small Business Owner |
Rotation Reminder:
• Spend 3 minutes at each station.
• Rotate clockwise when you hear the timer.
• Make quick, honest ratings and notes—this is about exploration, not perfection!
Journal
My Passions Reflection Journal
1. What activities make you feel energized?
Reflect on times when you lose track of time because you’re fully engaged in what you’re doing.
2. Which skills have others praised you for? (Who praised you and why?)
Think of compliments or recognition you’ve received from teachers, friends, or family.
3. When do you feel most “in your element”? Describe a specific moment when everything clicked and you felt confident and capable.
4. My Top 3 Strengths
Based on your reflections above, list your three strongest qualities or talents.
2. _______________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________
Cool Down
Next Step Snapshot Cool-down
1. My Concrete Action
What is one specific action you will take this week to explore a chosen career or college pathway?
2. Why This Matters
Explain why this action is important for your future planning and how it will help you move closer to your goals.
3. Support & Resources
Who will you reach out to or what resources will you use to complete this action?
Turn in this exit ticket as you leave class so we can follow up on your next step!