Lesson Plan
Workplace Power Skills Lesson Plan
By the end of the lesson, students will define and demonstrate professional communication, critical thinking, problem solving, professionalism, teamwork, and collaboration through interactive role-plays aligned with Massachusetts Vocational Frameworks.
These essential soft skills boost employability, foster effective workplace interactions, and align with MA vocational competencies to prepare students for real-world careers.
Audience
9th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion and role-play exercises.
Materials
Whiteboard and Markers, Power Skills Definitions Handout, Power Skills Role-Play Scenario Cards, and Power Skills Self-Assessment Checklist
Prep
Review and Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print enough copies of the Power Skills Definitions Handout for each student.
- Print and cut the Power Skills Role-Play Scenario Cards.
- Print copies of the Power Skills Self-Assessment Checklist.
- Set up the whiteboard and ensure markers are available.
- Review scenario cards to anticipate possible student responses.
Step 1
Hook and Introduction
5 minutes
- Begin by asking: “What soft skills are important at work?”
- Introduce the six Workplace Power Skills: Professional Communication, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Professionalism, Teamwork, Collaboration.
- Distribute the Power Skills Definitions Handout.
- Review each definition and its relevance on the whiteboard.
Step 2
Group Role-Play Activity
15 minutes
- Divide students into groups of 3–4.
- Give each group a scenario from the Power Skills Role-Play Scenario Cards.
- Groups assign roles and perform the scenario, demonstrating targeted skills.
- After each role-play, class identifies which Power Skills were used and lists examples on the whiteboard.
- Rotate through 3–4 scenarios as time allows.
Step 3
Self-Reflection and Assessment
5 minutes
- Distribute the Power Skills Self-Assessment Checklist.
- Students rate their confidence in each skill (1–5 scale).
- Each student writes one personal goal for improving a chosen skill.
Step 4
Wrap-Up and Exit Ticket
5 minutes
- Students share one takeaway or goal with a partner.
- On the whiteboard, students write an exit ticket: “One Power Skill I will practice this week is ___ because ___.”
- Collect exit tickets or photograph whiteboard responses for reflection.
Slide Deck
Workplace Power Skills
Explore the six essential soft skills that make you a valuable team member in any workplace.
Welcome students! Introduce today’s focus: essential soft skills that help you succeed in any workplace. Explain that these are often called “power skills” and are valued by employers across industries.
Why Soft Skills Matter
• Boost employability and career readiness
• Enhance collaboration and communication on the job
• Align with Massachusetts Vocational Frameworks for career success
Explain each bullet in context of real jobs: why listening matters, how teamwork accelerates projects, and reference MA Vocational Frameworks for these competencies.
Professional Communication
Definition: Sharing ideas clearly and respectfully in writing, speaking, and nonverbal cues.
Define Professional Communication and give examples: clear emails, respectful tone in meetings, active listening to understand coworkers.
Critical Thinking
Definition: Analyzing information to make informed decisions and ask the right questions.
Discuss critical thinking as asking good questions, examining evidence, and making logical judgments. Tie back to problem analysis in workplace tasks.
Problem Solving
Definition: Identifying challenges and developing effective solutions to overcome them.
Walk through a simple problem-solving framework: identify the challenge, brainstorm solutions, choose and test options, review results.
Professionalism
Definition: Demonstrating responsibility, reliability, and a strong work ethic.
Emphasize reliability, ethics, punctuality, and accountability. Share examples like meeting deadlines and respecting company policies.
Teamwork
Definition: Collaborating with others to achieve common goals and support the group.
Highlight how teamwork involves clear roles, supporting peers, and building on each other’s ideas to reach shared goals.
Collaboration
Definition: Working together by sharing knowledge, skills, and creativity to innovate.
Differentiate from teamwork: collaboration often means co-creating, sharing expertise, and innovating together as equals.
Group Role-Play Activity
• Form groups of 3–4
• Select a scenario from Power Skills Role-Play Scenario Cards
• Assign roles and perform the scenario
• After each, identify which Power Skills were used and list examples
Divide students into groups of 3–4. Hand out scenario cards. Remind them to assign roles, act out each situation, and focus on demonstrating targeted skills.
Self-Reflection & Assessment
• Complete the Power Skills Self-Assessment Checklist
• Rate your confidence in each skill (1–5)
• Write one personal goal for improving a chosen skill
Distribute checklists and explain how to rate confidence. Encourage setting a realistic, specific goal for skill improvement.
Wrap-Up & Exit Ticket
• Share one takeaway or goal with a partner
• On the whiteboard, write: “One Power Skill I will practice this week is ___ because ___.”
Ask students to share briefly with a partner, then capture their exit tickets. Use responses to inform future lessons or follow-up discussions.
Worksheet
Power Skills Definitions Handout
This handout defines each Workplace Power Skill and provides an example. Then it’s your turn to apply each skill to a situation you know.
Professional Communication
Definition: Sharing ideas clearly and respectfully—through writing, speaking, and nonverbal cues—to ensure understanding and maintain positive relationships.
Example: Writing a concise email to update your team on project progress and asking clear questions.
Your Turn: In one or two sentences, describe a situation where you used professional communication.
Critical Thinking
Definition: Analyzing information to make informed decisions, ask the right questions, and evaluate possible outcomes.
Example: Reviewing data from a science experiment and questioning anomalies before drawing conclusions.
Your Turn: Describe a moment when you used critical thinking to solve a problem.
Problem Solving
Definition: Identifying a challenge, brainstorming solutions, selecting the best option, and putting it into action to overcome obstacles.
Example: Creating a study schedule to manage several assignments due in the same week.
Your Turn: Share an example of how you solved a difficult problem.
Professionalism
Definition: Demonstrating responsibility, reliability, punctuality, ethics, and a strong work ethic in all tasks.
Example: Arriving on time for a team meeting and meeting deadlines without reminders.
Your Turn: Write about a time you showed professionalism at school or in an activity.
Teamwork
Definition: Collaborating with others by supporting teammates, sharing tasks, and working toward a common goal.
Example: Dividing roles in a group project so each member contributes based on their strengths.
Your Turn: Describe a successful teamwork experience you’ve had.
Collaboration
Definition: Co-creating by sharing knowledge, skills, and creativity with others to develop innovative solutions.
Example: Brainstorming ideas together with classmates to design a unique class presentation.
Your Turn: Explain how collaboration differs from teamwork in your own words and give an example.
Activity
Power Skills Role-Play Scenario Cards
Use these scenario cards in groups of 3–4. Assign roles, act out the situation, and focus on demonstrating the specified Workplace Power Skill(s).
Card 1: The Misread Memo
• Roles: Manager, Assistant
• Scenario: The assistant sends a team memo with unclear instructions about a deadline. The manager must address the confusion and guide the assistant to rewrite the memo clearly.
• Target Skill: Professional Communication
Card 2: The Data Discrepancy
• Roles: Analyst, Supervisor
• Scenario: Sales figures this month don’t match last month’s trend. The analyst must explain possible reasons, ask probing questions, and suggest next steps to the supervisor.
• Target Skill: Critical Thinking
Card 3: The Broken Printer
• Roles: Office Employee, IT Support
• Scenario: A crucial report is due in 15 minutes but the office printer jams. The employee and IT support must brainstorm and choose a quick workaround to get the report printed on time.
• Target Skill: Problem Solving
Card 4: The Missed Deadline
• Roles: Team Member, Project Lead
• Scenario: A team member arrives late and misses an internal deadline, delaying the whole project. The project lead addresses the issue, and the team member explains, takes responsibility, and offers solutions to get back on track.
• Target Skill: Professionalism
Card 5: The Event Planning
• Roles: Event Coordinator, Volunteer, Sponsor Liaison
• Scenario: Your group must plan a small school event. Each person shares tasks, supports teammates, and works together to set up roles so the event runs smoothly.
• Target Skill: Teamwork
Card 6: The New Product Brainstorm
• Roles: Designer, Marketer, Engineer
• Scenario: Your team must come up with an innovative feature for a new product. Everyone shares expertise, builds on each other’s ideas, and co-creates a plan to present to leadership.
• Target Skill: Collaboration
Worksheet
Power Skills Self-Assessment Checklist
Use the scale below to rate your confidence in each Workplace Power Skill. Then write a personal goal for improving one skill.
Rating Scale: 1 = Not Confident, 2 = Slightly Confident, 3 = Somewhat Confident, 4 = Confident, 5 = Very Confident
1. Professional Communication
Circle one: 1 2 3 4 5
2. Critical Thinking
Circle one: 1 2 3 4 5
3. Problem Solving
Circle one: 1 2 3 4 5
4. Professionalism
Circle one: 1 2 3 4 5
5. Teamwork
Circle one: 1 2 3 4 5
6. Collaboration
Circle one: 1 2 3 4 5
Personal Goal Setting
Choose one Power Skill you rated 3 or below. Write a SMART goal for how you will improve this skill this week.
Skill to Improve: ___________________________________________
My Goal (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound):
I will ______________________________________________ by ______________________________________________ this week because _________________________________________.
Action Steps:
- _______________________________________________________________
- _______________________________________________________________
- _______________________________________________________________
Reflection (next class):
How did I do? What worked well? What could I adjust?
Lesson Plan
Tier 2 Workplace Skills Intervention
Provide targeted support for students needing extra practice with key soft skills by using modeling, guided role-play, and reflection to build confidence and competence.
Some students benefit from small-group, scaffolded practice to master professional communication, critical thinking, and problem solving. This Tier 2 intervention reinforces Tier 1 content and closes learning gaps.
Audience
9th Grade Tier 2 Intervention Group
Time
20 minutes
Approach
Explicit modeling and guided practice with feedback
Materials
Whiteboard and Markers, Power Skills Definitions Handout, Power Skills Role-Play Scenario Cards, and Power Skills Self-Assessment Checklist
Prep
Review Student Needs and Materials
10 minutes
- Examine recent Power Skills Self-Assessment Checklist responses to identify 1–2 target skills per student.
- Select 2–3 relevant scenarios from the Power Skills Role-Play Scenario Cards.
- Print one copy of the Power Skills Definitions Handout for each student.
- Set up seating for a small‐group circle around the whiteboard.
- Prepare a think-aloud script for modeling one scenario on the whiteboard.
Step 1
Warm-Up & Skill Focus
5 minutes
- Write the two target skills on the whiteboard (e.g., Professional Communication, Problem Solving).
- Distribute the Power Skills Definitions Handout.
- Invite students to read the definitions aloud and share one quick example.
- Emphasize today’s goals: see a live model, practice, and reflect.
Step 2
Teacher Modeling
5 minutes
- Choose one scenario from the Power Skills Role-Play Scenario Cards.
- Role-play with a volunteer while thinking aloud: highlight how you listen, ask questions, and propose solutions.
- After the demo, ask: “What skills did you see? How did I show them?”
- Record key steps on the whiteboard.
Step 3
Guided Role-Plays
7 minutes
- Pair students and hand out a second scenario card.
- In pairs, one student plays each role; use the whiteboard notes as prompts.
- Circulate to coach, ask probing questions (“How could you clarify your point?”), and prompt deeper thinking.
- After each 2-minute role-play, partners swap roles and debrief briefly.
Step 4
Reflection & Goal Setting
3 minutes
- Redistribute the Power Skills Self-Assessment Checklist.
- Students rate their confidence in today’s targeted skills.
- Each student writes a SMART goal for improvement this week (e.g., “I will ask two clarifying questions in group work by Friday because it helps me understand tasks”).
- Collect checklists or have students share one goal aloud.