Lesson Plan
Your Future Self Will Thank You
Students will be able to identify three transferable skills they can develop in middle school and create a plan to practice one of them.
Understanding transferable skills empowers students to recognize the value in their current learning experiences and actively shape their future success, no matter what path they choose.
Audience
7th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through discussion, brainstorming, and planning, students will connect current habits to future skills.
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Lesson Plan and all generated materials.
- Print copies of the My Skill-Building Plan Worksheet (one per student).
- Prepare the Transferable Skills Sorting Activity materials (cut out skill cards, one set per small group).
- Ensure projector/interactive whiteboard is ready for the Slide Deck: Your Future Self Will Thank You.
Step 1
Engage: Future Me Story
5 minutes
- Begin by presenting the 'Future Me Story' (Slide 2-3 of Slide Deck: Your Future Self Will Thank You).
- Ask students to reflect on the story: 'What habits or choices do you think helped [Successful Person's Name] get to where they are today?' (Slide 4).
- Facilitate a brief class discussion.
Step 2
Explore: Career Skills Brainstorm
7 minutes
- Display a few diverse career examples on Slide 5 of Slide Deck: Your Future Self Will Thank You.
- In small groups, have students brainstorm skills they think are needed for these careers. Provide each group with the Transferable Skills Sorting Activity cards. Instruct them to sort the skills into 'Needed for Many Jobs' and 'Specific to One Job' categories.
- Bring the class back together and discuss their findings. Introduce the term 'transferable skills' (Slide 6-7).
Step 3
Explain: What are Transferable Skills?
5 minutes
- Use Slide 8 of Slide Deck: Your Future Self Will Thank You to formally define transferable skills, providing examples (communication, collaboration, problem-solving, time management).
- Emphasize how these skills are valuable in any future endeavor, not just specific careers.
- Discuss why middle school is a great time to start developing these skills (Slide 9).
Step 4
Elaborate: My Skill-Building Plan
10 minutes
- Distribute the My Skill-Building Plan Worksheet.
- Guide students through the worksheet as they identify three transferable skills they want to develop and create a concrete plan for practicing one of them in the next week or month (Slide 10-11 of Slide Deck: Your Future Self Will Thank You). Encourage specific actions.
Step 5
Evaluate: Share and Reflect
3 minutes
- Ask a few volunteers to share one skill from their My Skill-Building Plan Worksheet and how they plan to practice it (Slide 12 of Slide Deck: Your Future Self Will Thank You).
- Conclude by reiterating the main idea: small efforts today can lead to big impacts tomorrow.
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Slide Deck
Your Future Self Will Thank You!
Skills for a Brighter Tomorrow
Welcome students and introduce the lesson title. Ask them to think about what 'Your Future Self Will Thank You' might mean.
The 'Future Me' Story
Imagine a successful person... What did they do in middle school?
Read or tell a short, engaging story about a successful person (can be fictional or a simplified real-life example). Focus on their middle school habits, not just their achievements. For example, 'Meet Dr. Anya Sharma. In middle school, Anya wasn't the top of her class, but she was always curious. She loved working on group projects, even when they were tough, and she always asked 'why?'. She organized her homework using a planner, and if a friend was struggling, she'd take the time to explain things patiently. These weren't 'school-specific' skills, but they helped her immensely later.'
The 'Future Me' Story (continued)
Dr. Sharma is now a leading scientist, working with diverse teams to solve complex global health challenges.
Continue the story or transition to the prompt. Emphasize the habits and attitudes, not just grades.
Think & Share
What habits or choices do you think helped Dr. Sharma get to where she is today?
Prompt students to connect Dr. Sharma's middle school habits to her later success. Encourage them to think beyond academic grades.
What Skills Do You Need?
Let's brainstorm for different careers:
- Web Designer
- Veterinarian
- Journalist
- Chef
Display these diverse career examples. Students will use the 'Transferable Skills Sorting Activity' to brainstorm skills needed for these, and other, careers.
Skills for Life!
Some skills are useful in every part of your life, no matter what you do in the future. These are called Transferable Skills.
Explain that some skills are useful across many jobs and life situations. Introduce the concept of 'transferable skills'.
What are Transferable Skills?
Skills you can transfer from one job or situation to another. They are broad capabilities, not specific tasks.
Elaborate on the definition with concrete examples.
Examples of Transferable Skills
š Communication: Speaking clearly, listening actively
š Collaboration: Working well with others
š Problem-Solving: Finding solutions to challenges
š Time Management: Organizing your time effectively
š Critical Thinking: Analyzing information to make decisions
Provide examples to solidify understanding. Ask students for other examples they might have come up with during the sorting activity.
Why Start Now?
Middle school is the perfect time to practice these skills! Every group project, presentation, and challenge is an opportunity to grow.
Emphasize why middle school is a crucial time to start developing these skills.
Your Skill-Building Plan
What transferable skills do YOU want to develop?
Let's create a plan!
Introduce the worksheet and explain the task. Encourage thoughtful selection of skills and realistic action steps.
Plan Your Practice
- Choose one skill.
2. How will you practice it this week or month?
3. Be specific!
Walk them through the steps on the worksheet: 1) Identify 3 skills. 2) Pick one to focus on. 3) Brainstorm specific actions.
Share Your Plan!
Who wants to share a skill they're focusing on and how they'll practice it?
Your future self will thank you!
Ask for volunteers to share their plans. Reiterate that consistent small actions lead to big improvements over time.
Worksheet
My Skill-Building Plan
Your future self will thank you for the skills you start building today!
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Part 1: Discover Your Skills
Look at the list of transferable skills below. Circle or highlight three skills that you think would be most helpful for YOUR future, no matter what you decide to do.
* Communication (speaking, listening, writing clearly)
* Collaboration (working well in groups)
* Problem-Solving (finding solutions to challenges)
* Time Management (organizing your tasks and schedule)
* Critical Thinking (thinking deeply and analyzing information)
* Adaptability (adjusting to new situations)
* Leadership (guiding and motivating others)
* Creativity (coming up with new ideas)
* Empathy (understanding others' feelings)
* Initiative (starting tasks without being told)
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Part 2: Choose Your Focus Skill
From the three skills you chose above, pick ONE skill that you want to actively practice and improve this week or month. Write it here:
My Focus Skill:
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Part 3: Make a Plan
Now, brainstorm at least three specific actions you can take to practice your focus skill in your daily life (at school, at home, or with friends). Think about real situations where you can use this skill.
My Plan to Practice This Skill:
1. (Example: If my skill is Communication, I will actively listen without interrupting when my friend tells me about their day.)
2.
3.
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Part 4: Reflect
How do you think improving this skill will help your 'future self' in the long run?
Activity
Transferable Skills Sorting Activity
Instructions:
1. Work with your group to cut out all the skill cards below.
2. Read each skill card.
3. Discuss within your group whether this skill is 'Needed for Many Jobs' (a transferable skill) or 'Specific to One Job'.
4. Sort the cards into two piles on your desk: one for 'Needed for Many Jobs' and one for 'Specific to One Job'. Be prepared to explain your choices!
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## Skill Cards (Cut Along the Dotted Lines)
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| Communication |
| (Speaking clearly, listening actively, writing emails) |
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| Operating a forklift |
| (Driving a specific piece of machinery) |
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| Problem-Solving |
| (Finding solutions to challenges, troubleshooting)
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| Performing surgery |
| (A highly specialized medical procedure) |
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| Collaboration |
| (Working effectively in a team, sharing ideas) |
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| Baking a souffle |
| (Following a specific recipe to create a dish) |
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| Time Management |
| (Organizing tasks, meeting deadlines) |
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| Coding in Python |
| (Writing computer programs in a specific language) |
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| Critical Thinking |
| (Analyzing information, making informed decisions) |
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| Playing the cello |
| (A specialized musical instrument skill) |
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| Adaptability |
| (Adjusting to new situations, learning new things)
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| Using a specific software (e.g., Photoshop) |
| (Proficiency in a particular digital tool) |
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