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Your Future, Unscripted

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Lesson Plan

Your Future Unscripted

Students will explore diverse career paths, align them with their interests and skills, and understand the value of continuous learning and adaptability in their post-graduation journey.

Understanding various career options and how they connect to personal interests and skills is vital for making informed decisions about life after high school. This lesson helps students broaden their perspectives and plan their next steps with confidence.

Audience

12th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, self-reflection, and exploration of diverse career profiles.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, Your Future Unscripted Slide Deck, Markers or Whiteboard, Future Me Journal, and Career Path Cool Down

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Dream Job Snapshot

5 minutes

  • Display a thought-provoking question on the board or use the Dream Job Warm-Up slide.
    - Ask students: "If you could have any job, regardless of money, education, or current skills, what would it be and why?"
    - Allow 2-3 students to share their dream jobs briefly. Encourage creativity and highlight the diversity of aspirations.

Step 2

Introduction: Beyond the Obvious

5 minutes

  • Use the Your Future Unscripted Slide Deck to introduce the idea that career paths aren't always linear or obvious.
    - Facilitate a brief discussion: "What are some jobs you know about that don't fit the 'traditional' mold (e.g., doctor, lawyer, teacher)?"
    - Emphasize that many fulfilling careers exist that students might not even know about yet.

Step 3

Exploring Hidden Paths

10 minutes

  • Present slides from the Your Future Unscripted Slide Deck showcasing a few unexpected or rapidly growing career fields (e.g., UX designer, data ethicist, renewable energy specialist, content creator, elder care coordinator).
    - For each career, briefly explain: What they do, what skills are needed, and why it's a growing field.
    - Encourage students to think about how their personal interests or strengths might connect to these or similar roles. "Does anyone see a connection between their own interests and any of these careers?"

Step 4

Journaling: Future Me Map

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Future Me Journal.
    - Instruct students to spend 5 minutes reflecting and writing about:
    - What skills or interests do I have that could lead to an unexpected career path?
    - What's one new career I learned about today that intrigues me, and why?
    - What's one step I can take this week to explore a potential career path further?
    - Reassure students that this is for personal reflection and they will not be required to share.

Step 5

Cool Down: One Word Future

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Career Path Cool Down to each student.
    - Ask students to write one word that describes how they feel about their future career path after today's discussion.
    - Collect the cool-down slips as an exit ticket. Review responses to gauge student sentiment and inform future discussions.
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Slide Deck

Your Future, Unscripted: Exploring Unexpected Career Paths

What's your dream job?

Welcome students. Begin with the warm-up question to activate prior knowledge and encourage creative thinking about careers. This sets a positive and open tone for career exploration.

Beyond the Obvious: Your Path Isn't Set in Stone

Many amazing careers exist that you might not even know about yet!

  • What are some jobs you know that don't fit the 'traditional' mold (doctor, lawyer, teacher)?
  • The world of work is constantly changing.

Introduce the idea that career paths are rarely straight lines. Encourage students to think beyond traditional roles and consider the evolving job market. Ask them to brainstorm some 'non-traditional' jobs they know.

Career Spotlight: UX Designer

What they do:

  • Make websites and apps easy and enjoyable to use.
  • Understand user needs and solve problems through design.

Skills Needed:

  • Empathy, problem-solving, creativity, communication, understanding technology.

Why it's growing:

  • Everything is digital! Companies need to ensure their digital products are user-friendly.

Introduce UX design. Explain what it is and what skills are involved. Connect it to student experiences with apps and websites. Emphasize problem-solving and creativity.

Career Spotlight: Data Ethicist

What they do:

  • Ensure data collection and AI are used responsibly and ethically.
  • Protect privacy and prevent bias in algorithms.

Skills Needed:

  • Critical thinking, ethics, understanding technology, communication, legal knowledge.

Why it's growing:

  • Data is everywhere! Companies need experts to navigate ethical challenges in AI and data privacy.

Introduce Data Ethicist. This is a more abstract role, so emphasize the 'why' behind it – protecting privacy and ensuring fairness in AI. Connect to current events if possible.

Career Spotlight: Renewable Energy Specialist

What they do:

  • Design, install, and maintain systems that generate clean energy (solar, wind, hydro).
  • Work towards a sustainable future.

Skills Needed:

  • Problem-solving, technical skills, physics/engineering knowledge, environmental awareness.

Why it's growing:

  • Global demand for clean energy is booming, creating many new jobs.

Introduce Renewable Energy Specialist. This is a hands-on, impactful career. Highlight its connection to environmental science and engineering. Discuss the variety of roles within this field.

Career Spotlight: Content Creator

What they do:

  • Create engaging videos, articles, podcasts, or social media posts.
  • Build an audience and often monetize their content.

Skills Needed:

  • Creativity, storytelling, digital literacy, marketing, communication.

Why it's growing:

  • The digital world relies on engaging content; anyone with a unique voice can find an audience.

Introduce Content Creator. This is highly relevant to students. Discuss the various platforms and types of content. Emphasize the entrepreneurial aspect and need for diverse skills.

Reflect & Connect

Time to think about your unique path!

Use your Future Me Journal to answer:

  • What skills or interests do I have that could lead to an unexpected career path?
  • What's one new career I learned about today that intrigues me, and why?
  • What's one step I can take this week to explore a potential career path further?

Transition to the journaling activity. Remind students this is for personal reflection. Explain the prompts clearly. Encourage them to be honest and thoughtful.

What's Your Future Word?

On your Career Path Cool Down slip, write ONE word that describes how you feel about your future career path after today's lesson.

Explain the cool-down activity. Collect their responses as an exit ticket. Thank them for their participation and thoughts.

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Journal

Future Me Journal

Take a few minutes to reflect on your career aspirations and the possibilities discussed today. This is for your eyes only, so be honest and open with your thoughts!

Reflection Questions:

  1. What skills or interests do I have that could potentially lead to an unexpected or less common career path that I haven't considered before?











  2. Out of the new careers we explored today (or any others that came to mind), what's one that intrigues you the most, and why?











  3. What's one small step you can take this week to explore a potential career path further? (e.g., research online, talk to someone, read an article, watch a video).











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Cool Down

Career Path Cool Down

In one word, how do you feel about your future career path after our discussion today?




Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

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Your Future, Unscripted • Lenny Learning