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Your Future, Your Design

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Lesson Plan

Your Future, Your Design

Students will identify essential skills for career readiness, explore diverse post-graduation pathways, and begin to articulate personal steps towards their future careers or further education.

Understanding career readiness is crucial for 12th graders as they stand on the brink of significant life decisions. This lesson provides a framework for students to envision their future, recognize the skills needed, and proactively plan their next steps, reducing anxiety and increasing confidence in their post-graduation journey.

Audience

12th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, self-reflection, and guided planning.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Future Snapshot

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Future Snapshot Warm-Up to students.
  • Instruct students to quickly jot down their initial thoughts about their future after high school.
  • Ask a few students to share one idea from their warm-up with the class. Use Career Readiness Slide Deck Slide 1 for visual support.

Step 2

Introduction: Your Future, Your Design

5 minutes

  • Introduce the lesson's title and objective using Career Readiness Slide Deck Slides 2-3.
  • Facilitate a brief discussion: "What does 'career readiness' mean to you?" Allow students to share their initial thoughts and definitions.

Step 3

Exploring Pathways & Skills

10 minutes

  • Use Career Readiness Slide Deck Slides 4-7 to discuss various post-graduation pathways (college, trade school, workforce, military) and essential career readiness skills (communication, problem-solving, teamwork, adaptability).
  • Engage students with questions like: "Which of these skills do you feel most confident in? Which do you want to develop further?"

Step 4

Activity: Pathway Planner

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Pathway Planner Activity.
  • Explain the activity: Students will choose a pathway and list 2-3 immediate steps they can take towards that goal.
  • Circulate the room to provide support and answer questions. Use Career Readiness Slide Deck Slide 8 for instructions.

Step 5

Cool-Down: My Next Step

5 minutes

  • Distribute the My Next Step Cool-Down.
  • Instruct students to write down one specific action they will take this week related to their future plans.
  • Collect cool-down tickets as an exit ticket. Use Career Readiness Slide Deck Slide 9 for reflection and closure.
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Slide Deck

Your Future, Your Design

Navigating What's Next After High School

Let's design your future together!

Welcome students and introduce the engaging title of today's lesson. This sets the stage for thinking about their future in an empowering way. Briefly explain that this session is about exploring what's next after high school.

Today's Objective

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

  • Identify key skills for career readiness.
  • Explore various post-high school pathways.
  • Outline initial steps towards your chosen path.

State the clear objective for the lesson. Emphasize that this isn't about having all the answers, but about starting to think critically and plan proactively.

What is Career Readiness?

What does it mean to be 'ready' for your future?


Open the floor for a brief discussion. Ask students what 'career readiness' means to them. Listen to their responses and validate different perspectives. This helps activate prior knowledge and connect to their existing understanding.

Your Paths After High School

There are many exciting directions you can take!

  • Higher Education: 2-year or 4-year colleges, universities
  • Vocational/Trade School: Hands-on training for specific careers
  • Workforce: Entering employment directly
  • Military Service: Joining a branch of the armed forces
  • Gap Year: Taking time for travel, volunteering, or personal projects

Present the various pathways students can consider. Stress that there isn't one 'right' path, and each offers unique opportunities. Ask students if they know anyone who has taken these different paths.

Skills for Success

No matter your path, these skills will help you thrive!

  • Communication: Speaking, listening, writing clearly
  • Problem-Solving: Finding solutions to challenges
  • Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with others
  • Adaptability: Adjusting to new situations and changes
  • Critical Thinking: Analyzing information to make informed decisions
  • Time Management: Organizing and prioritizing tasks efficiently

Discuss essential skills that are valuable across all pathways. Ask students to reflect on which of these they already possess and which they'd like to develop further. Provide examples of how each skill is used in real-world scenarios.

Activity: Your Pathway Planner

Let's put your thoughts into action!

  1. Choose a Pathway: Which path interests you most right now?
  2. Identify 2-3 Steps: What are some immediate, actionable steps you can take towards that path?
    • Example: Research colleges, talk to a recruiter, look for job shadow opportunities, learn a new skill.

Explain the upcoming activity. Remind students to think about their personal interests and strengths. Encourage them to be realistic but also aspirational in their planning. Emphasize that this is a starting point, not a final decision.

Your Next Step

What is ONE specific action you will take this week to move closer to your future goals?


Conclude the lesson by asking students to commit to one immediate action. This reinforces the idea of taking ownership of their future. Collect the cool-down slips as they leave.

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Warm Up

Future Snapshot: What's Next?

Instructions: Take a moment to think about your life immediately after high school. In the space below, quickly jot down any thoughts, dreams, or even worries you have about what comes next. Don't overthink it, just write down what comes to mind!












Consider these questions as you write:

  • Where do you see yourself living?
  • What kind of work do you imagine doing?
  • Who do you hope to be spending your time with?
  • What's one thing you are excited about?
  • What's one thing that makes you nervous?
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Activity

Pathway Planner: Designing Your Next Steps

Instructions: Reflect on the different post-high school pathways we discussed. Choose one pathway that currently interests you the most. Then, brainstorm 2-3 specific, immediate steps you can take to explore or move towards that pathway.

My Chosen Pathway (check one):

  • 2-year or 4-year College/University
  • Vocational/Trade School
  • Entering the Workforce Directly
  • Military Service
  • Gap Year (travel, volunteer, personal project)
  • Other (please specify):


My Next 2-3 Steps:

  1. Step 1: What is the very first thing you can do this week or next to explore this pathway?

    • Example: Research specific colleges, talk to a career counselor, look up job openings for a specific field, contact a military recruiter, find volunteer opportunities.






  2. Step 2: What is another concrete action you can take?

    • Example: Attend a college fair, visit a trade school, update your resume, research military branches, plan a budget for a gap year.






  3. Step 3 (Optional): If you're feeling ambitious, what's a third step?






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Cool Down

My Next Step: Taking Action

Instructions: Before you leave today, write down one specific, actionable step you will take this week related to your post-high school plans. This could be something small or something big, but it should be something you can realistically do.







My Next Step Is:










Why is this step important to you?










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