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Your Future, Your Story

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Lesson Plan

Your Future, Your Story

Students will identify their personal strengths and interests and explore how these can connect to various career paths.

Understanding personal strengths and interests is the first step towards a fulfilling career. This lesson empowers students to make informed decisions about their future, reducing anxiety and increasing motivation for post-secondary planning.

Audience

11th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and guided self-reflection.

Materials

Small Group Discussion Questions (provided by teacher), Strengths & Interests Explorer Slide Deck, Career Compass Journal, Warm-Up: My Power Perks, and Cool-Down: One Word Wonder

Prep

Review Materials & Setup

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: My Power Perks

5 minutes

  • Begin by distributing the Warm-Up: My Power Perks activity.
    * Instruct students to quickly jot down 2-3 things they are really good at or genuinely enjoy doing.
    * Ask for a few volunteers to share one item from their list with the small group.

Step 2

Introduction: Your Future, Your Story

3 minutes

  • Introduce the lesson using Strengths & Interests Explorer Slide Deck - Slide 1.
    * Explain that today's session is about exploring what makes them unique and how that can shape their future career story. Refer to the lesson title, "Your Future, Your Story."

Step 3

Exploring Strengths & Interests

10 minutes

  • Transition to Strengths & Interests Explorer Slide Deck - Slide 2.
    * Lead a guided discussion on different types of strengths (academic, creative, social, practical) and interests (hobbies, subjects, causes).
    * Encourage students to share examples and elaborate on what excites them. Use provided small group discussion questions to prompt deeper thinking.

Step 4

Connecting to Career Paths

7 minutes

Step 5

Cool-Down: One Word Wonder

5 minutes

  • Conclude with the Cool-Down: One Word Wonder activity.
    * Ask each student to share one word that describes something new they learned about themselves or a career idea they had today.
    * Collect journals or assign them for completion as homework if time runs short.
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Slide Deck

Your Future, Your Story: Discovering Your Path

What makes you unique?
How can your passions lead to your purpose?

Welcome students and introduce the exciting topic of connecting their unique selves to their future. Emphasize that their journey is their own story to write.

What Are Your Superpowers?

Exploring Your Strengths:

  • What are you naturally good at?
  • What skills do you enjoy using?
  • Think about school, hobbies, or helping others.

Uncovering Your Interests:

  • What topics or activities genuinely excite you?
  • What do you love to learn about or spend time doing?
  • What problems do you care about solving?

Facilitate a discussion using the prompts. Encourage all students in the small group to participate, sharing diverse examples of strengths and interests. Ask follow-up questions to dig deeper, e.g., 'How did you discover that strength?' or 'What makes that interest so engaging for you?'

Mapping Your Way: From You to Career

How do your strengths and interests guide you?

Brainstorming Connections:

  • If you love art (interest) and are good at teaching (strength), what could you do?
  • If you are organized (strength) and passionate about helping people (interest), what careers come to mind?

Introducing Your Career Compass Journal:

  • A space to reflect and connect your unique qualities to possible career adventures.

Introduce the idea that careers are often built around what people are good at and what they care about. Explain the purpose of the journal and guide them through the first few prompts. Provide examples of how a strength like 'problem-solving' and an interest in 'animals' could lead to a career in veterinary science or animal rescue.

Your Journey Continues...

Today was just the beginning of exploring your unique story! Keep reflecting, keep exploring, and keep dreaming big.

Briefly recap the importance of self-discovery in career readiness. Introduce the Cool-Down as a quick reflection and reinforce that this is an ongoing journey.

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Warm Up

My Power Perks

Take 2-3 minutes to quickly jot down your "power perks"! These are things you are really good at or genuinely enjoy doing.

Think about:

  • What comes easily to you?
  • What activities make you lose track of time?
  • What do friends or family often ask you for help with?












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Cool Down

One Word Wonder

Think about what we discussed today. What is ONE WORD that describes:

  1. Something new you learned about yourself?



  2. A new career idea that sparked your interest?



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Journal

Career Compass Journal: Charting Your Course

This journal is your personal space to explore your unique qualities and connect them to the vast world of careers. Be honest, be curious, and let your thoughts flow!

Part 1: My Personal Power Perks

  1. Strengths Spotlight: List 3-5 things you are really good at. These could be academic skills (like writing or math), creative talents (like drawing or music), social abilities (like leadership or empathy), or practical skills (like organizing or building things).












  2. Interests Inventory: What topics, activities, or causes genuinely capture your attention and make you excited? List 3-5 things you love to learn about, do in your free time, or feel passionate about.












Part 2: Connecting the Dots

  1. Strength-to-Career Link: Choose one of your top strengths. How could this strength be useful in different careers? Brainstorm at least two potential career paths where this strength would be a major asset. Explain your reasoning.

    • My Strength:


    • Career Idea 1:



      Why this connection?


    • Career Idea 2:



      Why this connection?




  2. Interest-to-Career Link: Choose one of your top interests. What careers are related to this interest? Brainstorm at least two potential career paths that align with this interest. Explain your reasoning.

    • My Interest:


    • Career Idea 1:



      Why this connection?


    • Career Idea 2:



      Why this connection?




Part 3: Looking Ahead

  1. New Discoveries: Did anything surprise you today about your strengths, interests, or potential career paths? What was your biggest
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