Decisions, decisions: A career exploration
In this lesson for grade seven, students complete personality profiles to explore career options, then conduct internet research to learn about specific careers. Students write evaluative essays about the careers they choose.
A lesson plan for grades 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance
Provided by CareerStart
Learning outcomes
- Students will use a personality profile to explore career possibilities.
- Students will conduct guided internet research in order to discover facts about specific careers.
- Students will write an evaluative essay regarding the careers they explore.
Teacher preparation
Time required for lesson
Approximately two 50-minute class periods. Homework time may be needed for essay.
Materials needed
- Computers with internet access for students to do research, using the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
- Printer to print profiles for students
- Student handouts:
- Career profile worksheet
- Essay evaluation rubric and information sheet
Activities
- Hand out the career profile worksheet, and instruct students to complete it.
- Have each student select one of the careers he or she listed as interesting on the career profile worksheet to research. Instruct students to access the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook to conduct their research.
- Tell students to use what they learn during their research to write an evaluative essay. Hand out the rubric and information sheet so students know how the essay will be graded.
- As homework, students should share their career profiles with their parents. Instruct students to have their parents to sign the profile to show they have read through it.
- Optional extension: Students may visit the College Foundation of North Carolina website for further information on career choices.
North Carolina curriculum alignment
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 7
- Goal 2: The learner will synthesize and use information from a variety of sources.
- Objective 2.01: Respond to informational materials that are read, heard, and/or viewed by:
- monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
- analyzing the characteristics of informational works.
- summarizing information.
- determining the importance of information.
- making connections to related topics/information.
- drawing inferences and/or conclusions.
- generating questions.
- Objective 2.01: Respond to informational materials that are read, heard, and/or viewed by:
- Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of application of grammar and language usage.
- Objective 6.01: Model an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
- using a variety of sentences correctly, punctuating them properly, and avoiding fragments and run-ons.
- using subject-verb agreement and verb tense that are appropriate for the meaning of the sentence.
- applying the parts of speech to clarify language usage.
- using pronouns correctly, including clear antecedents and correct case.
- using phrases and clauses correctly, including proper punctuation (e.g., prepositional phrases, appositives, dependent and independent clauses).
- determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words using context clues, a dictionary, a glossary, a thesaurus, and/or structural analysis (roots, prefixes, suffixes) of words.
- extending vocabulary knowledge by learning and using new words.
- determining when and where dialects and standard/nonstandard English usage are appropriate.
- applying language conventions and usage during oral presentations.
- choosing language that is precise, engaging, and well suited to the topic and audience.
- experimenting with figurative language and speech patterns.
- Objective 6.01: Model an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
Guidance (2001)
Grade 6–8
- Goal 4: Acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career decisions.
- Objective 4.01: Develop skills to locate, evaluate, and interpret career information.
- Goal 5: Employ strategies to achieve future career success and satisfaction.
- Objective 5.02: Apply personal skills, interests, and abilities to current career choices.
- North Carolina Essential Standards
- Guidance (2010)
Progressing
- P.CR.1 Understand the meaning and importance of career self-awareness and career goals. P.CR.1.1 Explain how personal skills, interests, and abilities relate to current career plans. P.CR.1.2 Develop a competency plan in your chosen career areas. P.CR.1.3...
- P.CR.2 Understand the relationship among career goals and interests, personal interests, aptitudes, and abilities. P.CR.2.1 Maintain a career-planning portfolio. P.CR.2.2 Use research and information resources to obtain career information.
- Guidance (2010)
