LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Guidance — Grades 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.

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

Using reference materials
In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 1.1
In this lesson for grade 6, students gain an understanding of how classified ads are used to search for jobs.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)
By Jennifer Brookshire and Julie McCann.
TV careers: Reality vs. fantasy
In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.6
In this lesson for grade seven, students discuss compare television portrayals of careers with reality.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)
By Jen Presley.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.
Problem-solving careers
In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.7
In this lesson for grade seven, students analyze information about various careers to determine how people in those occupations use problem-solving skills.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)
By Jen Presley.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.
Employment applications and resumés
In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.4
In this lesson for grade seven, students will discuss the parts of a job application and resumé. Students will complete an application and resumé for either a medical job or a construction job, and will compare and contrast the application materials needed for each of the two kinds of jobs.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)
By Anissia Jenkins.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.
Decisions, decisions: A career exploration
In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.10
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.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)
By Jen Presley.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.
Dear Juana: Editing a letter
In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.3
In this lesson for grade seven, students will discuss the importance of proofreading and editing in various careers. The teacher will model proofreading and editing a sample letter, and then the students will write and peer-edit their own letters.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)
By Anissia Jenkins.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.
Comparing and contrasting careers
In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 1.9
This lesson for grade six will help students understand comparing and contrasting. Students will conduct career surveys with adults and will use the results to create Venn diagrams.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)
By Jennifer Brookshire and Julie McCann.
Career research and writing
In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.2
In this lesson for grade seven, students will learn about a career that interests them and then share what they learned in peer groups. Students will then write a letter to the Better Business Bureau stating why they should be given an internship in their chosen career.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)
By Michelle Kimel.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett, Anissia Jenkins, and Sonya Rexrode.
Career research and acrostic poetry
In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 1.6
In this lesson for grade 6, each student will research a chosen career and will use the information to create an acrostic poem.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)
By Holly Grout, Deborah Smith, and Natalie Summers.Adapted by Jennifer Brookshire and Julie McCann.