Career Exploration
When I Grow Up I Want To Be...
We can all remember as a child what we said that we wanted to be when we grew up...and more than likely that choice has changed many times throughout elementary school, middle school, high school, and for some of us in college and even afterwards. It is never to early to start exploring careers, we assist our students with exploring the many careers that are available to them in this world through classroom guidance lessons and career infused lesson plans for their academic subjects. We utilize guest speakers, field trips, videos, games, puppets, dress-up, art activities, music, drama, team-building exercises, and career interest inventories to show our students the importance of early career exploration.
The Education and Economic Development Act (EEDA) of 2005 contains legislation designed to give South Carolina students the educational tools that they need to build prosperous, successful futures. Its trademark, "Pathways to Success", promotes career awareness and exploration beginning in elementary school. Check out the "SC Pathways" link below. (To obtain user codes, please click on the student tab, new user, and complete the requested information. Follow the prompts to complete the registration process and to obtain login information.) In the 8th grade, students will meet individually with their parents and School Counselor to create an Individual Graduation Plans (IGP). The IGP is designed to guide students through career exploration, postsecondary preparation, and workforce transition. IGPs are adjusted annually to allow for a student’s continued academic growth and career exploration through high school.
The 16 Career Clusters
The National Career Clusters® Framework provides a vital structure for organizing and delivering quality Career and Technology Education programs through learning and comprehensive programs of study. In total, there are 16 Career Clusters in the National Career Clusters Framework, representing more than 79 Career Pathways to help students navigate their way to greater success in college and career.
As an organizing tool for curriculum design and instruction, Career Clusters provide the essential knowledge and skills for the 16 Career Clusters and their Career Pathways. It also functions as a useful guide in developing programs of study bridging secondary and post secondary curriculum and for creating individual student plans of study for a complete range of career options. As such, it helps students discover their interests and their passions, and empowers them to choose the educational pathway that can lead to success in high school, college and career. South Carolina recognizes these 16 career clusters offered at various schools across the state.
The nationally recognized career clusters are represented by the South Carolina-specific documents linked below. These guides support efforts by school guidance personnel, career specialists, students, and parents as course-taking choices and career decision making activities take place and may be found in more detail at the South Carolina Department of Education website.
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Architecture and Construction
Arts, A/V Technology and Communications
Business, Management and Administration
Education and Training
Finance
Government and Public Administration
Health Sciences
Hospitality and Tourism
Human Services
Information Technology
Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security
Manufacturing
Marketing, Sales and Service
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Transportation, Distribution and Logistics
Career Interest Survey "The Color Quiz"
The Color Quiz is adapted from the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. It is not an official assessment, but gives the basics to help students begin to think about their futures.
Students take the quiz as a whole group. I read each question and help students find their winning letter in each section. Then, once each student has their 4-letter code, I discuss the colors (refer to PowerPoint). The colors group students based on similar interests. Once each color is explained, students go to their color groups and create a poster detailing their similarities within the group and what makes them special.
Students finish their posters and present to the class. We then reflect on how we can interact with different colors. I ask questions such as: Which colors might you get along well with and why? Which colors may you have difficulties with and why? How can we make these interactions more positive?
Students are usually very self-reflective and feel a sense of ownership over their colors. As a reminder of our work, I hang their posters in the classroom. I also close the lesson by providing each student with a detailed description of their 4-letter code.
Please scroll to the bottom of this page to download copies of The Color Quiz and The Color Quiz Results.
Another Career Interest Survey...
I spent a lot of time searching for a paper and pencil survey or quiz that my fifth graders could take to open their eyes to possible career opportunities. I know there are many online surveys, but I didn’t want to rely on solely on technology.
Each student completes a four-page Interest Survey that, when scored, helps them to narrow down the career clusters they may be interested in pursuing.
After the students self score their surveys, they share their top career cluster and I answer a few questions about it:
What kinds of careers fall under this cluster?
What are the strengths of a person in this career?
What will you have to do in order to have this career? (College? Special training? Improve a specific skill?)
After sharing, we discuss that as they continue their education into middle school, knowing their interests is important because they can expand their knowledge and skills by taking certain classes or joining certain clubs/groups.
Please scroll to the bottom of this page to download a copy of the Career Wonders Interest Survey.
Career-Focused Activities by Grade Level
Kindergarten
ABC's of Careers (Slideshow)
Who's Vehicle Is It? (book and game)
When I Grow Up (art and music video by the Bazillions)
Career Toolbox
Career Bingo
Paws in Jobland (website)
Guest Speakers/Field Trips
Career Videos
1st Grade
ABC's of Careers (Slideshow)
When I Grow Up (book, art,and music video by the Bazillions)
Career Toolbox
Career Bingo
Paws in Jobland (website)
Guest Speakers/Field Trips
Career Videos
2nd Grade
When I Grow Up (book, worksheet, art,and music video by the Bazillions)
Career Toolbox
Career Bingo
The NED Show Career Videos
Paws in Jobland (website)
Guest Speakers/Field Trips
Career Videos
3rd Grade
Career Wonders (career interest survey)
Ice Cream Career Scoops and The NED Show Career Videos
Career Bingo
The NED Show Career Videos
Paws in Jobland (website)
Guest Speakers/Field Trips
Career Videos
4th Grade
Career Jeopardy with the 16 Career Clusters
The Color Quiz (career interest survey)
Career Jeopardy
Paws in Jobland (website)
Guest Speakers/Field Trips
Career Videos
5th Grade
Career Jeopardy with the 16 Career Clusters
Career Cluster Interest Survey (career interest inventory)
SCOIS Climb (online career interest inventory)
Paws in Jobland (website)
Guest Speakers/Field Trips
Career Videos
Ice Cream Career Scoops
We discuss strengths that people might have (i.e. athletic, problem-solver, etc.). Then, we think about careers that match those strengths. As we match careers, we discussed why it is important to find a career that suits your personality - we want to have jobs that make us happy and jobs that we can do well. Then, the students make ice cream cones that reflect their strengths and possible careers that they could have based on those strengths.
Another great addition to this ice cream lesson is a short video from The NED Show!
More "The NED Show" Videos...
The NED message is Never give up, Encourage others, and Do your best. They offer school assemblies (my school has hosted them twice in the last few years) and now revamped their website with many additional resources including Common Core-aligned lessons plans (K-6), parent resources, educational videos, activities for kids, and MORE!
Whose Vehicle Is This?
We start by reading "Who Vehicle is This?" The students love guessing each vehicle and career. We discuss how vehicles are used to help people with their jobs. Then, I assign each student a vehicle (there are multiples of each) and have them draw a picture of the person who uses that vehicle on the other side of their paper - this is like creating our own guessing game, just like the book. When they are finished, I call students up by vehicle, so they can share their drawings. Students guess which career the vehicle would be used for, and we talk about why each career is important in our community. This also creates a perfect opportunity to discuss how boys and girls can do any of these jobs - there are not "boy careers" and "girl careers."
.
Here is an example of one of the vehicles:
"When I Grow Up"
This is a “career toolbox” lesson from a School Counselor who posted it in the Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group. I have a collection of various items and put them all in a box with a cover. For the lesson, I call students up one at a time to reach their hand in and pull out an item. Once they see what the item is, they guess what career(s) the item might be used for. The rest of the class also share their ideas.
Examples of items I have in the box: a ruler, pencil, flashlight, compass, map, dog leash, manicure set, book, screw driver, rubber glove, floss, cell phone, walkie talkie, etc.
We also read “When I Grow Up” by Al Yankovic (always a favorite for kids), watch the "Career Day" music video by the Bazillions, and students shared various jobs they’re interested in having.
Websites
SCOIS (South Carolina Career Information System) The SCOIS site is a web-based career awareness program that introduces students to the concept of career clusters and will help them explore careers and the connection of school to work. Please use the following information to log in:
Username: climb
Password: scois
SCOIS CLIMB All 5th grade students will take the SCOIS Climb online career interest inventory in the Spring and will have a chance to explore this comprehensive site. You may also explore and enjoy this site at home. Please use the following information to log in:
Username: climb
Password: scois
Site ID: SC1635
SCETV Career Videos What do you want to do when you grow up? What jobs would you like to do that would be fun and exciting? These videos, links, coloring pages, and games will help you to explore the many career opportunities that exist for you.
KID'S WORK! This website is a virtual community of workplaces designed to give students an interactive job exploration experience that connects school work to real work. Each Kids Work! place provides an area to do the following:
Discover the History of the career field by using a timeline.
Play three Job Play activities that provide an interactive virtual work experience tied directly to SC curriculum standards.
Meet Real People who work in this profession.
Explore the Work Zone and learn more about a real workplace.
CAREER VIEW This website has information about career related contests and camps; online career exploration games; kids search engine of over 100 different careers; printable puzzles, activities, coloring pages and books; and links to other fun educational websites.
PAWS IN JOBLAND The website has a virtual community of workplaces called Jobland that is divided into 16 Career Clusters, which provides students with videos of the various jobs available in each cluster. There is also a Job Finder, which asks students what their likes and dislikes are to help them identify a job that would be a good match. There is also an online Quiz puzzle game and ABC Search engine of over 100 different types of jobs.