Embedded Files
Career Connections
General summary of unit:
Career exploration is essential for middle school students because it helps them gain insight into various career options and identify their interests, strengths, and weaknesses. This process can help students make informed decisions about their education and career paths, as well as increase their motivation and engagement in school.
Much of the unit engages students to just start thinking about different careers, our goal is not to dig deep into a career, but expose them to potential careers they never thought of. Lesson 1 focuses on Non-Traditional Careers - Example a Male Nurse or a female mechanic, keep that focus throughout the unit.
Skills students need or will develop:
Improve their self-awareness, research skills, communication skills, decision-making skills, and goal-setting skills.
Setting goals can prepare the students for future education and career success.
Students will develop posters or some other type of multimedia specifically geared to educate other middle school students.
Goals For A Final Project:
Students at the minimum in teams of two will create a poster or some other type of multimedia presentation on a career of their choice specifically designed to educate other middle school students.
Have a mission to educate others in your school: Extensions could be guest speakers, a career day, or maybe a "career club" where students come in for ELT. Career Coaches could play a role in the unit and in your course in setting up field trips or guest speakers.
Why Career Exploration
Why Career Exploration
Students are often bombarded with decisions that need to be made, which hinge on a specific career path. How can they know what courses to take in high school for a future educational goal, if they haven’t explored career options available to them?
“How do we expect young people to dream if they don’t know what they can dream about?”
Vocabulary Associated with this Unit
Vocabulary Associated with this Unit
Career Exploration Vocabulary List – Middle School
This vocabulary list will support students in understanding career exploration concepts, focusing on non-traditional careers, self-awareness, and goal-setting for future success.
Career Exploration – The process of learning about different jobs, industries, and career paths.
Non-Traditional Careers – Occupations where one gender comprises less than 25% of the workforce (e.g., male nurse, female mechanic).
Self-Awareness – Understanding one’s strengths, weaknesses, interests, and values.
Transferable Skills – Skills that can be used in different jobs and industries, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Workplace Diversity – The inclusion of different genders, backgrounds, and abilities in various professions.
Job Shadowing – Observing a professional in their workplace to learn more about a specific career.
Apprenticeship – A structured training program that combines classroom instruction with hands-on work experience.
Internship – A short-term work experience that helps students gain exposure to a career field.
Soft Skills – Non-technical skills such as teamwork, adaptability, and time management that are important for workplace success.
Hard Skills – Specific technical skills required for a job, such as coding, welding, or medical procedures.
Career Pathway – A planned series of educational and work experiences that lead to a specific career.
Entrepreneurship – The process of starting and running one’s own business.
STEM Careers – Jobs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, often in high-demand fields.
Work-Life Balance – The ability to manage work responsibilities while maintaining a healthy personal life.
Networking – Building relationships with professionals in various careers to learn and discover opportunities.
Job Market – The availability of jobs in different industries at a given time.
Career Assessment – A tool that helps individuals identify their interests and potential career matches.
Vocational Training – Education focused on preparing students for specific trades or skilled jobs.
Communication Skills – The ability to effectively express ideas and information through speaking, writing, and listening.
Goal-Setting – The process of identifying and planning steps to achieve a career or educational objective.
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