Engaging Lessons & Activities

Career Clusters & Family Engagement Lessons

From Career Zones to Career Clusters - Introducing Middle Schoolers to Michigan's 17 Career Clusters. This is a Nearpod Lesson, interactive and fun!

Career Clusters Exploration Lesson plan - Created by Mona Shores Counselors!  In this lesson, students will be able to identify and describe the 17 Career Clusters, explore related career paths, and connect their interests and skills to potential careers.

Careers & Xello Family Interview - Use this lesson to connect classroom learning to real-world careers and engage families to improve connections with Xello Family!

KentISD has produced Career Cluster Activity Ideas for each career cluster.

Career Cluster Ideas - Activities for the 16 Career Clusters for parents and students to explore together.

Career Exploration, Planning, and Interests Lessons

Michigan Agriculture in the Classroom offers 25 lesson plans for grades 6-8 in agritourism, farm-to-fork, cheese making, food packaging, culinary concepts, Ag careers, Food Safety, Beeswax, and more!

Students have So Many Ideas! about what they want to be when they grow up. Use this lesson to introduce or review career clusters and begin or update their EDPs.

This mini-lesson ties career exploration, literacy, and math together all while exploring the Hottest Jobs and Most Popular Careers in Michigan.

Introduce Michigan’s Hot 50 Job Outlook Lesson-  Students will be introduced to the job outlook and its relevance to career exploration and planning. 

This 40-minute lesson incorporates literacy, note-taking, communication, career exploration, and technology.  It revolves around the Arts, A/V Technology and Communication cluster.

Career Exploration Lesson Plans for 6th & 7th Grades - Exploring's Discover Your Future has created 41 lessons around career exploration for sixth and seventh grades. 

ASCA Middle School Career Conversations - All students have the opportunity to explore interests, abilities, values and goals and have freedom of postsecondary training and career choice. Career conversations engages students, parents and community partners. 

Xello Subject Area Teaching Resources - Xello 6-12 subject-specific teaching resources help students understand why each school subject is important and relevant to their future success no matter what career path they choose.

Xello Activity & Lesson Plan Resources - At least 4 lessons per grade level (6-8) around exploring interests, careers, setting goals and planning.