2025-2026 Application Due: APRIL 4th @ 11:59 pm

12th Grade

Year 4

The fourth and final sequence of the N.A.V.IG.A.T.E. Elective is an academic elective course that prepares students for college readiness and success, and it is scheduled during the regular school day.

This course is the final preparation for students before they move onto their postsecondary selections. Students will complete college-bound activities, methodologies, and tasks that support them as they apply to four-year universities, scholarships, financial aid, and confirm their postsecondary plans. Seniors continue to refine the WICOR skills they've gained throughout their years in AVID, including a scaffolded release of responsibility in senior study groups. All AVID seniors curate and present a portfolio representing their years of work in the elective, as well as completing the requirements for the course.

Semester 1: Finalizing Plans

Unit 1 | The Power of Passion & Perseverance

Duration

3-4 weeks

Essential Question

How can I create an action plan for my last year of high school?

Key Concepts

Understanding the concept of “grit” and perseverance
How to explore how passions can guide people through challenges
Understanding and applying the concept of “yet” — learning from failure
Class discussions and collaboration regarding motivation and future planning

Skills

Develop a growth mindset (how to embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth)
Identifying personal passions and maintaining intrinsic motivation
Developing communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution skills
Learn how to self-advocate and speak up for personal needs in all contexts

Activities

Develop a visual representation of interests, hobbies, and things that excite them (academic and personal) and connect these passions to schoolwork and future goals
Rewrite a past failure or obstacle as a growth story; instead of focusing on the negative, they will focus on what they learned and how it helped them grow
Create an action plan where students will discuss long-term goals, the steps they will take to overcome obstacles, and specific actions for staying motivated and using passions to fuel growth (include a list of support systems)
TED Talk over grit

Assessments

Passion Mapping
Growth Mindset Essay
Perseverance & Passion Plan (with presentation)

Unit 2 | Finalizing Postsecondary Plans

Duration

5-6 weeks

Essential Question

How can I finalize my postsecondary plan before I graduate high school?

Key Concepts

Finalizing options for different college and career options
Admissions: application process, GPA, extracurricular involvement, test scores
Aligning career interests with educational paths and steps to enter specific careers
The writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing

Skills

Conducting research on colleges, universities, trade schools, military branches, and career paths
Understanding financial literacy: scholarships, financial aid, budgeting for the future
Exploring and setting career goals based on academic strengths and interests
Writing a reflective essay that blends narrative, expository, and argumentative writing

Activities

Timeline: create an interactive project that includes college application deadlines, scholarship deadlines, FAFSA or other Financial Aid form due dates, College Decision Day, and important milestones
Scholarship Research: research THREE (3) scholarships and create an interactive project that reviews the scholarship name, award amount, eligibility requirements, required materials, why you chose the scholarship, etc.
College Research: research THREE (3) postsecondary institutions and create an interactive project that provides the name, location, majors or programs of interest, admission requirements, tuition costs, why you’re applying, etc.
Financial Aid: create an interactive project about the FAFSA, types of aid, expected family contribution, cost of attendance, etc.
Reflection: write a reflection on academic, financial, and career goals, as well as how to overcome challenges

Assessments

Postsecondary Plans Project: create a website that helps others interact with postsecondary plans

Unit 3 | Creative Collaboration

Duration

4-5 weeks

Essential Question

How can I demonstrate my creative problem solving through collaboration?

Key Concepts

Understanding the college application process, including deadlines and requirements
Identifying scholarships, applying for financial aid, and managing financial resources
Preparing for job searches, career expiration, and professional skill development
Recognizing the importance of mental health, stress management, balance, etc.
Developing effective time management strategies for academic / personal success

Skills

Developing leadership skills and assigning roles based on group members’ strengths
Collaboration with peers to design and create a final product that incorporates RWL
Investigating real-world challenges in college applications, scholarships, careers, etc.
Problem solving skills to address the complexities of postsecondary success
Creating interactive elements to ensure audience participation and focus

Activities

Brainstorming session for board game or escape room; focus on how to integrate key themes into the experience
Game Design Workshop: the group works on defining the structure of the game or escape room; discuss how to balance educational content with engaging gameplay mechanics
Game Testing: each group tests their prototype within the class or with other groups, gathering feedback
Presentation Planning: Groups prepare a 5-10 minute presentation explaining the game or escape room

Assessments

Game Outline of the game’s structure, including themes, key mechanics, and educational content
Progress report that includes feedback from testing and how the game is evolving or developing
Presentation of game and potential demo of how players would interact with the game
Peer Feedback that evaluates the effectiveness of other groups’ projects in addressing key themes

Semester 2: Life 101

Unit 4 | Budgeting Basics 101

Duration

5-6 weeks

Essential Question

How can I learn to effectively budget, save, manage credit, and understand other financial responsibilities?

Key Concepts

Understanding “budgeting” and financial health; identify budgeting importance
Develop intentional money management skills and practices
Collaborative discussions: listening, responding respectfully, and building on ideas
The writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing

Skills

Note-taking strategies (Cornell method, mind-mapping, outlining, etc.)
Participate in small group discussions, supporting ideas with sources
Taking ownership of one’s financial literacy and finding a “system” that works
Writing a reflective essay that blends narrative, expository, and argumentative writing

Activities

Take notes about financial literacy terminology (credit, high-interest, debt snowball, budgeting, etc.)
Annotate articles and have a class discussion over common financial mistakes
TED Talk over financial literacy
Have students reflect on their current spending habits and list any financial goals they have; track their finances for a month (either on paper or using the Every Dollar App) and journal about their experiences
Review the Envelope System and have students create a Budgeting System

Assessments

Zero-Based Budget Reflection
“My Money Management” — Financial Literacy & Budgeting Experience Reflective Essay

Unit 5 | Adulting 101

Duration

5-6 weeks

Essential Question

How can I manage my personal responsibilities to create a balanced and successful adult life after high school?

Key Concepts

Managing physical and mental health as an adult; building self-care routines
Navigating healthcare systems and resources
Using planners, schedules, and digital tools for managing school, work, and life
Creating a personal emergency plan (safety, health, security)
Understanding digital security (passwords, identity theft, social media safety)

Skills

Note-taking strategies (Cornell method, mind-mapping, outlining, etc.)
Participate in small group discussions, supporting ideas with sources
Research healthcare options, legal resources, time management strategies, etc.
Developing strategies for balancing multiple responsibilities (organization)
Analyzing situations, identifying needs, and applying solutions (finding a doctor, navigating a lease, etc.)

Activities

Brainstorm areas they feel unprepared for regarding adulthood
Annotate articles and have a class discussions
Videos over Health Insurance Costs, Tax Basics for Beginners, Car Insurance, Renting an Apartment, Lease Agreements, Retirement with a Roth IRA or a 401K, and Emergency Plans
Have students learn how to create their own “Adulting 101 Guide”

Assessments

Adulting 101 Binder: holds all materials that can be utilized after high school graduation
Create an Emergency Plan (with a checklist)

Unit 6 | Saying Goodbye

Duration

3-4 weeks

Essential Question

How can reflecting on my high school journey and envisioning my future help me transition into the next phase of my life with confidence and clarity?

Key Concepts

Reflecting on personal growth, challenges, and achievements during high school
Identifying and articulating short-term and long-term goals (personal, career, etc.)
Creating a clear and motivating picture of one’s future and how to take actionable steps
Developing communication skills through sharing reflections, goals, and vision
Master leadership roles and time management for a class event (Senior Send-Off)

Skills

Reflect on experiences and synthesize those into cohesive, thoughtful narratives
Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals (SMART goals)
Practicing oral communication skills and PVLEGS by presenting in front of an audience
Collaboration with peers to plan an event and contribute to a group presentation or skit

Activities

Senior Reflection Portfolio: document personal growth and reflect on high school experiences (personal essay on high school experiences, collection of memories, reflection on future goals, etc.)
“Future Me” Vision Board: create a vision board with career goals, academic aspirations, personal dreams, etc.
Graduation Speech: Create a graduation speech that you would want underclassmen to hear about how to be successful in high school and any advice they want to give other PCHS students

Assessments

Senior Send-Off: students will contribute to the planning of the event, which includes a potluck, year-in-review slideshow, senior superlatives, and activities that allow students to celebrate together (Senior Send-Off Slideshow)

11th GRADE

ELECTIVE

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