College Readiness/GEAR UP Digital Learning Activities

Grades 6-8

  • Name: Khan Academy: Introduction to Khan Academy
  • Instructions: Khan Academy is a free resource that can be used as a supplement to academic enrichment activities and PSAT/SAT test preparation. Students and Families can create individual accounts to connect to Khan Academy.:
  • Resource Link:www.khanacademy.org

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Grade 8

  • Name: College Board: Introduction to College Board
  • Instructions: The College Board (www.collegeboard.org) is a free resource site that helps to prepare students for college. The College Board is the organization that conducts the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) and SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). These tests are designed to assess your student's college readiness. Students can take the PSAT as early as 8th grade with the PSAT 8/9 assessment.
  • Name: College Board: Create a College Board Account
  • Instructions: Visit The College Board to create an account
  1. Select 'Sign In' in the upper right-hand corner of the website
  2. Click 'Create Account' (if you already have an account, sign in, or go to 'Forgot username or password' to help get your log-in information)
  3. On next page select 'I'm a student'
  4. Next, complete all required information (You may need your parent/guardian to help you with this part. Set aside 5-10 minutes with them to check your information) NOTE: This will be your permanent account -- you can only make one account!
  • Name: College Board: What is the PSAT 8/9?
  • Instructions: Learn about the PSAT 8/9 and its importance in college readiness! Click the link to read about the test and share the information you've learned with your student(s). Note: High school students will take the PSAT/SAT EVERY YEAR (during the school day, typically in October). Creating a College Board account allows your student(s) access to their scores every year!
  • Student: Sign into your College Board account to learn about the PSAT 8/9 (students can also select the Inside the Test link).
After reading:
  1. Discuss with your friends and family about the test;
  2. Write down 2-3 steps you will take to prepare for the test in high school;
  3. Share your steps with your friends and family and ask for help (if needed) to achieve those steps.
  • Name: College Board: View and understand your PSAT 8/9 scores.
  • Instructions: If your school participated in the PSAT 8/9 test: View and understand how to interpret your scores!
  • Parents: Please note that while in high school students will take the PSAT/SAT EVERY YEAR (during the school day, typically in October). Creating a College Board account allows your student(s) access to their scores every year!
Students:
  1. Watch two videos below as a start to understanding your scores
    1. Video #1: How to view and understand your scores
    2. Video #2: How does my score help me in high school?
  2. Review the following link on www.collegeboard.org to read more about your score breakdown
  3. Take it to the next level and learn how you can improve your math score with the Grow With Khan Academy worksheet
  • Name: College Board & Khan Academy: Link accounts
  • Instructions: Students:
  1. Connect your Khan Academy Account to your College Board account to get access to tutorials for test prep and academic prep. Note: The attached video talks primarily about SAT practice but the steps work for PSAT prep as well.
  2. Review the Grow With Khan Academy worksheet for specific activities for PSAT 8/9 prep.
  3. Discuss your scores with your family
  4. Take it to the next level and set up a mini practice schedule inside your Khan Academy account using the Grow With Khan Academy worksheet

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Grades 9-12

  • Name: Khan Academy: College and Career Options - Exploring College Options
  • Instructions: Teachers: create a Khan Academy account and copy assignments into google classroom.
1. Log into Khan Academy2. Complete the activity : -Exploring college options-College Search: Type of college-College Search: Other important choices-Campus visit
  • Resource Links
https://www.khanacademy.org/college-careers-more/college-admissions/explore-college-optionshttps://www.khanacademy.org/college-careers-more/college-admissions#life-after-college
  • Name: Visiting a College Campus
  • Instructions: You can begin exploring college campuses virtually.

Before your virtual tours: 1. Write down at least three factors that are important to you when choosing a college.2. What careers are you interested in?3. What majors have you considered exploring?
Virtual tours:Start your virtual tours using any of the college tour websites provided. Be sure to visit a minimum of five colleges and complete the following information about the college:1. Name of the school2. Where is the college located? What type of institution is it- public or private? Large or small? Urban or Rural?3. What do you like most about the college?

  • Resources:
    • CampusTours - MOST comprehensive site; You can click on tour, website, map, videos (YouTube). The site also gives stats on the college.
    • YouVisit - Offers comprehensive and impressive high quality photos and videos; student/model stands in corner of screen and narrates a walking tour. There is a map in the upper right corner so you can see where you are on campus.
    • eCampusTours - 360 panoramic pictures of campus with written overview
    • YOUniversityTV - Gives highlights with quick video clips and photos and graphs/maps
    • Campus Reel

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