College Readiness/GEAR UP Digital Learning Activities


Grades 6 - 8

Title: Steps to Entrepreneurship - Starting A Small Business
Teacher Instruction
Student Instructions:
  1. View the Google Slide Let’s Be an Entrepreneur and follow the prompts.
  2. When directed, complete the Starting A Small Business Worksheet, as instructed
  3. After completing the worksheet, watch the videos provided at the conclusion of the slide for more entrepreneurship ideas!


ResourcesEntrepreneurship:https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pDG0ZrUiVDnRR-d6X4mdsZ5o7OgHn-Uk
Starting A Small Business worksheet:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dwk6jXyvQCx0el5uUi1MgItghBrTiMZnGG6NpzX6pdU/copy
Translated Directions:ArabicChinesePortugueseRussianSpanish

Grade 9

Title: Find top jobs in your career interest
Teacher Instruction
Student Instructions:You will explore the top jobs in your career interest and hear from prominent professionals in the field.
1. Read 10 Great Career Fields for the FutureLink to Text: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X7KeFniEMroDP4m9atUZXXaRAMRPuyKIYf3rhMA3jyU/copy
2. Visit U.S. News Best Jobs Rankings site. Link to Text: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X7KeFniEMroDP4m9atUZXXaRAMRPuyKIYf3rhMA3jyU/copy
3. Continue to the Interactive AssignmentLink to Interactive Assignment: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1SmKmz-3GLSGJ1HbgBOBOCwJVRh5cTRsgT5iGVzJAq-g/copy
4. Submit your assignment in Google Classroom.
Resourceshttps://roadtripnation.com/explore/interests

Translated Directions:ArabicChinesePortugueseRussianSpanish
Title: Determine education needed
Teacher Instruction
Student Instructions:Grade 9: Content and Activity - Preparing for the Next Step - Determine education needed
Step 1: VERY IMPORTANT - Save the document by adding your name to the end of the document’s name, for example, Determine education needed-Gerald M. FOLLOW THESE STEPS ~ click File, then select Make a copy, click Entire presentation
Step 2: After reviewing the multiple links in this lesson, let’s test your knowledge on a quick matching game. On page 2 there is a Degree Options matching game. The types of degrees are already in place - now it’s your turn to move the seven game pieces to the right column. The definitions are the game pieces and your task is to match the definition to the correct degree option.
Step 3: Create an education plan for yourself. Don’t stress, what you write down today isn’t set, it can always change the more you learn and the more your interests change. Go to page 3 to complete My Education Plan. It is never too early to start planning.
Step 4: Review and talk about your plan with a teacher, counselor and a family member. Ask adults for feedback and suggestions.
Step 5: Before submitting your activity sheets use the last page - the Notes Page - to create notes and questions to ask and research for further investigation about the different education and degree options for you to choose from.
*Browse major and career profiles using the categories below, or use the tools on the right to search by keyword or interest
Link to interactive assignment:9th Grade - Determine Education Needed - College Degree Options Activity
Not sure where to start...begin with this link to answer some frequently asked questions. College Majors: FAQs
Exploring Careers Step-by-StepCareer Worksheet | Which Jobs Will Work for You?5 Ways to Find Career Ideas
Matching Careers to Degrees
Links to text:Sign-in to your College Board account to save your results:Explore Careers | Choose an interest or College Major
Links to video:Learning What You Love in High School | Finding Your Passion
Look to the middle-left of the page and click on the video under Expert Q&A - Susan Kastner Tree, Director of College Counseling, Westtown SchoolMatching Careers to Degrees8 Video Tips for Finding Majors and Careers
Other Link:Educational Requirements - How to Qualify for a JobUnderstanding Educational Requirements for Job ListingsQuick Guide: Your College Degree Options
*Research and Find Occupations by clicking O-Net under the Online Link column - once on the site, click the red words: Find Occupations to browse in more detail various occupations that you are interested in learning aboutFind Occupations O*NET OnLine

Translated Directions:ArabicChinesePortugueseRussianSpanish
Title: Find top three colleges for your ideal career
Teacher Instruction
Student Instructions:Students will look for an ideal career that will be listed underneath the Careers tab on Big Futures majors-career page. Once the student finds their ideal career they will proceed to do the following steps.
Step 1 - Search through the 7 career categories to identify your ideal career.Link: College Majors & Career Search | Explore your interests for College- Arts, Entertainment, and Sports- Business- Health and Medicine- Media and Social Sciences- Public and Social Services- Science, Math, and Technology- Trades and Personal Services
Step 2 - Once the career category is selected you will be directed to a page that will detail all that is required for that career path. On the right-hand side of the page you (under education) you will see related majors.
Step 3: Select each major until you find one that interests you. Read what that major entails then click on which college offers the major.
Step 4: You will be directed to the Big Future college search that has your intended major selected.Link: College Search*The top three schools listed will have your major offered on their campus.
Bonus Step: You can adjust the search to your interest by completing the other categories in the search to ensure that the college you may attend in the future will have everything you need to get you to your Ideal Career.
Resourceshttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1bU1gdrIaQjg0HNMcYcnG6d2gv0TgYoCY5GJOYGtuQD0/copyhttps://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors-careers

Translated Directions:ArabicChinesePortugueseRussianSpanish

Grade 10

Title: Compare and contrast colleges admission.
Teacher Instruction
Student Instructions:When researching schools students should look at the many different components that make each school unique and compare. It is important to access the requirements to get into the schools to identify your strengths and potential areas of growth.
Step 1 - Read How To Compare Colleges and Find Your Target SchoolsLink to Text: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1utmH9BXEFGyJ2z5bCFAHPopQGaHxTnIuO0HECsKS1a0/copy
Step 2 - Go to collegeresults.org to Compare CollegesLink to Text: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1utmH9BXEFGyJ2z5bCFAHPopQGaHxTnIuO0HECsKS1a0/copy
Step 3 - Go to Interactive assignmentsLink to Interactive Assignment: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K2Szd-KnU6bk9gzKrbuHw_ROu0MRcXCHpgr4ByZV4PA/copy
a. complete assignment 1- input results into the College Comparison Spreadsheetb. complete assignment 2- complete College Comparison Feedback Form. Students will identify their match, reach, and safety schools.
Resourceshttps://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/compare-collegeshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-OLlJUXwKU

Translated Directions:ArabicChinesePortugueseRussianSpanish
Title: Compare and contrast colleges retention.
Teacher Instruction
Student Instructions:Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts and information. They draw on their prior experiences, their interactions with peers, the internet, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (i.e., context, graphics, college data, etc.). This lesson will allow students to identify how to effectively compare and contrast college retention data while researching college choices and determining their college ‘FIT’.
Instructions for the Venn DiagramThis interactive tool allows students to create Venn diagrams that contain two or three overlapping circles. Students identify and record all of the information that they have researched, read, etc. that can be placed in one or more of the circles or in the overlapping areas, allowing students to organize their information logically. Students will be able to view, save, and edit their diagrams (and other researched assignments), then save and/or print the finished diagrams for reference as a customized activity.

Link to interactive assignment:A.Compare Colleges and Universities
Use this site to help to compare your final two schools or the two colleges/universities that are similar that have been hard to make a decision. Compare Colleges with College Combat: Side by Side College Comparison
Compare up to three schools at one time with this site. Scroll to midway of the page in order to submit your three college choices names to compare at one time where it says Add a college to compare up to three schools.
*Search Colleges by Name option can be found at the very top of the page on the left-hand corner. For more research, click, Learn more to read more details about the schools. Students will then have an opportunity to click another link Calculate My Chances to explore if they are favorable for acceptance into the college/university of their choice based on a variety of criteria, ie., Admission test scores and GPA.
Compare Colleges Side by Side

B.Supplemental Activities:*Compare and Contrast Colleges Retention Venn Diagram *My Education Plan
Click the below link:Week 8 Content - Compare and Contrast Colleges Retention Activity - 10th Grade: 6/8/20 - 6/12/20
Step 1: VERY IMPORTANT - Save the document by adding your name to the end of the document’s name, for example, College Sort Activity-Gerald M. FOLLOW THESE STEPS ~ click File, then select Make a copy, click Entire presentation.
Step 2: Activity Sheets: After reviewing the multiple links in this lesson. On page 2, you will use this Venn Diagram to record your answers from the information you have read or videos you have watched. NOTE: Definitions are included at the bottom of this page for assistance.
Step 3: Pages 3 & 4, is for you to create an education plan for yourself. Don’t stress, what you write down today isn’t set, it can always change the more you learn and the more your interests change. Go to page 3 to complete the ‘My Education Plan’. It is never too early to start planning. Now, go to this link: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/compare please note that you can only view approximately 4 schools at a time to compare your colleges/universities of choice, however, you can search how many you want..
Step 4: Review and talk about your plan with a teacher, counselor and a family member. Ask adults for feedback and suggestions.
Step 5: Before submitting your activity sheets use the last page - the Notes Page - to create notes and questions to ask and research for further investigation about the different education and degree options for you to choose from.
Links to text:What Is a Retention Rate for Colleges and Universities?
Other Link:What are graduation, retention, and transfer rates?How to Compare Colleges: 10 Things You Should Consider
Freshman Retention RateDo Freshmen Retention Rates Relate to College's QualityHow Important is Freshman Retention Rate When Choosing a College?
College Raptor provides data about college graduation and retention rates. You can access it either from your search results page by selecting the “Academic” view link shown below.College Retention Rates and Graduation Rates Explained
Translated Directions:ArabicChinesePortugueseRussianSpanish
Title: Compare and contrast colleges graduation
Teacher Instruction
Student Instructions:When researching school’s students should look at the Colleges Graduation rates. Those stats are almost as important as looking at the requirements to get into the schools. You can look at many different areas as to why a particular school’s graduation rates are low or higher.
Step 1 - Go to collegeresults.org and select compare colleges.Link: Compare Colleges
  • Students will enter at least 2 colleges to compare.
  • During the initial search, students should select two colleges that are located in PA.

Step 2 - Once the colleges are selected you will select the following options.
  1. Grad rate by race, gender or income
    1. This will breakdown graduation rates that will relate specifically to your race, gender, and parent’s income status.
  2. Grad rate over time
    1. This will allow students to review the school’s graduation rates between 2012 - 2017.

Step 3: Go to interactive assignments to give feedback on the results from the schools you compared.
  • Student’s will explain why some schools graduation rates are higher than others


Resourceshttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1KTlhZBCamXVOGWxpwQU4F0csqwXnjFHEqHBPfn4s1z8/copyhttp://collegeresults.org/search_group.aspx

Translated Directions:ArabicChinesePortugueseRussianSpanish

Grade 11

Title: Preparing for the Next Step: How to get the career you want: Virtual Tours
Teacher Instruction
Student Instructions:Virtual College Tours
You can begin exploring college campuses virtually.
Use the following worksheet to complete the activities below-https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ktaiG7Um5JYFr6gqKshMUbuBWRGww6WWxOtPMLVSZ7g/copy

Activity 1: Before the virtual tours: 1. Write down at least three factors that are important to you when choosing a college.Activity 2: Virtual Tours
  1. Use any of the college tour websites provided.
    1. CampusTours: https://campustours.com
    2. YouVisit: https://www.youvisit.com
    3. eCampusTours https://www.ecampustours.com/
    4. YOUniversityTV: https://www.youniversitytv.com/
    5. Campus Reel: https://www.campusreel.org/
  2. Virtually visit a minimum of five colleges
  3. Answer the following information about each college you visit:
    1. Name of the school
    2. Where is the college located?
    3. What type of institution is it- public or private?
    4. Large or small?
    5. Urban, suburban , or rural?
  4. What do you like most about colleges you visited?


Translated Directions:ArabicChinesePortugueseRussianSpanish
Title: Preparing for the Next Step: How to get the career you want: Create a list of the colleges and majors that you are interested
Teacher Instruction
Student Instructions:Use the following worksheet to complete the activities: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FnGDOwcdVgD1HVtHmwn5-bjoe6_dd9LJR7RktBSrovY/copy
Activity 1: Create a list of 5-7 colleges you are interested inActivity 2: List 2 majors that you are interested in
  1. Does your list of colleges have your major?


Translated Directions:ArabicChinesePortugueseRussianSpanish
Title: Preparing for the Next Step: How to get the career you want: Contact admissions office for admission information
Teacher Instruction
Student Instructions:Contact admissions office for admissions informationThe spring/summer of your junior year is the time to research which college is best for you. In order to receive information, it’s best to reach out to a college to receive more information about them.
The best way to do this is to request information via the admissions office.
Activity 1 - Request information via the college website A. Go to a website of a college you are interested in B. Search for admissions C. Submit your contact information to the college so you can receive mail, email, and text
Activity 2 - Request Information via NavianceLog on to your Naviance accountOn the top right side of the Naviance home , click on “The Colleges I’m interested in”Add all of the colleges you are interested inIf a pop up asks, “Do you want to connect?” Click yes and submit your contact information

Translated Directions:ArabicChinesePortugueseRussianSpanish

Grade 12

Title: Preparing for the Next Step: How to get the career you want: Becoming familiar with campus and resources
Teacher Instruction
Student Instructions:Activity I:Becoming familiar with campus and resources:
Starting your first year in college might feel overwhelming and at times confusing since you are embarking a new journey which is different from what you are probably accustomed to. This is why colleges and universities offer numerous types of resources available to students within campus such as; tutoring, career services,financial aid services, writing labs, among many others.


Translated Directions:ArabicChinesePortugueseRussianSpanish
Title: Preparing for the Next Step: How to get the career you want: What to expect from Freshman Orientation
Teacher Instruction
Student Instructions:Activity 2- What to expect from Freshman Orientation:
Starting college can cause much anxiety in the heart of a new college student because of all the unknowns–"What should my major be? Will I make any friends? How will I find all of my classes? Whom do I ask if I have a question?"
New student orientation programs are designed to guide students in answering all of these questions. Prior to the beginning of your first semester you will be given an overview of college life, from academics to social activities. Normally these events are offered through a period of days and it is referred as Student Orientation. Typically, a staff member or team at the college will coordinate the orientation programs and provide the leadership to bring the entire university together to provide you and the rest of the new students with all the information and tools you need to start your freshman year strong!

Below please find 7 Things to Expect From Your Freshman Orientation
  • You will be nervous.
  • Be ready to take your ID picture.
  • You will sit through several presentations.
  • You'll make friends in your orientation group or at socials.
  • Clubs will ask for your contact information.
  • You will meet/obtain information for your financial aid advisor regarding award letters and other related financial aid information
  • You'll create your class schedule.


  1. Many schools are offering virtual tours, chats with admissions officers and current students, and other online options to help you get familiar with their school in the event that they may not have an on campus student orientation .
    1. Read the information on: 5-ways-tour-colleges-home
    2. Contact your admission representative to find out what the college student orientation plans are for this year.


Translated Directions:ArabicChinesePortugueseRussianSpanish

Title: Preparing for the Next Step: How to get the career you want: What documents will you need gather from the school before graduation?
Teacher Instruction
Student Instructions:Activity 3: What documents will you need to gather from the school before graduation?
The time is finally here- YOU ARE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL! In the midst of graduation, and all the other activities that come along with this life milestone- don’t forget your next steps! After making your college decision and sending your enrollment deposit, don’t let senioritis get the best of you—you’ve still got some details to take care of. Make sure you gathered important documents you will need when starting your Freshman semester in college- such as your high school diploma, health physical, immunization records, and most importantly- your High School transcript.


Translated Directions:ArabicChinesePortugueseRussianSpanish