Career Exploration Classroom Lesson

Meagan McEachron

Grade Level: 6th Grade Students

Length: 1 Week
Length of Sessions: 60 Minutes
Number of Members: Classroom/Large Group Lesson
Gender of Members: Mixed

Group Rationale: Students' exploratory behavior and perceptions of careers are closely
related...awareness of their own strengths and obstacles, interests and preferences, and values is
necessary for effective decision making and goal setting (Erford, 2010, p. 523). Professional
school counselors are there to provide information to students, and assist them in creating plans
for achieving future goals.

Goals: Students will gain exposure to different career fields and develop an increased
understanding of how being successful in school correlates with their future goals and interests.

ASCA Model Mindsets and Behaviors to be Addressed:

-Mindset Standard 4: Understanding that postsecondary education and life-long learning are
necessary for long term career success.
-Behavior Standard; Learning Strategies 7: Identify long- and short-term academic, career, and
social/emotional goals.

Target Population: 6th grade students

Pre-Screening: Students are chosen by attending their Family and Consumer Science (FACS)
classes. Students will then be asked what they know about different careers and what they want
to do with their life when they get older.

Leadership Style The counselor will lead in a Modified Democratic style throughout the
large group, and small group discussions. The counselor will keep the group on task, and will be
firm but fair when it comes to discipline. It is important to protect the group members and
encourage participation from members as the group is lead.

Evaluation The group will be evaluated with a pre and post survey regarding their
knowledge of different career fields and motivation for success. The effectiveness of the group
lessons can be seen based on the answers on the posttest; have students moved up on the Likert
Scale based on what was taught in the lessons? Classroom grades following the groups will also
be used to evaluate effectiveness. Have scores increased since the lessons had been given?
Student attendance will be taken into consideration with the group evaluation as well.
Week One Career Exploration

Objective/Outcome Evaluation/Assessment
Students will be able to write at least --Assessment= Post-test
one career field they are interested in. --Evaluation= 100% of students will be able
to write at least one career field they are
interested in.
-Students will be able to write at least --Assessment= Post-test
one way they can be successful in school --Evaluation= 100% of students will be able
to reach career goals. to write at least one way they can be
successful in school to reach career goals.
Materials:
Writing utensil, pre/post-survey, computer, projector screen

Procedure:
1. Greet the class and explain role as a school counselor.
2. Discuss the overall goal of the group and explain the group rules, such as respecting
others in the class, only one person speaks at a time, allow everyone the opportunity to
speak, and do not share with others what is said in the group-leading to a discussion
about confidentiality. Ask the class if there are any other rules they would like to add
before moving on.
3. Pass out the pretest/posttest and explain that it is only seen by you, the school counselor,
and allow for a few minutes to fill it out. Collect them when they are finished.
4. Ask students about future job goals. Ask for volunteers to answer each question:
a. What do you want to be when you grow up?
b. What subjects in school do you think would be helpful for that job?
5. Introduce Career Exploration Video. Ask students to write down any career field they
may be interested in or have questions about. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=YF0j_UY_-bA)
6. Lead discussion about video.
a. What were some jobs that you were interested in?
b. Which jobs looked familiar to you?
c. Which jobs have you not heard of or have questions about?
7. Discuss the importance of future goals, and having some direction in order to achieve
them. Discuss the different steps that can be made in order for students to reach their
goals, including being successful in school and choosing classes that correlate with their
interests when possible. Explain options for illustrating responsibility and obtaining
success in school (ex: good attendance, staying organized, doing homework, studying,
participating in class, etc).
Closing:

1. Ask students to share one thing the learned from the lesson and ask if they have any
questions.
2. Pass out the pretest/posttest again and allow a few minutes for the students to fill it out a
second time. Collect them when they are finished.
3. Remind the students about the rule of confidentiality and thank them for participating in
the lesson.

Reference:

Erford, B.T., (Ed.). (2010). Professional School Counseling: A Handbook of Theories,

Programs, and Practices (2nd Ed.). Austin, TX: PRO-ED, Inc.

 Pre/Post-test
Career Exploration Pre-Post test

Name: __________________________ Date:_________________

Please circle the number that best describes each situation (1= Not at all; 2= A little bit; 3=
Somewhat; 4= Mostly; 5= All the time).

I think about my future career and what I want to do when I get older.

1 2 3 4 5

I have thought about exploring different career fields and options for future jobs in my field of
interest.

1 2 3 4 5

I know different courses to take that correlate with my field of interest.

1 2 3 4 5

I know how to illustrate responsibility and ways of achieving success in school.

1 2 3 4 5

I am confident in my ability to succeed.

1 2 3 4 5

I have a positive attitude toward school and learning.

1 2 3 4 5
What are some ways of illustrating responsibility and obtaining success in school?

What is the highest level of education completed in your family? (Please circle)

Middle school
High school
College
Other (Military, Trade school, etc.)

How far do YOU want to go in school?

What do you want to do when you get older?

Do you know the Career Clusters? Which cluster contains your field of interest?

Natural Resources & Agriculture

Human Services
Industrial & Engineering Technology
Health Services
Arts & Communication
Business, Management, & Technology