“What do you want to be when you grow up?” This is a classic question, and one that becomes increasingly important as students grow older. Encourage your students to explore all available options with our free career exploration lesson plans and handouts.
Why is career exploration important?
Young children tend to have big dreams about their careers, such as becoming an astronaut, playing professional sports, or starring on stage. Not many kindergarteners say they want to be an accountant or an HVAC engineer when they grow up.
However, most people end up in more mundane careers, so eventually students need to start considering reality. You certainly don’t have to decide anything in middle school or high school, but you should start thinking about where your skills and talents lie and how you can turn those assets into a career.
“Schools and programs don’t allow enough time for the process of self-discovery,” says Jennifer LM, director of My Unique Genius, a company that specializes in preparing teens for their careers and the future. Gunn says. “Teens often do what they’re told. They apply to college because they’re told to. They major in something because they’ve heard it before. , not because it’s something I’m really passionate about.”
Career Exploration Lesson Plans and Handouts
The first step in planning your future career path is knowing what’s possible. There are many jobs that most children and teens have never heard of, such as marketing manager, wind turbine engineer, and city planner, just to name a few. And even for more familiar jobs like teaching, plumber, and engineering, students know little about salary ranges, the skills required, and what a typical day looks like.
In this free career exploration lesson plan, students will spend time exploring two careers. One is already fascinating and the other is something I had never thought of before. Through research and discussion, you’ll learn about education and training requirements, salary and growth potential, and the more practical aspects of each career.
Career exploration handouts are especially useful because they teach students how to research careers that interest them. Provide students with additional print or digital copies for their own use in the future.
Career Exploration Lesson Plan Overview
We’ll start by discussing careers in general. Ask if any students already have a career path in mind and encourage them to share why they are interested in the job.
Today we will explain that students will have a choice of two careers to explore in detail. One of these careers should be one you’ve already considered or really like. The other should be the opposite. I mean, it’s something you may have never thought about or thought would be appropriate.
Materials: Use free printable career cards to help students choose between two options. It’s fine if multiple students want to learn about the same career, but each should work independently. If students want to explore jobs not included here, that’s fine. That’s why the set includes customizable blank cards.
Students spend time researching their two chosen careers. You can also use other options such as the internet, books, or interviews. (Note: The lesson plan allocates 20-25 minutes for this activity, but you may want to extend the time depending on the type of research you are using.)
Materials: Give each student two copies of the “So You Want To Be a…” handout. Sections include Education and Training Requirements, Salary and Growth Opportunities, and A Day in the Life. They must complete a handout for each of the two careers.
Once everyone has had a chance to explore their careers, reconvene the group for a wrap-up discussion. Ask them what surprised them about the careers they studied. See if someone has changed their mind about their career goals. Use this handout to remind students that all jobs and careers are open to them as they plan for the future.
