Career Fair Quest Lesson Plan Career Fair Quest
Teacher Lesson Plan
Duration
120 Minutes
Mission Objective
Students will attend simulated career booths, apply Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences to real-world professions, evaluate pros and cons of each career, and reflect on how their strengths align with future goals.
Why this matters
"This lesson fosters self-awareness and career exploration by helping teens connect personal intelligences with potential career paths, promoting informed decision-making and goal setting."
Logistics
Audience: Ages 13–16
Approach: Interactive Booths, Self-Assessment
Prep Time: 45 Minutes
Required Equipment
Prep Checklist
1
Print copies of MI Profile, Pros/Cons (multiples), Booth Cards, and Reflection Journals.
2
Arrange 5–6 stations around the room, each with a different Career Booth Card.
3
Set up poster paper/markers and ensure devices are ready for optional research.
Expedition Timeline
Time Phase Activities & Tasks 15 min Launch & Assessment Welcome students & outline goals using Teacher Script.
Introduce Gardner’s 8 Intelligences theory.
Distribute MI Profile Handout for individual self-assessment.
|
| 50 min | Booth Simulation |
Divide into groups of 3–4. Rotate through 5 stations (10 min each).
At each booth: read cards, identify MI alignment, and fill out Pros/Cons worksheet.
|
| 10 min | Pair Debrief |
Pair up with a new group. Share insights on two visited careers.
Discuss surprising MI matches and noted challenges.
|
| 15 min | Class Council |
Whole-group discussion: Which careers matched your strengths? What common pros/cons emerged?
|
| 20 min | Personal Plan |
Complete Reflection Journal: Select top 1-2 careers.
Draft SMART goals for follow-up (shadowing, skill-building).
|
| 10 min | Final Briefing |
Summarize takeaways. Assign optional research homework.
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Multiple Intelligences Profile Handout MI Strength Profile
Name:
Date:
Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences theory suggests we all have different ways of learning and processing information. Check the boxes that sound most like you to find your strongest "intelligences."
Visual-Spatial
I enjoy drawing, painting, or sculpting.
I'm good at reading maps and charts.
I can easily visualize objects in my head.
Linguistic-Verbal
I enjoy reading, writing, and word games.
I'm good at explaining things to others.
I have a good memory for stories and jokes.
Logical-Mathematical
I like solving puzzles and brain teasers.
I enjoy math, logic, and scientific experiments.
I look for patterns and relationships in data.
Musical
I notice rhythms and sounds in the world.
I often have a song stuck in my head.
I can play an instrument or sing well.
Bodily-Kinesthetic
I learn best by doing and touching things.
I'm good at sports, dancing, or crafts.
I have good physical coordination.
Interpersonal
I enjoy working in groups and teams.
I am good at reading people's emotions.
I like resolving conflicts between friends.
Intrapersonal
I enjoy spending time alone to reflect.
I have a clear understanding of my goals.
I'm very aware of my own strengths/weaknesses.
Naturalistic
I enjoy being outdoors and in nature.
I like plants, animals, or environmental science.
I am good at identifying different species/types.
My Profile Summary
My top 2 strongest intelligences:
One career I think might fit me:
Pros and Cons Worksheet Booth Report
Career Fair Quest Expedition Log
Name
Group
Target Profession
1
Multiple Intelligences Alignment
Which intelligences fit this career? Explain the connection.
Career Pros
Career Challenges
Personal Rating
Interest
____ / 5
Why this score?
Questions & Observations
Booth Verification
Rep Name:
Booth
Career Booth Cards Deck Career Booth #1
Software Developer
Software developers create the computer programs we use every day. They design, test, and develop software—from mobile apps to complex operating systems. They spend a lot of time "building" things in a digital world.
Key Duties:
Writing code (Python, Java)
Debugging system errors
Designing user interfaces
Education Needed:
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering.
Career Booth #2
Pediatrician
Pediatricians are medical doctors who manage the physical, behavioral, and mental health of children from birth until age 21. They must be experts in medicine but also great at talking to kids and parents.
Key Duties:
Performing check-ups
Diagnosing illnesses
Advising on nutrition/health
Education Needed:
Medical School Degree (MD) + 3 years of Residency training.
Career Booth #3
Graphic Designer
Graphic designers create visual concepts to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. They develop the overall layout and production design for advertisements, brochures, and magazines.
Key Duties:
Creating digital art
Selecting fonts and colors
Meeting with clients
Education Needed:
Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design or a related fine arts field.
Career Booth #4
Wildlife Biologist
Wildlife biologists study animals and other wildlife and how they interact with their ecosystems. They study the physical characteristics of animals, animal behaviors, and the impacts humans have on wildlife and habitats.
Key Duties:
Field research in nature
Analyzing biological data
Writing conservation plans
Education Needed:
Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Zoology, or Wildlife Management.
Career Booth #5
Social Worker
Social workers help people cope with challenges in their lives. They help with everything from adopting a child to finding housing or managing a mental health diagnosis. They are expert problem-solvers and listeners.
Key Duties:
Counseling individuals
Connecting people to resources
Advocating for clients
Education Needed:
Bachelor's (BSW) or Master's (MSW) in Social Work.
Reflection Journal Worksheet Reflection Journal
Post-Quest Action Plan
Explorer
Mission Date
Top Career Picks
Based on today's booth rotations, which 1-2 careers excited you the most? Why do they fit your intelligences?
Career Choice #1
Matching Intelligences
Career Choice #2
Matching Intelligences
Brainstorming Next Steps
What are two things you can do next to explore these paths? (e.g., research online, interview someone, join a club, shadow a professional)
1
2
The SMART Goal
Choose ONE step from above and turn it into a SMART goal (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound
Career Fair Script Material Mission Controller Script
Career Fair Quest Expedition
Segment 1
15 Minutes
Launch & Assessment
“Good morning, everyone! Welcome to our Career Fair Quest. Today, you are career explorers. Over the next two hours, you’ll visit different booths, discover what jobs are out there, and connect those careers to your personal strengths—what Howard Gardner calls Multiple Intelligences.”
Key Points to Mention:
Name Gardner’s eight intelligences
Match careers to the intelligences they use most
Weigh the pros and cons of each career
Create a simple action plan
Segment 2
50 Minutes
The Booth Rotations
“Okay, career explorers—let’s move to our booths! 1. I will divide you into groups of 3–4. 2. Each group starts at a different station. 3. You will spend 10 minutes at each booth. Use your Pros and Cons Worksheet to identify MI matches and rate your interest.”
Ringle bell at 2-min, 1-min, and final warnings for each rotation.
Segment 3
25 Minutes
Pair & Whole-Class Debrief
Discussion Questions:
“Who wants to share a career that matched one of your top intelligences? Why did that match make sense?”
“What common pros or cons did you notice? Did any surprise you?”
Segment 4
20 Minutes
Action Planning
“Please take out your Reflection Journal Worksheet. Brainstorm steps you can take next—like shadowing or research—and turn one into a SMART goal.”
Closing
10 Minutes
Final Briefing
“Thank you for your energy today! Remember: you can revisit your profile anytime. Optional homework: Research one career in depth and share one fact next time.”
