Career Quest Launch Lesson Plan Career Quest Launch
Tier 1 Classroom Lesson • 6th Grade
Duration 30 min
Objective
Students will navigate Schoolinks to research at least two different careers, identifying key information like job description, required education, and average salary. They will articulate initial thoughts on potential career paths.
Why This Matters
Exploring careers early helps students connect their current learning to future possibilities, understand the diverse world of work, and start envisioning paths that align with their interests and strengths.
Materials Needed
Career Quest Launch Slides
Teacher Talk Track
My Career Explorer Worksheet
Future Focus Cool Down
Student Devices & Schoolinks Access
Teacher Preparation
• Review Slides and Teacher Talk Track.
• Ensure all students have devices and Schoolinks login info.
• Familiarize yourself with Schoolinks career search features.
• Print Worksheet and Cool Down tickets.
Lesson Procedure
5 MIN
Warm-Up
Dream Job Brainstorm
Introduce the quest and spark initial ideas.
Use Talk Track to introduce the warm-up.
Display Slide 1.
Students jot down 1-2 dream jobs on the My Career Explorer Worksheet .
5 MIN
Intro
Introduction to Schoolinks
Explain the tool and the purpose of career exploration.
Present Slides 2-3.
Explain what Schoolinks is and its purpose for career exploration.
Briefly demonstrate logging in and accessing the search feature.
10 MIN
Guided
Guided Career Research
Hands-on exploration in the platform.
Transition to Slides 4-5.
Students search for two careers of interest in Schoolinks.
Record job description, education, and salary on Worksheet Part 2 .
Circulate to provide technical and research support.
5 MIN
Reflect
Share & Reflect
Classroom discussion on discoveries.
Use Slide 6 prompts.
Ask students to share one interesting fact they learned.
Discuss the importance of exploring careers using Talk Track prompts.
5 MIN
Wrap Up
Future Focus Cool Down
Final reflection and exit assessment.
Distribute Future Focus Cool Down tickets.
Display Slide 7.
Students reflect on learning and future interests.
Collect tickets as an exit assessment.
Career Quest Launch Slides Classroom Quest
Career Quest Launch!
Discovering your path, one exploration at a time.
Explore
Research
Discover
Teacher Notes: Welcome students and introduce the exciting topic of career exploration. Get them thinking about their aspirations.
What is Schoolinks?
Your personal guide to career and college exploration!
Discover careers that match your interests.
Learn what it takes to get there.
Digital Platform Showcase
Teacher Notes: Explain what Schoolinks is. Emphasize it's a tool to help them discover interests and future paths.
Why Explore Careers Now?
Dream Big
Dream big and plan for your future! It's never too early to explore possibilities.
Make Connections
Connect what you learn in school to real-world jobs and find what excites you!
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Teacher Notes: Discuss why it's important to start thinking about careers now. Connect it to their current learning.
Mission: Career Explorer
1
Open Schoolinks (you're already logged in!)
2
Head to the 'Careers' section.
3
Search for careers that sound interesting to you!
4
Use your Worksheet to guide your research.
10 MIN
Active Search
Teacher Notes: Introduce the activity. Explain they will be searching for careers that spark their interest.
What to Look For:
Research Checklist
Job Description
What does this job actually do on a daily basis?
Education Needed
What kind of schooling or training is required?
Average Salary
How much money can someone expect to earn?
Important Skills
What specific skills are key for this role?
Teacher Notes: Provide specific instructions for what to look for and how to record it on their worksheet.
Share Your Discoveries!
What was one surprising thing you learned about a career?
What career sparked your interest the most today?
How might exploring careers help you in the future?
Career Quest Talk Track Teacher Resource Career Quest Launch
Teacher Talk Track
Pacing
30 min
01
Warm-Up: Dream Job Brainstorm (5 min)
Display Slide 1: Career Quest Launch!
Teacher Script: "Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going on a 'Career Quest' to explore some exciting possibilities for your future. To kick things off, let's do a quick 'Dream Job Brainstorm'. Take out your My Career Explorer Worksheet. On the first page, I want you to silently think about this: If you could have ANY job in the world, what would it be? Don't worry about how realistic it is right now – just dream big! Write down your dream job and what you imagine doing in it. You have about 2 minutes to jot down your thoughts."
Give students 2 minutes to write. Circulate and observe.
"Alright, who'd like to bravely share one of their dream jobs? No pressure, just curious!" (Call on a few students. Affirm their ideas.)
02
Intro to Schoolinks (5 min)
Display Slide 2: What is Schoolinks?
Teacher Script: "Fantastic ideas, everyone! Now, how cool would it be if there was a tool to help you explore some of these dreams, and even discover new ones you never knew existed? Well, there is! Today, we're going to dive into Schoolinks."
Display Slide 3: Why Explore Careers Now?
"Schoolinks is like your personal guide to figuring out what you might want to do after high school. It helps you explore different careers, see what kind of education they require, and even learn about colleges. Why do you think it's important to start exploring careers now, even in 6th grade? Turn and talk to a partner for 30 seconds."
Allow 30 seconds for partner talk, then call on 1-2 students.
"Exactly! It's never too early to start thinking about your future, connecting what you learn in class to real-world jobs, and discovering what truly excites you. Since you've all used Schoolinks before and are logged in, let me quickly show you how to find the career section..."
Briefly demonstrate navigating to the career search in the platform.
03
Guided Research (10 min)
Display Slide 4 & 5: Mission & Checklist
Teacher Script: "Okay, it's your turn to be a 'Career Explorer'! Everyone, please grab your devices and open Schoolinks. Your mission for the next 10 minutes is to search for two different careers that sound interesting to you. As you explore, use your worksheet. For each career, I want you to find and write down: a brief Job Description, the Education Needed, and the Average Salary. Also, try to identify one or two Skills that are important. I'll be walking around to help. Go ahead!"
My Career Explorer Worksheet My Career Explorer
6th Grade Career Quest
Name:
Date:
Part 1: Dream Job Brainstorm
Think about the future! If you could have any job in the world, what would it be? It doesn't have to be realistic yet – just dream big!
1. My dream job is:
2. What do you imagine doing in this job?
Part 2: Schoolinks Career Research
Use Schoolinks to research two careers that interest you. Fill in the information below for each career.
Career 1:
Job Description (What do they do?)
Education Needed
Average Salary
Skills Needed
Career 2:
Job Description (What do they do?)
Education Needed
Average Salary
Skills Needed
Future Focus Cool Down Exit Ticket Future Focus
Lesson Cool Down Ticket
Student Name
Date
1
What is one new thing you learned about career exploration today?
2
Which career that you researched (or heard about) would you be most interested in exploring further? Why?
3
What is one question you still have about careers or Schoolinks?
Keep Exploring
Career Quest Launch • Exit Assessment