An interactive and reflective career exploration lesson designed for 8th graders. Students define, compare, and analyze early career opportunities like job shadowing, internships, and part-time work, while creating a personalized roadmap for their own high school and future goals.
Help a local business post pictures and fun updates on Instagram.
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School Tech Helper
Help the computer teacher plug in devices and clean screen monitors.
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Zoo Volunteer Apprentice
Help workers feed animals and clean bird cages over the summer.
What is an Internship?
An internship is a summer or short-term program where you actively help a company. You get to do actual, hands-on tasks and learn from a mentor!
Why try it: It helps you build real skills and looks awesome when you apply for a job or college later!
Pathway Pioneers • Internships Slide 5 of 8
Path 3 Part-Time Jobs
What is a Part-Time Job?
A regular job with a consistent schedule (typically 10-20 hours a week). It's a great way to earn a paycheck and learn basic skills like teamwork and talking to customers.
Cool Skills You Earn:
• Working in a Team • Time Management • Helping Customers • Saving Money
Simple Examples
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Summer Camp Helper
Lead fun games and help supervise groups of younger kids.
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Dog Walker / Pet Sitter
Walk neighbors' dogs, feed pets, and manage your schedule.
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Grocery Store Clerk
Check out grocery items, pack bags, and assist shoppers.
Pathway Pioneers • Part-Time Jobs Slide 6 of 8
Let's Compare Quick Showdown
Features
Job Shadowing
Internships
Part-Time Jobs
What is it?
Observing & watching
Doing real projects
Regular paid shifts
How long?
1 or 2 days
1 to 3 months
Ongoing shifts
Do you get paid?
Experience only
Paid or unpaid
Hourly wage
Pathway Pioneers • Comparison Slide 7 of 8
Next Steps Action Plan Guide
Ready to Build Your Action Plan?
Now it's your turn to map your road! We will use the **Career Action Plan Worksheet** to design your first high school exploration step.
Remember: Keep your goals simple, fun, and realistic! You have plenty of time to explore!
Worksheet Steps:
1 List your talents and hobbies.
2 Choose fun fields to explore.
3 Write one simple high school goal.
4 List three easy action steps.
Pathway Pioneers • Mapping Your Future Slide 8 of 8
2. "Internships are only for high school seniors or college students."
Clarify that while competitive corporate spots are indeed for older students, local nonprofits, school technical programs, and family businesses routinely accept early-age apprentices.
3. "Only paid opportunities are worth my time."
Teach the trade-off. While part-time jobs guarantee cash, unpaid job shadows pay in networks—getting you direct access to mentors you could never hire directly.
Worksheet Grading & Exemplar Criteria
Pathway Comparison Chart Key
Job Shadowing:
1-2 days, Unpaid, Obs. only. Low commitment but no hands-on tasks.
Internship:
1-3 months, Paid/Unpaid, High learning. Highly competitive to secure.
Part-Time Job:
Ongoing, Hourly Pay, Heavy task load. Focuses on customer service & work ethic.
Action Plan Exemplar Standards
Section 1 (Superpowers): Must include both internal strengths (patience, organization) and technical hobbies (gaming, gardening).
Section 3 (Milestone Goal): Must be realistic for high school. E.g., "Find an online coding camp by summer of 9th grade" (not "build a Google competitor").
Section 4 (Pledge & Support): Must designate a specific adult supporter by name or relationship (counselor, parent).
