Superpower Pathways Lesson Plan School Counseling Curriculum • Career Development Domain
Superpower Pathways Lesson Plan
Grades 6–8 • 45 Mins
Digital Tool: SchooLinks
Lesson Purpose: Early career exploration empowers middle school students to connect personal interests, natural strengths ("superpowers"), and school engagement to future pathways. Using the interactive SchooLinks "Would You Rather" assessment, students demystify career clusters and expand postsecondary horizons before high school course selection.
ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors
M 4: Self-confidence in ability to succeed.
M 6: Understanding that postsecondary education and life-long learning foster career success.
B-LS 5: Apply media and technology skills to learn and practice.
B-LS 7: Identify long- and short-term academic, career, and personal goals.
B-SS 1: Use effective oral and written communication skills.
CT Counseling Framework (CCSCF)
CD 1 (Self-Awareness & Careers): Investigate the world of work to make informed career decisions.
CD 1.1: Recognize how personal interests, abilities, and values link to career options.
CD 2 (Career Pathways): Explore national career clusters and postsecondary options.
CD 3 (Exploration Tech): Use digital career platforms (SchooLinks) to build self-guided awareness.
Students Will Know:
Career Clusters Structure: Career clusters are broad "families" of occupations grouped by related skills, themes, and industries.
Personal Strengths as Superpowers: Personal hobbies, talents, and personality traits directly translate into career assets.
Digital Assessment Logic: How SchooLinks translates forced-choice preferences ("Would You Rather") into cluster matches.
Exploration vs. Finality: Career exploration is a lifelong iterative process, not a permanent single choice in middle school.
Students Will Be Able To:
Access Platform: Seamlessly log into SchooLinks via Clever/ClassLink and access the Career Assessment portal.
Complete Inventory: Complete the 15-question "Would You Rather" interest survey thoughtfully and independently.
Analyze Clusters: Identify at least two career clusters generated by their assessment results.
Synthesize Connections: Articulate a concrete rationale connecting 1 personal superpower to a career cluster on the Exit Ticket.
Assessment Evidence & Criteria
Formative & Summative
1. Diagnostic / Warm-Up
Dream-Job Think-Pair-Share assesses prior knowledge of job titles vs. functional job duties.
2. In-Process Formative
Counselor observation and SchooLinks administrative dashboard verifying survey completion and cluster matching.
3. Summative Exit Ticket
Exit Ticket scoring rubric: 2 clusters named + 1 explicit strength-to-career connection justified.
Superpower Pathways Curriculum Guide Page 1 of 2
Instructional Sequence
Step-by-Step Learning Plan (45 Minutes)
Pacing: 5m / 10m / 20m / 10m
1 Warm-Up: Dream-Job Brainstorm & The "Superpower" Hook
5–7 Mins
Counselor Action: Display Slide 1 of the What's Your Superpower Job? deck. Ask: "If you could have any job in the world right now, what would it be? What is the coolest part of that job?" Prompt students to think-pair-share with an elbow partner for 90 seconds. Focus heavily on the why —highlighting how personal talents (e.g., drawing, solving puzzles, organizing, helping friends) are workplace "superpowers."
2 Direct Instruction: Demystifying Career Clusters
8–10 Mins
Counselor Action: Project Slides 2–5. Define a Career Cluster as a "neighborhood" or "family" of jobs that share related talents, tools, and goals. Contrast a narrow job title (e.g., Veterinarian) with its cluster (Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources / Health Sciences). Walk through 3 popular examples: STEM, Arts & A/V Communications, and Business Management. Emphasize that knowing one's cluster helps guide middle school electives and high school pathways.
3 Active Tech Lab: SchooLinks "Would You Rather" Assessment
18–20 Mins
Counselor & Student Workflow: Display Slide 6 with login instructions (SchooLinks SSO via Google/Clever). Direct students to navigate to Assessments → Would You Rather . Instruct students to complete the 15 comparative scenarios based on authentic preference (no "right" or "wrong" choices). Counselor circulates the room to troubleshoot logins and prompt students on their top 2-3 matched clusters. Students click into their top clusters to inspect at least two specific careers.
4 Wrap-Up, Future Superhero Share-Out & Exit Ticket
8–10 Mins
Counselor Action: Project Slide 7. Invite 3–4 volunteers to share one superpower and one surprising career cluster they discovered. Distribute the printed Superpower Pathways Exit Ticket . Students independently record: (1) Top two career clusters from SchooLinks, (2) One personal strength/superpower, and (3) A brief sentence connecting that strength to a potential career path. Collect upon dismissal.
Differentiation & Accommodations
ELL / Multilingual: Utilize SchooLinks built-in multi-language toggle (Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic) and visual image-based choice pairs.
IEP / 504: Provide text-to-speech option, reduced screen distractions, or partner assistance for platform navigation.
Extension / Advanced: Students favorite 3 specific career profiles and review required postsecondary education paths (trade, 2-yr, 4-yr).
Counselor Materials Checklist
1:1 Student Chromebooks/Laptops & verified SchooLinks SSO.
Interactive projector with What's Your Superpower Job? deck.
Class set of printed Superpower Pathways Exit Tickets .
SchooLinks Educator Dashboard open on counselor computer.
Exit Ticket Mastery Criteria (Counselor Review)
✓ Proficient / Meets Standard: Accurately lists 2 distinct career clusters from SchooLinks + writes a clear, logical explanation connecting personal strength to a career path.
⚠ Developing / Follow-Up Needed: Lists only 1 cluster, names individual job titles without cluster awareness, or lacks connection between personal strength and pathway.
CT Comprehensive School Counseling Framework • ASCA Aligned Page 2 of 2
Superpower Pathways Exit Ticket Superpower Pathways: Exit Ticket
SchooLinks Career Exploration • Counseling Department
Name: Date: Period:
1 My Top 2 Career Clusters (From SchooLinks "Would You Rather" Survey)
Career Cluster #1:
One job inside this cluster:
Career Cluster #2:
One job inside this cluster:
2 Connect Your Superpower to Your Career Path
My Personal Superpower/Strength:
How does this superpower help you succeed in one of your clusters above?
How I felt exploring: Excited Curious Unsure
One question I have:
ASCA M4, B-LS7 • CT CCSCF CD 1-3 Turn in to your counselor before dismissal
Cut here to separate tickets
Superpower Pathways: Exit Ticket
SchooLinks Career Exploration • Counseling Department
Name: Date: Period:
1 My Top 2 Career Clusters (From SchooLinks "Would You Rather" Survey)
Career Cluster #1:
One job inside this cluster:
Career Cluster #2:
One job inside this cluster:
2 Connect Your Superpower to Your Career Path
My Personal Superpower/Strength:
How does this superpower help you succeed in one of your clusters above?
How I felt exploring: Excited Curious Unsure
One question I have:
ASCA M4, B-LS7 • CT CCSCF CD 1-3 Turn in to your counselor before dismissal
Superpower Job Slides Career Exploration • SchooLinks
Slide 1 of 7
What's Your Superpower Job?
Warm-Up Question:
If you could have any job in the world right now, what would it be? Why?
Turn and talk with your neighbor (90 seconds)! Focus on the WHY!
Big Idea: Career Families Slide 2 of 7
What Is a Career Cluster?
A career cluster is a family of related jobs that share similar skills, goals, and interests.
Single Job Title
Just one specific job you can hold.
Examples: Game Developer, Chef, Nurse
Career Cluster
The broad "neighborhood" that holds dozens of jobs.
Examples: STEM, Arts & Media, Health Sciences
Pro Tip: Exploring a cluster opens up dozens of careers you might not even know exist yet!
Exploring Possibilities Slide 3 of 7
Meet the Clusters: Part 1
Here are two huge career clusters many students love:
STEM & Technology
For problem solvers, coders, builders, and experimenters.
• Software Engineer
• Robotics Technician
• Environmental Scientist
Health Sciences
For healers, helpers, athletic trainers, and researchers.
• Physical Therapist
• Pediatric Nurse
• Radiologist / Lab Specialist
Do you enjoy figuring out how things work or taking care of others?
Exploring Possibilities Slide 4 of 7
Meet the Clusters: Part 2
Two more exciting pathways with different superpowers:
Arts, A/V & Media
For storytellers, visual artists, performers, and designers.
• Graphic & Game Animator
• Video Producer / Editor
• Audio Engineer / Musician
Business & Finance
For organizers, entrepreneurs, leaders, and planners.
• Small Business Owner
• Marketing Director
• Financial Analyst
Every cluster needs creative thinkers and great communicators!
Self-Discovery Slide 5 of 7
Connecting Interests to Paths
Your everyday talents are actually valuable career skills:
Love Solving Puzzles?
Connects to cybersecurity, civil engineering, data analysis, or surgery.