Career & College Readiness Lesson Plan

What Are My Options?

Career Planning
Grade Level 10
Overview
Students explore and compare postsecondary options to pursue after high school.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
 Describe their postsecondary options
 Compare several postsecondary options
 Choose one option that fits their interests and describe it in detail

Language Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

 Verbally discuss postsecondary options

 Explain their postsecondary option choice through written expression
 Present their findings to the class

Standards Alignment
 California Common Core State Standards: College & Career Readiness
Anchor Standards:
o RI. 1; SL. 1, 2; W. 2, 7, 9
 California Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards:
o 2, 3, 4, 5, 10
 California Standards for Career Ready Practice:
o 2, 3
 National Career Development Guidelines:
o CM 1, 2, 3; PS 1, 2
 International Society for Technology in Education Standards for Students:
o 3, 6
 English Language Development Standards:
o Part 1: A 1, 2; B 6; C 10
 American School Counselor Association Mindsets & Behaviors for Student
Success:
o BS-LS 7, 8; BS-SMS 3; BS-SS 1, 9

California Career Resource Network, California Department of Education

What Are My Options? Career Planning

Materials
1. Computer with internet access and projection capability for instructor
2. Projector and screen
3. Computers with internet access for students
4. California Career Resource Network Lesson Plan Handout E-copies
https://californiacareers.info/#?Lesson%20Plans
5. Student Handouts
 Vocabulary
 Postsecondary Options Worksheet
 Information Technology Presentation
 Lesson Resources

6. Online Resources
 What Are My Options? Start-Up Video (01:07)
https://youtu.be/FjPfbDo9piE

 California Career Center

https://www.calcareercenter.org/
 Education and Training
https://www.calcareercenter.org/Home/Content?categoryID=167

 Career Options
https://www.calcareercenter.org/Home/Content?categoryID=166

 Occupational Outlook Handbook

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

 California CareerZone
https://www.cacareerzone.org/

Activity
Students identify and describe postsecondary options. Students then choose a
postsecondary option, write out their initial steps to pursue their chosen option, and
create and give a presentation based on their research.

Lesson Prep
 Review the lesson plan procedures, handouts, online resources, start-up video,
and webpages (links in Materials section). This information will help prepare you
to lead discussions on postsecondary options.

California Career Resource Network, California Department of Education p. 2

What Are My Options? Career Planning

 Make copies of the handouts or send them to your students electronically. The
handouts are posted separately with the lesson plan on the California Career
Resource Network Lesson Plans (link in Materials section).

 About Hyperlinks. The hyperlinks (URLs) used in this lesson are listed on the
Lesson Resources student handout at the end of the lesson.

 Before class begins, have your projector and computer on and the webpages
loaded in your browser (links in Materials section).

Lesson Procedures
1. Introduce the lesson by describing the topic and activity. For a quick introduction,
show the start-up video (link in Materials section). Confirm students understand what
to expect.
2. Distribute and review the Vocabulary handout. Then ask the class to generate a list
of postsecondary options. Be prepared to offer additional options to further the
discussion. For example:

 Training: apprenticeship, industry certification, technical school

 Work: get a job, create a business
 Gap year: travel, volunteer, study
 College: 2-year/4-year, public or private
 Military service: enlisted or officer
 National service: AmeriCorps, Job Corps

3. Confirm students understand the postsecondary options available to them.

4. Tell students they will learn about these options. Distribute the Postsecondary
Options Worksheet and the Lesson Resources handout. Send students to the
California Career Center’s “Education and Training” and “Career Options” webpages
(links in Materials section).

 Have students complete the worksheet.

 You may want to point out that question two has three parts.
5. Have a brief class discussion on what students learned. Then have students
research their chosen postsecondary option. Tell them they will create an
informational technology presentation (PowerPoint, video, webpage, etc.) to present
their findings to the class. Distribute the “Information Technology Presentation”
handout.
Give students the rest of this class period to work. Assign as homework or make
additional class time available.
6. Have students submit their presentations to you for review and/or schedule
presentations for another class period.

California Career Resource Network, California Department of Education p. 3

What Are My Options? Career Planning

7. Wrap Up. Point out to students the knowledge they gained and employability skills
they practiced in this lesson:

 Technology Skills: Used online tools to research, organize, and evaluate

information.

 Information Literacy Skills: Gained by critically evaluating the information they

researched.

 Communication Skills: Developed by creating and giving presentations.

 Self-directional Skills: Practiced by completing tasks independently.

Estimated Time
Multiple sessions may be necessary to allow students time to complete their research,
develop, and give their presentations.

Learning Assessment
 Students complete the Postsecondary Options Worksheet and develop, submit,
and give presentations to the class.

Adaptation
Have students select a traditional and non-traditional postsecondary option. Then
analyze those options to determine if either or both would help them meet their career
goals.

Other lessons and materials are posted on the

California Career Resource Network.

California Career Resource Network, California Department of Education p. 4

What Are My Options? Career Planning
Student Handout

Vocabulary
Apprenticeship: is a program that offers the combination of paid, on-the-job training
and related classroom training in a specific occupation. Apprenticeship programs are
registered with the California Department of Industrial Relations and are designed to
culminate in certified journeyman-level skills attainment and nationally recognized
credentials. Apprenticeships are sponsored by an employer who becomes responsible
for providing journeyman-level mentorship and supervision.

Employment: is an agreement between an employer and an employee that the

employee will provide certain services and receive payment or compensation.

Entrepreneurship: is the pursuit of opportunity regardless of the resources currently at

their disposal.

Military Academies: Extremely elite and selective, students receive full four-year
scholarships. Service after graduation is required.
Military Service: time spent serving in the United States Armed Forces. The military
provides the education and training personnel need to ensure they have the tools they
need to excel in their careers.
National Service: two national service organization—AmeriCorps and the Corporation
for National and Community Service—provide volunteer service opportunities in non-
profit organizations such as JumpStart, Habitat for Humanity, and Big Brothers Big
Sisters of America.
On-the-job training (OJT): is formal training for new employees that takes place at
work. It typically is a combination of observing and hands-on experience under the
supervision of a mentor colleague or supervisor designed to help the new employee
succeed in their new position.

Postsecondary Education: is any education beyond high school: certificate or

licensure programs, apprenticeships, two- and four-year colleges or universities.

Postsecondary Training: is any program that teaches the skills necessary to get
higher-level employment. Postsecondary training programs include apprenticeships,
community colleges, vocational and trade schools, national and military service.

California Career Resource Network, California Department of Education

What Are My Options? Career Planning
Student Handout

Postsecondary Options Worksheet

1. Describe the choices available to you under each postsecondary option. Start your
research at the California Career Center’s Education & Training and Career Options
webpages (links in Lesson Resources).

Apprenticeship

Employment

Entrepreneurship

Four-Year College Degree

Industry Certificate

Military service

National service

On-The-Job-Training

Two-Year College Degree

2. Choose an option you would most like to pursue. Explain why this is the best option
for you. Describe the initial steps you can take to pursue your option.

California Career Resource Network, California Department of Education

What Are My Options? Career Planning
Student Handout

Information Technology Presentation

You’re going to create a presentation using the information from your worksheet.

In your presentation, describe and report pertinent information about the option; explain
why you chose it; describe the initial steps you will take to pursue this option; and
describe the resources you’ll use to pursue it.

Your Presentation
Content
 Organize your content BEFORE you start creating your presentation:
o Decide what important points you want to make and gather details to support them.
o Create an outline to make sure your content has a logical flow and is relevant to
your topic.
 Cover your topic thoroughly:
o Do your research: your content needs to show how well you know your topic.
o Not sure what to include? Imagine questions your audience may ask and include
that information in your presentation.

Visuals
The purpose of visuals is to reinforce your content. Whatever visuals you use, be sure they
support your content.
Your design should be visually appealing and any onscreen text should be easy to read. For
example:
o Use a clean and simple layout.
o Use contrasting colors for the text and background.
o Use a minimal amount of onscreen text. Put the details in your script.
o Make sure your text is large enough that people in the back can see it.
o Grammar and spelling count: be sure you have no errors.

Script
 Your verbal presentation needs to match your visual presentation: what you’re saying
needs to match what you’re showing. Syncing your script with your visuals takes a little
practice so be sure to rehearse.
Tip: Put your outline on index cards and number them to match your visuals and
those cards during your presentation

 Speak loudly so the people in the back of the room can hear you. When you start, ask
the people in the back if they can hear you. If they can’t, speak louder.

 Glance around at your audience while you’re speaking.

California Career Resource Network, California Department of Education

What Are My Options? Career Planning
Student Handout

Lesson Resources
What Are My Options? Start-Up Video (01:07)
https://youtu.be/FjPfbDo9piE

California Career Center

https://www.calcareercenter.org/

 Education & Training

https://www.calcareercenter.org/Home/Content?categoryID=167

 Career Options
https://www.calcareercenter.org/Home/Content?categoryID=166

Occupational Outlook Handbook

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

California CareerZone
https://www.cacareerzone.org/

California Career Resource Network, California Department of Education