1. Planning My Future: Choosing a Career Path 1. Question & Research Task
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Planning My Future: Choosing a Career Path 1. Question & Research Task
“Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
-- Confucious, ancient Chinese philosopher
Has your idea of what you want to be when you grow up changed over time? Why?
Take this interest inventory to determine how your interests can influence your future job choice. Use this glossary to define any unfamiliar words in the interest inventory.
Image Source: Image snipped from video, courtesy of School Tube
How can conducting research help me choose a career path?

2. 2. Information Sources
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You will use the information sources linked here to complete the Student Activity on Slide 3.
Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Career Exploration
Student Resources
Discovery Education: Search on keyword “Careers”
Career One Stop:
Career Videos
Compare Occupations
Additional Resources:
If necessary, you may search for additional career information using other databases accessible through BCPSOne > Digital Content or the BCPL Research Databases.
Image Source: Discovery Education

3. 3. Student Activity
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Use the information sources on Slide 2 to make notes on a Venn Diagram, comparing and contrasting three different careers. You may use the interactive Venn Diagram or a paper copy.
Think about these important questions when taking your notes:
What type of education do you need? Identify five schools/colleges that you could attend to receive this degree/certification.
How much money will you make in this profession?
What type of duties and responsibilities are involved?
Does this job require a uniform?
What type of working hours would you have?
Where is this career most widely practiced? Can you do this job anywhere?

4. How can conducting research help me choose a career path?
4. Assessment Activity
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How can conducting research help me choose a career path?
1. Based on your research, choose the career that most appeals to you and create a multimedia poster to explain why. Select Discovery Education from the BCPSOne Digital Content tile, then pull down the Builder Tools menu to Board Builder or Studio.
Include important details from your research notes to explain your career choice and how it relates to your interests:
What type of education do you need? Identify five schools/colleges that you could attend to receive this degree/certification.
How much money will you make in this profession?
What type of duties and responsibilities are involved?
Does this job require a uniform?
What type of working hours would you have?
Where is this career most widely practiced? Can you do this job anywhere?
Most importantly: Why does this career appeal to you? Explain.
Use the success criteria on this rubric as a guide.
2. Share your Board with your teacher by clicking SHARE and selecting your teacher’s name from the drop-down menu.

5. 5. Enrichment Activities
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Now that you’ve thought about which career you’d like to pursue, create a career plan for your middle and high school experiences.
The example on the left will help you to think about what you need to do over the next few years to prepare yourself for the career you chose.

6. 6. Teacher Resources 1 2 3 4 5 6 Learning Standards Alignment
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Learning Standards Alignment
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy
Reading: 1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
Writing: 7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
AASL Standards Framework for Learners Inquire: Build new knowledge by inquiring, thinking critically, identifying problems, and developing strategies for solving problems.
Think: Learners display curiosity and initiative by:
I.A.2 Recalling prior and background knowledge as context for new meaning.
Create: Learners engage with new knowledge by following a process that includes:
I.B.1 Using evidence to investigate questions. I.B.3 Generating products that illustrate learning.
Share: Learners adapt, communicate, and exchange learning products with others in a cycle that includes:
I.C.1 Interacting with content presented by others.
Grow: Learners participate in an ongoing inquiry-based process by:
I.D.2 Engaging in sustained inquiry.
P21 Framework: 21st Century Student Outcomes
3. Information, Media & Technology Skills: Information Literacy: Access information efficiently and effectively; Use information accurately and creatively for the issue or problem at hand.
ICT Literacy: Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information.
Grade: 6
Content Area: Effective Learning Habits for College & Career Readiness
Unit: Career Exploration
Objective: Students will conduct brief, focused research about a chosen career in order to begin planning for future career choices.
Time Frame: One 90-minute or two to three 45-minute class periods.
Differentiation strategies for this lesson:
Encourage students to use learning supports provided in any BCPS-licensed Digital Content included in this lesson, such as audio read-aloud and labeled Reading Levels/Lexiles.
Use Digital Content Snapshots & Support resources as needed to customize or personalize student learning.
Notes to the teacher:
Collaborate with your school library media specialist to plan and implement this lesson.
See detailed instructions for Sharing & Assigning Boards (#10-11) for further information about students sharing their completed Discovery Ed Boards with the teacher, and for approving students’ Boards for sharing with a wider audience.
Last updated: July Report broken links to BCPS Library Media Programs & Digital Resources BCPS Slam Dunk Research Model, Copyright 2018, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD, all rights reserved. This lesson may be used for educational, non-profit school use only. All other uses, transmissions, and duplications are prohibited unless permission is granted expressly. This lesson is based on Dr. Jamie McKenzie’s Slam Dunk Digital Lesson model.