The document describes a 9th grade career exploration activity where students used a skills and careers bulletin board and the Occupational Outlook Handbook website to choose a career based on their skills, interests, and abilities. Students then wrote a one-page paper describing the career and how their skills would apply. They identified a relevant skill and interest, selected a matching career, and researched the career's educational requirements and salary ranges. Students used the BLS website to further explore the career's skills, description, work nature, and give their opinion. The activity allowed students to explore interests and the link between skills and careers. Most students scored highly and responded positively, though some time was wasted due to independent research and multiple groups at

1. 9 th Grade Career Exploration

2.  Using the Skills and Careers Bulletin Board and the
website Occupation Outlook Handbook, students will
be able to choose a career based on their current skills,
abilities and interests and write a one page paper
describing the career and how their skills, interests
and abilities would be used in this career with 80%
accuracy according to the rubric.

3.  Part 1: Identify with a skill and interest. Follow this
skill and interest to part 2
 Part 2: Choose a career from the cluster of your skills
and interests. Follow to part 3
 Part 3: Discover educational requirements and salary
ranges for this career.

4. Students were asked to relate a skill and interest they
have to the skills and interest learning center. Once
they identified with a specific skill and interest they
were asked to choose a career they would be interested
in from a career cluster. After choosing a career they
discovered educational requirements and salary ranges
for that career.

5. Once the students chose a career, they were directed to
the web site http://www.bls.gov/OCO/ in order to
research their career. Research included:
 Skills and abilities needed
 Description of Career
 Nature of work
 Personal opinion

6.  Explore the career in Occupational Outlook
Handbook
 Write a one page paper describing skills needed for
this career
 Describe the career and the nature of work
 Describe how this career interests you with your
opinion of this career after learning about it.

8.  9th Grade
 Four sections of Career Exploration 87 students
 Half Year

9.  Allowed students to explore their interests
 Described skills and interests leading to careers
 Written report proved understanding
 Students displayed creativity
 Students responded positively toward the activity

10.  Some time wasted due to allowing students to research
on their own
 Some confusion with groups viewing the active
learning center at the same time

11.  33 Students 90% or greater
 29 Students 80-89%
 6 Students 70-79%
 9 Students under 70%
 10 Students yet to complete

12.  Small groups at the Learning Center
 Introduce and discuss activity before allowing groups
to learning center
 Help those who need direction with exploring their
skills and interests.