Career and Future Readiness

167 Activities

Career and Future Readiness

Set a strong foundation for future independence and thoughtful decision-making by exploring money, business, and practical life skills. Here, learners dive into budgeting, entrepreneurship, and everyday financial choices.

Activities

Entrepreneurs, Help Heather!

STEM, Career and Future Readiness

Grades K - 2

Entrepreneurs, Help Heather!

VentureLab

K - 2

30 Minutes

This activity allows students to work in teams to solve a problem with new ideas, the first step to really experiencing what it's like to be an entrepreneur. While building teamwork skills, students will have the opportunity to solve Heather's problem of not being able to see the board very well. By helping a character students can relate to, they will be able to see that entrepreneurs help people with innovative designs and ideas.

This activity was designed as Part 3 of 5 in a series created by VentureLab. Check out the "Intro to Entrepreneurship" lesson to see more.

Discover Activity

Entrepreneurs, Help Heather!

STEM, Career and Future Readiness

Grades K - 2

Amazing Bodies! 4: Prototype Test & Modify

STEM, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 8

Amazing Bodies! 4: Prototype Test & Modify

OregonASK

6 - 8

1 Hour

Students design a prototype and test it to improve their designs.

This activity is Part 4 of 6 in the Amazing Bodies! series, with activities designed to build upon each another:

Amazing Bodies! 1: Prototype Brainstorm

Amazing Bodies! 2: Prototype Selection

Amazing Bodies! 3: Prototype Build

Amazing Bodies! 4: Prototype Test & Modify

Amazing Bodies! 5: Prototype Naming

Amazing Bodies! 6: Prototype Presentations

Discover Activity

Amazing Bodies! 4: Prototype Test & Modify

STEM, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 8

Chill or Grill

Leadership and Teamwork, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 12

Chill or Grill

Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship

6 - 12

1 Hour 40 Minutes

As an engaging way to introduce students to NFTE’s entrepreneurial mindset domains, students will either complete an interactive digital module or engage in an investigation to make rapid-fire decisions pertaining to a new restaurant opening.

This lesson plan is written around the completion of a hands-on activity, but you can replace or supplement this activity with a couple of digital interactives. See the Modifications section at the end of this lesson plan for more details.

Discover Activity

Chill or Grill

Leadership and Teamwork, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 12

Investing in Human Capital

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

Investing in Human Capital

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students explore the meaning of human capital and its role in economic production. They work in teams as entrepreneurs to analyze a business’s human capital needs and reflect on the roles of scarcity and incentives in choosing workers.

Discover Activity

Investing in Human Capital

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

Community Colleges

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

Community Colleges

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students learn about their local community colleges and how they differ from 4-year colleges and universities.

Discover Activity

Community Colleges

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

Manufacturing and Automation Career Interest Quizzes

Leadership and Teamwork, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 8

Manufacturing and Automation Career Interest Quizzes

After-School All-Stars

6 - 8

20 Minutes

Assess student career interests and match them with potential manufacturing and automation careers with these short quizzes. This activity is part of the Manufacturing and Automation Career Exploration Course.

Discover Activity

Manufacturing and Automation Career Interest Quizzes

Leadership and Teamwork, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 8

Be a Sales Representative (Grades 6-8)

Career and Future Readiness, Literacy

Grades 6 - 8

Be a Sales Representative (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Successful sales representatives know all of the advantages and disadvantages of their products and how their product compares with the competition. In this activity, students act as sales representatives for mobile telephones. They deliver sales pitches that portray their products as attractively as possible to potential customers.

Discover Activity

Be a Sales Representative (Grades 6-8)

Career and Future Readiness, Literacy

Grades 6 - 8

Design Your Own Money (Grades 3-5)

Career and Future Readiness, Arts

Grades 3 - 5

Design Your Own Money (Grades 3-5)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students create new designs for the front and back of the $10 bill. This activity builds design and creative-thinking skills.

Discover Activity

Design Your Own Money (Grades 3-5)

Career and Future Readiness, Arts

Grades 3 - 5

Turning Garbage into Gold

Career and Future Readiness, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 9 - 12

Turning Garbage into Gold

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students consider the excessive waste that enters landfills. To help solve this problem, they brainstorm ideas for businesses that could use landfill contents for revenue. They turn garbage into financial gold!

Discover Activity

Turning Garbage into Gold

Career and Future Readiness, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 9 - 12

We’re the Same!

Career and Future Readiness, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades 3 - 5

We’re the Same!

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

In this activity, students determine similar and complementary interests and ideas among their peers. First, students fill out the included Interest Inventory handout. Then, they form small groups to discuss and compare what they wrote. Finally, students reconvene as a whole group for discussion.

Discover Activity

We’re the Same!

Career and Future Readiness, Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades 3 - 5

U.S. Trade Balance

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

U.S. Trade Balance

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students work in small groups to conduct research on the U.S. trade balance with Canada, Mexico, China, India, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Brazil.

Discover Activity

U.S. Trade Balance

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

Market Research

STEM, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 8

Market Research

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students will conceptualize a new product or service and develop a market research survey to help guide development of the product. Then they will compile and analyze the results of the survey in order to fine-tune their product or service concept. This activity builds research, analytical thinking, and collaboration skills.

Discover Activity

Market Research

STEM, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 8

Collections

4 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 12

Pitch Challenge Tools

Career and Future Readiness, Leadership and Teamwork

Module

Pitch Challenge Tools

Young Entrepreneur Institute

3 - 12

This series of pitch practice activities builds and reinforces presentation skills and provides a vehicle for establishing a safe space. The activities stand alone or can be used as a series, offering progressively more opportunity for critical thinking and skill development. These activities can also be used to help students prepare for a contest or presentation. Visit www.yepitch.org to learn about virtual contest opportunities and access a full pitch contest curriculum and toolkit.

Discover Collection

Pitch Challenge Tools

Career and Future Readiness, Leadership and Teamwork

4 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 12

Module

6 Activities

•

Grades 6 - 12

Operation: Mindset

Career and Future Readiness, STEM

Module

Operation: Mindset

Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship

6 - 12

8 Hours 20 Minutes

Students discover what it means to think and act like an entrepreneur in this series of fun and engaging lessons. First, students learn about the mindset traits and behaviors of successful entrepreneurs before taking a survey that reveals the characteristics of their own entrepreneurial mindset. Students then participate in a series of four challenges – each designed to activate two of the eight domains of the entrepreneurial mindset. The module wraps up with students creating an action plan to further grow their own entrepreneurial potential.

Recommended Module Sequence

NFTE recommends that Lessons 1, 2, and 6 are facilitated in the order listed below. However, Lessons 3, 4, and 5 can be facilitated in any order. Lessons 3, 4, 5, and 6 can also be done independently for teachers looking for exercises that engage students in those non-cognitive skills.

Lesson 1: Pitch Yourself

Lesson 2: EMI Pre-Survey Analysis

Lesson 3: Tower of Power

Entrepreneurial Mindset Domain Focus: Creativity & Innovation and Initiative & Self-Reliance

Lesson 4: Chill or Grill

Entrepreneurial Mindset Domain Focus: Flexibility & Adaptability and Comfort with Risk

Lesson 5: Picture This

Entrepreneurial Mindset Domain Focus: Communication & Collaboration and Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Lesson 6: Startup Survival

Entrepreneurial Mindset Domains: Opportunity Recognition & Future Orientation

Discover Collection

Operation: Mindset

Career and Future Readiness, STEM

6 Activities

•

Grades 6 - 12

Module

3 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 5

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 3-5)

Career and Future Readiness, STEM

Module

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 3-5)

VentureLab

3 - 5

1 Hour 30 Minutes

This foundational series of activities introduces upper elementary students to the concept of entrepreneurship. Expanding beyond the idea that entrepreneurs are just people who set up and run a company, the team at VentureLab wants students to also develop an entrepreneurial way of thinking and acting on ideas.

Through this collection of activities, students develop an understanding of the basic entrepreneurial skills and mindset, as well as what it means and feels like to be an entrepreneur.

Discover Collection

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 3-5)

Career and Future Readiness, STEM

3 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 5

Module

9 Activities

•

Grades 9 - 12

The World of Business & Entrepreneurship

Career and Future Readiness, Leadership and Teamwork

Playlist

The World of Business & Entrepreneurship

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

6 Hours 45 Minutes

Learning about business and economics are essential topics for young adults. Students engage in various activities that puts them in the shoes of entrepreneurs, learning about the realm of business.

Discover Collection

The World of Business & Entrepreneurship

Career and Future Readiness, Leadership and Teamwork

9 Activities

•

Grades 9 - 12

Playlist

2 Activities

•

Grades 6 - 12

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 6-12)

Career and Future Readiness, STEM

Module

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 6-12)

VentureLab

6 - 12

1 Hour 30 Minutes

This foundational series of activities introduces middle and high school students to the concept of entrepreneurship. Expanding beyond the idea that entrepreneurs are just people who set up and run a company, the team at VentureLab wants students to also develop an entrepreneurial way of thinking and acting on ideas.

Through this collection of activities, students develop an understanding of the basic entrepreneurial skills and mindset, as well as what it means and feels like to be an entrepreneur.

Discover Collection

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 6-12)

Career and Future Readiness, STEM

2 Activities

•

Grades 6 - 12

Module

5 Activities

•

Grades K - 2

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 1-2)

Career and Future Readiness, STEM

Module

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 1-2)

VentureLab

K - 2

2 Hours

This foundational series of activities introduces elementary students to the concept of entrepreneurship. Expanding beyond the idea that entrepreneurs are just people who set up and run a company, the team at VentureLab wants students to also develop an entrepreneurial way of thinking and acting on ideas.

Through this collection of activities, students develop an understanding of the basic entrepreneurial skills and mindset, as well as what it means and feels like to be an entrepreneur.

Activity 1 ("What is an Entrepreneur?") introduces students to what entrepreneurs are, with students creating a poster of themselves using key words centered on the entrepreneurial mindset.

Activity 2 ("Idea Journals and the Entrepreneur Song") introduces the Idea Journal, a notebook where students can record all of their great ideas in one place. Students also learn a song and the entrepreneurial mindset.

In Activity 3 ("Entrepreneurs, Help Heather!") students design a perch to help an imaginary very tiny friend who wants to be able to see around the room. This problem-solving will help students to experience what it's like to be an entrepreneur.

Activity 4 ("Product Analysis & Snapshot of Famous Entrepreneur, Indra Nooyi") is all about analyzing different products and thinking about the entrepreneur behind the product and what they thought about for it to come to life. This activity will really kick start student interest as they consider the wider world of business and entrepreneurship.

Finally, after looking at what goes into creating a product and learning about what appeals to customers, students will draw three cards from three different categories in Activity 5 ("Draw Three") and be challenged to come up with a new product idea.

Discover Collection

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 1-2)

Career and Future Readiness, STEM

5 Activities

•

Grades K - 2

Module

40 Activities

•

Grades K - 12

Grow & Go: Learn with Lt. Governor Gilchrist (Entrepreneurship)

Career and Future Readiness, Leadership and Teamwork

Playlist

Grow & Go: Learn with Lt. Governor Gilchrist (Entrepreneurship)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 12

29 Hours 20 Minutes

November is National Entrepreneurship Month and Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II has created an exciting collection of activities just for Mizzen!

Filled with fun, immersive, and interactive content, this playlist introduces students to entrepreneurship as a mindset.

Students in K-12 age groups will build their skillset through discovery, problem-solving, and collaboration.

Discover Collection

Grow & Go: Learn with Lt. Governor Gilchrist (Entrepreneurship)

Career and Future Readiness, Leadership and Teamwork

40 Activities

•

Grades K - 12

Playlist

3 Activities

•

Grades 9 - 12

OnTRaC: Using Theater to Explore Careers in the Arts

Arts, Career and Future Readiness

Module

OnTRaC: Using Theater to Explore Careers in the Arts

ArtsConnection

9 - 12

4 Hours 30 Minutes

OnTRaC: Using Theater to Explore Careers in the Arts is a series of art-led activities that encourage young people to identify careers in the arts and creative fields. Students begin by identifying arts careers represented in their personal networks and within their own communities, as well as arts and creative fields that they're interested in learning more about. Then, they use improvisational theater activities to practice interview skills - for any school or job interview. Find a structure and framework to support young people to host a Visit with an Arts Professional. OnTRaC uses theater techniques as an entry point -- students engage in ice-breaker activities, role-play and other activities to increase skills in support of college and career readiness, including first impressions, networking and interviewing skills.

Discover Collection

OnTRaC: Using Theater to Explore Careers in the Arts

Arts, Career and Future Readiness

3 Activities

•

Grades 9 - 12

Module

9 Activities

•

Grades K - 12

Grow & Go: Learn with Lt. Governor Gilchrist (Future Ready)

Digital Media and Communications, Literacy, Career and Future Readiness

Playlist

Grow & Go: Learn with Lt. Governor Gilchrist (Future Ready)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 12

6 Hours 55 Minutes

Gear up for 21st century learning with Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II and Mizzen!

Designed to create awareness and discussion about how technology and innovation impact the workplace and workforce, this playlist with activities for grades K-12 explores skills and competencies required to success in 21st century careers.

Discover Collection

Grow & Go: Learn with Lt. Governor Gilchrist (Future Ready)

Digital Media and Communications, Literacy, Career and Future Readiness

9 Activities

•

Grades K - 12

Playlist