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

Crowdsourcing

STEM, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 8

Crowdsourcing

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students learn about different types of crowdsourcing and then work together in small groups to develop a project idea that uses crowdsourcing. This activity builds analytic and problem-solving skills. It also develops speaking and listening skills.

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CrowdsourcingSTEM, Career and Future Readiness

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Modern Manufacturing Quiz

STEM, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 8

Modern Manufacturing Quiz

After-School All-Stars

6 - 8

5 Minutes

Take the Discovery Education: Modern Manufacturing online quiz to continue exploring Advanced Manufacturing and Automation and how it impacts daily life.

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Modern Manufacturing QuizSTEM, Career and Future Readiness

5 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

What Is Opportunity Cost?

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

What Is Opportunity Cost?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

This activity explores the concept of opportunity cost in the context of choosing a summer job. Students discuss the opportunity costs of making a decision in a fictional scenario and watch a video that explains the basic concepts of opportunity costs. They then break into small groups and identify the opportunity costs of different summer job opportunities. They wrap up the activity with a group discussion about opportunity costs.

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What Is Opportunity Cost?Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 6-8)

STEM, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 8

Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Student teams work together to improve an existing product and then present their ideas to the group. This activity builds analytical thinking and cooperative learning skills while developing speaking and listening skills.

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Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 6-8)STEM, Career and Future Readiness

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Economic Concepts: What Is a Consumer?

Leadership and Teamwork, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 3 - 8

Economic Concepts: What Is a Consumer?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 8

45 Minutes

Students participate in simulated shopping, with some spending play money in local mock stores while others act as proprietors. These stores are all small businesses (i.e., not large chains or box stores) and offer items attractive to consumer students, who will have to determine how and where to spend their money. After a shopping trip, total receipts from each store will be counted. A group discussion will include why students made their choices and how their choices as consumers affected the businesses.

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Economic Concepts: What Is a Consumer?Leadership and Teamwork, Career and Future Readiness

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 8

What Should My College Major Be?

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 6 - 8

What Should My College Major Be?

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

In this activity, students research college majors based on likes and skills. First, they fill out the My Personal Inventory worksheet. Then, they work in small groups to try to connect each student's likes and skills with various college majors. Finally, students reconvene as a whole group for discussion.

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What Should My College Major Be?Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Be a Sales Representative (Grades 3-5)

Career and Future Readiness, Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

Be a Sales Representative (Grades 3-5)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

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 brands of sneakers. They deliver sales pitches that portray their products as attractively as possible to potential customers.

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Be a Sales Representative (Grades 3-5)Career and Future Readiness, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

Evaluate a Business Idea (Grades 6-8)

STEM, Career and Future Readiness

Grades 6 - 8

Evaluate a Business Idea (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Entrepreneurs evaluate their business plans to make sure that they are devoting their time wisely and investing their money wisely as well. In many cases, seeking other people's opinions about their plans is a smart decision. These opinions might identify opportunities or drawbacks the entrepreneur had not considered. In today's activity, students will learn about several start-up ideas from their peers. Finally, they will conduct SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analyses about the business ideas and then apply the technique to evaluate their ideas.

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Evaluate a Business Idea (Grades 6-8)STEM, Career and Future Readiness

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Persistence Stories

Career and Future Readiness, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Persistence Stories

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students read and report on stories of persistence paying off in business and discuss characteristics of and similarities across the stories and how they might use them in their own lives.

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Persistence StoriesCareer and Future Readiness, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

Your Career

Career and Future Readiness, Literacy

Grades 6 - 8

Your Career

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Today, career choices may be more diverse and numerous than ever before. Advances in technology are constantly making career options more complex, as they may lead to new careers while decreasing the demand for older careers. As a result, many adults will take on several careers during their lives—in some cases, simultaneously! In this activity, students research and report on various careers that they may find interesting, rewarding, and appealing.

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Your CareerCareer and Future Readiness, Literacy

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

Hidden Costs of Consumer Goods

Career and Future Readiness, History and Society

Grades 9 - 12

Hidden Costs of Consumer Goods

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

When a gallon of gasoline is purchased at the pump, the price does not include the cost of the pollution that the gasoline will release or the pollution involved in its product. In this activity, students analyze the hidden costs of a wide variety of products.

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Hidden Costs of Consumer GoodsCareer and Future Readiness, History and Society

45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

A Logo for You

Career and Future Readiness, Arts

Grades 6 - 8

A Logo for You

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Today, logos help define all sorts of organizations, including commercial products, large businesses, schools, and government organizations. In this activity, students explore the kind of logo that they would present to the world, either to represent themselves as individuals or for a business they would run.

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A Logo for YouCareer and Future Readiness, Arts

45 Minutes•Grades 6 - 8

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4 Activities

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Grades 3 - 12

Pitch Challenge Tools

Career and Future Readiness, Leadership and Teamwork

Collection

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.

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Pitch Challenge ToolsCareer and Future Readiness, Leadership and Teamwork

Grades 3 - 12

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3 Activities

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Grades 3 - 5

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 3-5)

Career and Future Readiness, STEM

Collection

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.

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Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 3-5)Career and Future Readiness, STEM

1 Hour 30 Minutes•Grades 3 - 5

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6 Activities

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Grades 6 - 12

Operation: Mindset

Career and Future Readiness, STEM

Collection

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

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Operation: MindsetCareer and Future Readiness, STEM

8 Hours 20 Minutes•Grades 6 - 12

Collection

3 Activities

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Grades 9 - 12

OnTRaC: Using Theater to Explore Careers in the Arts

Arts, Career and Future Readiness

Collection

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.

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OnTRaC: Using Theater to Explore Careers in the ArtsArts, Career and Future Readiness

4 Hours 30 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

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40 Activities

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Grades K - 12

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

Career and Future Readiness, Leadership and Teamwork

Collection

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.

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Grow & Go: Learn with Lt. Governor Gilchrist (Entrepreneurship)Career and Future Readiness, Leadership and Teamwork

29 Hours 20 Minutes•Grades K - 12

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5 Activities

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Grades K - 2

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 1-2)

Career and Future Readiness, STEM

Collection

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.

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Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 1-2)Career and Future Readiness, STEM

2 Hours•Grades K - 2

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2 Activities

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Grades 6 - 12

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 6-12)

Career and Future Readiness, STEM

Collection

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.

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Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 6-12)Career and Future Readiness, STEM

1 Hour 30 Minutes•Grades 6 - 12

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9 Activities

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Grades 9 - 12

The World of Business & Entrepreneurship

Career and Future Readiness, Leadership and Teamwork

Collection

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.

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The World of Business & EntrepreneurshipCareer and Future Readiness, Leadership and Teamwork

6 Hours 45 Minutes•Grades 9 - 12

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9 Activities

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Grades K - 12

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

Digital Media and Communications, Literacy, Career and Future Readiness

Collection

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.

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Grow & Go: Learn with Lt. Governor Gilchrist (Future Ready)Digital Media and Communications, Literacy, Career and Future Readiness

6 Hours 55 Minutes•Grades K - 12

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