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College and Career Readiness Activities

Access Hundreds of Free College and Career Readiness Activities For Your Afterschool Program

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Prepare Your Students For the Future with Our Free College and Career Readiness Activities

Helping young people for life after school can feel overwhelming for out-of-school-time practitioners.

Limited resources, a lack of engaging materials, and the challenge of supporting a wide range of ages and abilities can make it difficult to to provide students with the skills and confidence to succeed in college, careers, and beyond.

That’s where Mizzen Education comes in.

Our free digital platform offers a rich collection of high-quality college and career readiness activities designed to inspire all learners.

From goal-setting exercises for younger learners to career exploration projects for teens, our resources are crafted to build essential life skills while keeping youth engaged.

Join Mizzen Education today to save time on lesson planning and give young people the tools they need to dream bigger, plan smarter, and step confidently into their futures.

Explore Our Most Popular College and Career Readiness Activities

CCR 1

Networking Circles

Grades: 9-12
Duration: 45 mins
Learning Standards: N/A

Students identify similar interests and career goals, which they apply to model a business or professional network.

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CCR 2

Jobs in My Community

Grades: 1-3
Duration: 45 mins
Learning Standards: Common Core (ELA)

In this activity, children learn how different jobs help fill different needs in the community. Children randomly choose 1 job and 1 need, and then walk around the room in search of the child with the job that can help them.

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CCR 3

Working Together in the Digital Age

Grades: 6-8
Duration: 45 mins
Learning Standards: International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

Many companies employ people who work out of their homes and in places all over the world. In this activity, students compare the different ways workers may collaborate, especially using the internet, mobile phones, and other communication technology.

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CCR 4

Farm to Table 1: Prototype Brainstorm

Grades: 6-8
Duration: 30 mins
Learning Standards: N/A

In this activity, students work together and brainstorm ideas for their farm/kitchen improvement projects that they will work on throughout the course of this series.

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CCR 5

Careers That Keep You Moving

Grades: 3-5
Duration: 45 mins
Learning Standards: Common Core (ELA)

What if you had a career that required you to travel a large part of the year? Students work in groups to research a career that requires travel and present their career to others during a simulated job fair.

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CCR 6

Likes, Skills, and College Majors

Grades: 3-5
Duration: 45 mins
Learning Standards: N/A

In this activity, students learn how people’s likes and skills relate to college majors. First, they brainstorm likes and skills as a group. Then, using index cards, they post likes and skills near various college majors displayed around the room. Finally, students reconvene as a whole group for discussion.

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Access All Our Free College and Career Readiness Resources Today!

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What Are the Benefits of Teaching College and Career Readiness in an Afterschool Program?

Teaching college and career readiness in your afterschool program empowers students with the knowledge and skills they need to plan for a successful future.

By building essential life skills, fostering confidence, and providing early career exposure, this subject prepares young learners for the next steps in their education and professional journeys.

Here are just some of the benefits college and career readiness can offer students in your out-of-school-time program:

College Activities Benefits (1)

Builds goal-setting and planning skills performance

College Activities Benefits (4)

Develops leadership and communication

College Activities Benefits (2)

Encourages career exploration early

College Activities Benefits (3)

Teaches financial literacy basics

College Activities Benefits (5)

Strengthens decision-making confidence

College Activities Benefits (6)

Promotes teamwork and collaboration

With Mizzen’s free digital platform, you can access ready-to-use resources that make teaching college and career readiness easy and impactful. Inspire your students to dream big, gain real-world skills, and prepare for opportunities ahead.

Voices from Out-of-School Time

"Afterschool is all about not only learning and getting inspired, but also getting creative about where and how we experience our world beyond a classroom. Mizzen offers STEM, art, and leadership activities that can work anywhere at all."

- Rachel Kessler 

Artist and Educator

"In building something, in creating something side-by-side, you make room for more connection and belonging. Students bring more imagination to problem-solving; look for very different ways of doing things; and learn more about how to navigate the world."

- Erin Loughran 

Senior Manager of Professional Learning & Evaluation, ArtsConnection

"The most memorable lessons often come from the journey, not the destination — enjoy the messiness of learning, it's here that the real magic happens."

- Lauren B. González 

Owner, LBG Educational Solutions

College and Career Readiness FAQs

What is College and Career Readiness?

College and Career Readiness refers to the skills, knowledge, and mindset students need to succeed in higher education, vocational training, and the workforce.

It involves developing critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration abilities, as well as essential life skills like financial literacy and goal-setting.

Being college and career-ready means students can make informed decisions about their future paths while being prepared to meet academic, professional, and personal challenges successfully.

Why is College and Career Readiness Important?

College and Career Readiness is important because it helps students build the foundational skills needed for long-term success in both academics and life.

It ensures students are equipped to handle the demands of higher education, enter the workforce with confidence, and make informed decisions about their futures.

What Are College and Career Readiness Standards?

College and Career Readiness Standards are benchmarks designed to ensure students gain the academic knowledge, life skills, and professional competencies needed for success after high school.

These standards focus on key areas such as literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, and career exploration.

They help educators create structured learning experiences that prepare students for both higher education and the workforce, ensuring they meet essential skill levels in subjects like math, reading, and communication.

How Can Afterschool Programs Teach College and Career Readiness?

Afterschool programs can teach College & Career Readiness by offering activities like career exploration workshops, college prep lessons, and skill-building exercises.

Practical tasks such as resume writing, interview practice, and mentorship opportunities help students prepare for life beyond school.

Mizzen offers free, ready-to-use resources that make it easy to integrate these concepts into afterschool programming.

What Are Effective Activities for Teaching College and Career Readiness?

Effective activities include mock interviews, career panels, and project-based learning, such as creating a personal portfolio or community service project.

Goal-setting workshops and career field trips can also spark student interest.

Mizzen’s platform provides engaging, age-appropriate activity templates that help educators deliver impactful lessons focused on career and college readiness.

Help Youth Prepare for College and Careers Today!

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