Unit 4​
Jobs for American Graduates

reading and Writing Workshop

Resources

Unit Theme and Plan

Working Together: Exploring Career Pathways and Building a Plan for the Future
Students will complete the attached file for this unit 
​Unit 4 Workbook

Activities

Teaching with E.L.O.N.  (Enriched Learning Opportunity Nexus) that seamlessly integrates AI 

Unit Overview:
In this unit, students explore career clusters, personal interests, and educational pathways that connect to their long-term goals. Through guided research, interest inventories, and goal-planning activities, students learn how to match their strengths with viable career options. They also examine labor market trends, workplace expectations, and training requirements, culminating in a personal Career Exploration Portfolio Entry and updated SMART goals.
Unit Learning Outcomes
By the end of Unit 4, students will:

1. Identify personal interests, skills, and values as they relate to careers.
2. Explore major career clusters and specific job opportunities within them.
3. Understand education, training, and certification requirements for target careers.
4. Research wages, job outlooks, and local opportunities.
5. Set realistic short- and long-term career goals and record them in their JAG portfolio.

Key Concepts & Vocabulary

• Career cluster
• Occupation vs. profession
• Job outlook
• Labor market trends
• Career pathway
• Postsecondary options
• Goal mapping
• Transferable skills

Learning Activities
Lesson 1: Discovering Your Interests

• Administer a career interest inventory (e.g., O*NET Interest Profiler or MyNextMove).
• Students analyze results and identify top 3 career clusters.
• Discussion: “What surprised you about your results?”
• Reflection: “How do my interests align with possible careers?”

Lesson 2: Exploring Career Clusters

• Introduce the 16 Career Clusters using visuals or short videos.
• Students select one cluster to research in small groups.
• Group task: create a short presentation or poster explaining:
  • Overview of cluster
  • 3 example jobs
  • Required education/training
  • Typical pay range
  • Why someone might enjoy this career field

Lesson 3: Education & Training Pathways

• Mini-lesson: differences among high school diploma, certification, associate’s, bachelor’s, and advanced degrees.
• Students map out at least two possible postsecondary routes for a chosen career.
• Discussion: “How do education and training affect opportunity?”

Lesson 4: Labor Market Research

• Introduce students to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website or CareerOneStop.org.
• Students use AI or BLS tools to find data on job growth, median pay, and skills in demand.
• Complete a “Career Snapshot Sheet” with:
  • Job title
  • Education needed
  • Median wage
  • Job outlook (%)
  • Required skills
  • Two interesting facts

Lesson 5: Career Comparison & Reflection

• Students compare two careers side-by-side (one interest-based, one new or unexpected).
• Write: “Which career seems most realistic for me now, and why?”
• Class discussion: balancing interests, income, and lifestyle.

Lesson 6: Goal Setting for the Future

• Review SMART Goals.
• Students create two new SMART goals:
  1. Academic or training-related
  2. Career milestone goal
• Share goals in small groups for feedback.
• Add updated goals to JAG portfolio.

Lesson 7: Portfolio & Reflection
Students upload or compile:

• Career Interest Inventory results
• Career Cluster research notes
• Career Snapshot Sheet
• Career Comparison
• Updated SMART Goals

Reflection prompt:
“What have I learned about my career interests, and what steps will I take next year to prepare for my future?”
Assessment & Evidence of Learning

• Completed career cluster research presentation
• Career Snapshot Sheet
• Career comparison reflection
• SMART Goals (academic + career)
• Participation in discussions and activities

Rubric Areas

• Depth of research
• Clarity and accuracy of information
• Realism and relevance of goals
• Reflection and self-awareness
• Portfolio completeness

Portfolio Components for Unit 4
Artifact
Evidence Type
Career Interest Inventory Results
Self-Awareness / Exploration
Career Snapshot Sheet
Research & Analysis
Career Comparison Reflection
Critical Thinking
Updated SMART Goals
Planning & Goal Setting
Teacher Notes & Tips

• Model how to navigate CareerOneStop, O*NET Online, or BLS.gov for students.
• Encourage exploration of both local and national opportunities.
• Integrate brief videos or guest speakers from different industries.
• Use AI-supported research ethically—students verify all data before using it.
• Keep portfolio updates organized by career cluster folders.

Optional Extensions

• Host a “Career Pathways Fair” where students present their cluster posters.
• Schedule a virtual job shadow or local guest talk.
• Integrate résumé updates reflecting new career goals.
• Create mock college or training applications.

Unit Culminating Task
Career Pathways Portfolio Showcase
Each student presents a 3–5 minute summary including:

• Their top career interest
• Education/training pathway
• Job outlook data
• One SMART goal they will pursue

This presentation is added to the Career Exploration section of the JAG portfolio.

AI-Integrated Activities for Unit 4
AI-Integrated INDIVIDUAL Activities
1) Local Job Search Assistant
AI Tools: Google Maps + Perplexity
Student Directions

1. Open Google Maps → Search:
   “jobs hiring near me” or “teen jobs near me”
2. Open Perplexity
3. Paste:
4. What industries in my city/state commonly hire teens?
5. Provide links and cite sources.
6. Write your own list of 5 hiring businesses locally

Student Output

• Map screenshot
• Student-written list of 5 workplaces + roles

2) Networking Practice Script
AI Tool: ChatGPT Voice Mode
Student Directions

1. Open ChatGPT (voice)
2. Say:
3. Pretend you're a store manager. I want to ask if you're hiring.
4. Ask me questions one at a time. Do NOT give me a script.
5. Practice responding aloud
6. Write your OWN final “walk-in script” (no AI drafting allowed)

Output

• 4–6 sentence student-written script

3) Professional Introduction Builder
AI Tool: Grammarly Tone Check
Student Directions

1. Write a short “about me” networking introduction in your own words
2. Paste into Grammarly
3. Review tone suggestions
4. Fix phrasing on your own

Output

• Draft + edited final version
• Screenshot of tone feedback

4) Job Alert Setup
AI Tool: Indeed / LinkedIn AI Job Filters
Student Directions

1. Go to Indeed OR LinkedIn
2. Search for jobs teens qualify for
3. Use AI job filter tool to narrow by:
   • Location
   • Part-time
   • Entry-level
4. Turn on job alerts

Output

• Screenshot of job alert confirmation
• List of 3 jobs you're interested in

5) “Who I Know” Network Map
AI Tool: Canva Whiteboard
Student Directions

1. Open Canva Whiteboard
2. Add circles for people you know (family, school, sports, neighbors)
3. Ask AI in Canva:
4. Give me examples of places teens build professional networks.
5. Ask me questions about who I know — do NOT fill in names.
6. Add connections + how each could help you job search

Output

• Completed networking map + reflection

AI-Integrated GROUP Activities
1) Industry Explorer Board
AI Tool: Perplexity
Group Prompt
What are the fastest-growing job fields for young workers in our state?
Cite recent sources.
Group Task

• Copy list to chart paper / Jamboard
• Each member picks one field and explains opportunity in their own words

2) Workplace Scavenger Hunt
AI Tool: Google Maps + ChatGPT
Group Steps

1. Search local workplaces
2. Ask ChatGPT:
3. Give us categories of businesses where teens often get hired.
4. Do NOT list companies — we will find them.
5. Place local businesses into categories (retail, food, service)

Output

• Group hiring map + business categories

3) Networking Role-Play Circle
AI Tool: ChatGPT Voice + Grammarly
Group Prompt
Be a hiring manager. Ask us 5 interview-style networking questions.
Do NOT give sample answers.
Task

• Each student answers
• Group checks tone in Grammarly and discusses improvements

4) Job Posting Breakdown
AI Tool: Google Search AI panel + ChatGPT summary check
Directions

1. Find real job posting
2. Ask ChatGPT:
3. List responsibilities and skills from this posting.
4. Do NOT explain them — we will.
5. Group translates each skill into teen-friendly language

5) Networking Poster
AI Tool: Canva Magic Design (template only)
Group Task

1. AI provides poster layout only
2. Students write their own networking tips
3. Post in classroom

Unit 4 Skills Developed

• Local job search
• Networking communication
• Professional introductions
• Reading real job postings
• Ethical real-world AI use