highschool

Developed by: Jeff Sweeney

Level: 3-5

Using What You Learn

Standards

Learning
Expectations

This activity will help students acquire competencies which relate to the following standard:

3.0 Relate school to life experiences

The student will:

3.1 Examine ways academic skills are used in the home, community,
and career development
3.2 Explain how school success enhances future career opportunities

General Approach	The general approach is that students will be able to identify general skills learned at school and necessary for success in school. They will be able to discuss how these skills can be used at home, in the community, and for future employment.
Activity Steps	Ask students to discuss what skills they have learned at school. Be as specific as possible. Focus the discussion on academic skills (reading, writing, music, art, math, science, etc.), personal skills (critical thinking, problem solving, reasoning, physical abilities, etc.), and social skills (conflict resolution, peer mediation, getting along with others, etc.). The discussion should fit the student's level of understanding. Students should form a list from the discussion of things learned at school. Next to each skill, write at least one way the skill is used outside of school (ie. at home, in the store, etc.). Who do students see using the same skills? (teachers, doctors, clerks, ministers, coaches, etc.) Relate these skills to these and other careers. Discuss general employee skills, as well as those that fit specific careers. Discuss importance of success in school to career development. For a homework assignment, students could be required to write a couple of paragraphs or a one page story about their future career and how they would use these skills in that career.
Time Required	This activity can be completed in 30-45 minutes in a classroom discussion. Additional time may be needed to discuss the homework, if assigned.
Resources Needed	paper pencil possibly career information from http://www.bigchalk.com or any other career information source (type in address, click on "elementary", click on "So you want to be a ")
Performance Indicators	Students may turn in a list of skills developed at school. The list may include personal, social, and academic skills. Students will be able to discuss how these skills are used at home and how they may be used in various careers. Student should be able to integrate their skills into future career story, emphasizing the importance of future success in learning at school.