- Exploring Futures Resource Hub
- Exploring Futures Model
Exploring Futures Model
Implementation Guidance
Sites can use the Exploring Futures Collaborative Planning Tool 24-25 to map out the implementation of 15 hours of middle school career exploration programming.
MS Career Exploration Desired Outcomes
- Students will be able to engage in career exploration activities that connect to existing afterschool programming and support opportunities for self-exploration, career exploration, and goal-setting.
- Students will be able to grow self-awareness about their interests, passions, and values, and identify how this can inform decision making and build a sense of agency as they explore careers.
- Students will be able to Investigate jobs in multiple sectors, including careers in STEM and those that rely on leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
- Exploring Futures activities will serve as a tool for ongoing career exploration and support for high school choice in afterschool programming.
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Career-Connected Instruction
6th-7th Grade
Instruction that supports students in exploring their interests, passions, and goals and allows students to reflect on their interests and build connections to post secondary opportunities. Our suggested curriculum includes an introductory unit, an early career exploration unit, and the Exploring Futures Pathways Curriculum.
8th Grade
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Career Exposure and Exploration
6th-7th Grade
Career Exposure events are activities that offer middle school students opportunities to learn about careers and engage in career exploration through interaction with professionals and worksites. These can include career panels, community walks, and career-connected field trips.
8th Grade
Career Exposure events are activities that offer middle school students opportunities to learn about careers and engage in career exploration through interaction with professionals and worksites. These can include career panels, community walks, and career-connected field trips.
Personalized High School Choice and Career Advising
6th-7th Grade
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8th Grade
High School choice resources support middle school students in their transition into high school. Students explore their high school choices and complete their HS application process.
Financial Literacy
6th-7th Grade
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8th Grade
Financial literacy equips students with lifelong skills and habits around personal finance in order to build economic security through quality coursework.
Grades 6 and 7 (15 hours)
Unit 1: Intro to Exploring Futures (2 hrs)
Students explore their sparks, interests, and values.
Unit 2: Early Career Exploration (6 hrs)
Students utilize Hats and Ladders to explore early careers.
Unit 3: My Industry Focused Pathways (5 hrs)
Educators collaborate with students to select a pathway-focused unit on either STEM, Education, or Entrepreneurship.
Unit 4: My Next Step (2 hrs)
Students attend a panel, trip, or community walk, and celebrate what they’ve learned in an end-of-unit showcase.
Grade 8 (15 hours)
Unit 1: Intro to Exploring Futures (2 hrs)
Students examine their career values and set early goals.
Unit 2: Exploring My High School Choices (6 hrs)
Students explore their high school interests and make a plan for their high school applications.
Unit 3: Financial Literacy (5 hrs)
Students practice budgeting, reflect on spending habits, building saving skills.
Unit 4: My Next Step (2 hrs)
Students attend a panel, trip, or community walk, and celebrate what they’ve learned in an end-of-unit showcase.