Lesson Plan:
Introduction to Drive of Your Life
(15 minutes)

Objective:
Students will be introduced to the concept of career exploration using an overview of the Drive of Your Life Web site.

Approach:

1. Introduce the subject with a discussion of what students would like to do as a career. Survey the class to see how many think they know what they want to do and what those jobs are. As a group, discuss how the students who think they know decided on that career.
2. Discuss a three-step process that is often used to choose careers: 1) understanding your own likes and dislikes, skills and abilities; 2) finding careers that match those likes and abilities; and 3) planning for the education required for those careers.
3. Introduce the Web-based tool Drive of Your Life that will enable students to follow this same three-step process online, using a “driving” theme.
4. Discuss the length of time that the unit will continue, and the expected outcomes:
   • The student will be able to describe his/her personal style types, using a standardized approach.
   • The student will learn about jobs that are a good fit for his/her personal style types and about the education required for each.
   • The student will know the high school classes to emphasize, consistent with his/her desired career options.

Assignment:
None.

For Further Discussion:

1. Link introductory remarks to grade-specific, school-specific efforts already underway in the area of career exploration (e.g., career fairs, “shadowing,” reality stores).
2. Discuss the timetable for high school course planning during the 8th grade year.