Jackson, MN

Description of the Lesson or Program (Upper Elementary)

The “Imagine Life Without Them” lesson was taken from a series of developmental guidance lessons presented in the Career Trek: A Career Education Resource for Teachers and Counselors curriculum. This curriculum is recommended primarily for students in grades four through six and consists of over 60 activities (45 min or less) within 6 academic subject areas. Career Trek activities provide an opportunity for students to explore occupations, learn more about their interests and values, plan and set high goals, and use knowledge and skills while engaging in fun classroom activities. Andrea Pieper, the counselor at Riverside Elementary, introduces the Career Trek curriculum to the 5^th grade students and spends the first half of the school year presenting activities and lessons from it. The objective of this particular guidance lesson is to encourage students to think about how the world would be different if certain occupations were missing and gain an understanding of how different occupations interrelate to help society run smoothly. They will be working in small groups to create a song, poem, riddle, skit or short paragraph to present this understanding to the rest of the class.

“Imagine Life Without Them” Lesson

Time needed: 40 minutes.

Materials needed: 50 note cards—the cards will have a different occupation title on each with a brief job description of that particular occupation (example: librarian—organizes books and magazines in libraries and helps people find what they are looking for.)

Lesson Steps:

1. Choose an occupation and brainstorm with the students what the world would be like without those workers.

2. Organize the class into teams of two or three. Distribute at least 5 cards to each team. Ask teams to keep their occupations hidden and not to discuss them with other teams.

3. Ask each team to select one occupation and write a song, poem, riddle, skit, or a short paragraph about what life would be like without workers in that occupation. Ask students to avoid using the occupation title in their piece.

4. Select volunteer teams to perform or recite their piece and have the rest of the class try to guess the occupation title. Have students do as many performances as time allows.

5. Discuss the realities of not having these particular occupations and how each occupation deserves to be valued and appreciated.

Connections to Related Standards, Domains, and Competencies

The “Imagine Life Without Them” lesson can be directly linked to the Minnesota Graduation Standards Learning Area 2 (Writing and Speaking) and 8 (Decision-Making). Within Learning Area 2 (Writing and Speaking), this lesson presents an opportunity for students to construct a project within a small group to present in front of their class (subpart 4--public speaking). Working in small groups, students communicate and interact with one another to complete their projects (subpart 5—interpersonal communication). In Learning Area 8 (Decision-Making), students demonstrate an understanding of a variety of careers and can describe how each occupation might affect personal, family, and community life. (subpart 4—career investigation).

This lesson is also reflective of the career domain of the Minnesota School Counselors Model of Developmental Guidance and Counseling. Students will become aware of a variety of occupations and how work relates to the needs and functions of society. They will become familiar with the roles and habits of workers in these occupations.

Additionally, this lesson relates to the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee standards. Under the area Educational and Occupational Exploration: Competency 8, students will gain an awareness of how work relates to the needs and functions of society through describing how work can satisfy personal needs as well as ways in which work can help overcome social and economic problems. In the area of Career Planning: Competency 11, students become aware of different occupations by learning how work is important to all people and how contributions of individuals both inside and outside the home are important.

References and Resources

Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning internet site: cfl.state.mn.us/GRAD/gradhom.htm.

National Career Information System (1999). Career Trek: A career education resource for teachers and counselors. Publisher unlisted: MCIS (651)-582-8357.

National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee, internet site: www.noicc.gov.

Rief, J.M., & Enestvedt, J.K. (1993). The Minnesota school counselors’ model of development guidance. Publisher location unlisted: Minnesota School Counselors Association.

For Further Information

Andrea Pieper

Professional School Counselor

Riverside Elementary School

Jackson, MN

Phone: (507) 847-5963

Fax: (507) 847-4398

E-mail: apieper@jcc.mntm.org