What Are My Options After I Graduate?

Grade: 10 Lesson # 10

What are my options after I graduate?

SS.912.FL.1.3 Evaluate ways people can make more informed education, job, or career decisions by evaluating the benefits and costs of different choices.

LAFS.910.RL.1.1

Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

LAFS.910.W.2.6

Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology’s capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically.

(Image: http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/Page/146237)

SS.912.FL.1.1 Discuss that people choose jobs or careers for which they are qualified based on non-income factors, such as job satisfaction, independence, risk, family, or location.

What are my options after I graduate?

Lesson Number: 10

Correlated Florida Standards (See Full Text on Cover Page)

·  LAFS.910.RL.1.1

LAFS.910.W.2.6

Essential Questions

·  What are the most important factors to consider when researching my options after high school?

·  What are the benefits and drawbacks of each option, and how do I determine which option is right for me?

Learning Goals/Objectives

·  Identify post-high school options (military, college, university, vocational training, employment, gap year, volunteering organizations).

·  Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of each option.

·  Create criterion to determine how to select the best option for an individual.

Overview

·  Students will identify and research the options that are available to them after high school and evaluate the pertinent benefits and drawbacks of each. In groups, students will then develop criteria to help determine which option is best for them.

Materials

·  Tablets

·  Internet Access

·  Student Handout #1 “Presentation Guide.” (Included in lesson)

·  Organizational Chart (Included in lesson)

·  Post High School Presentation Rubric (Included in lesson)

·  Handout #2 Comparison Guide (Included in lesson)

·  Articles (various options are presented below. They can be printed or uploaded to tablets):

o  General Information:

§  https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/choosing-starting-school/leaving-high-school/after-high-school-different-paths-to-success

§  http://teenadvice.about.com/od/teenlifefaqsandqas/a/postgradchoices.htm

o  Technical Education:

§  http://www.thesimpledollar.com/why-you-should-consider-trade-school-instead-of-college/

§  http://onlineathens.com/opinion/2015-11-19/bloomberg-view-editors-vocational-education-needs-more-attention

o  College Education:

§  http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/08/09/college-vs-vocational-education-better-wages-less-debt/#!slide=980264&save20284201

§  http://sffed-education.org/annualreport2014/#college-essays/does-college-pay

o  Military:

§  http://www.myfuture.com/military/articles-advice/military-benefits/http://www.myfuture.com/military/articles-advice/college-assistance

o  Gap Year:

§  http://www.rasmussen.edu/student-life/blogs/college-life/a-gap-year-weighing-the-pros-and-cons/

o  Straight to Work

§  http://work.chron.com/six-advantages-working-after-high-school-15907.html

Time

·  50 minutes

Activity Sequence

INTRODUCTION/HOOK

·  Tell the students that today’s class will be devoted to examining their post-high school options. Brainstorm the different paths that they can take after graduating high school. Briefly discuss their opinions of each option. Explain that today they will be analyzing the benefits and drawbacks of each. (5 minutes)

ACTIVITY

1.  Briefly introduce the main options that students have after graduation—college/university, vocational training, gap year, military, and straight to work. Instruct students to open their tablets to the list of articles (provided in the materials section of the lesson plan or distributed printed copies). Have students silently or aloud read through one article that covers their general options.(5 minutes)

2.  Create groups that will cover in detail one of the options. A suggestion is to try to create groups based on student interest in the topic. Each group will use the suggested articles of their choice and/or outside research to create a presentation analyzing the benefits and drawbacks of the option. The criteria for their presentation are listed on Student Handout #1 “Presentation Guide.” (20minutes) An optional rubric the teacher can use to grade the presentations is also provided.

3.  Groups will present their main findings to the class. It is recommended that they only highlight their main ideas, as time permits.(10 minutes)

CLOSURE

·  Have students discuss what criteria should be applied in determining which option is the best for them. This can either be in small groups or as a whole class. (10 minutes)

OPTIONAL EXTENSION SUGGESTION/HOME LEARNING

·  Extension activities/Home learning for this assignment would be to complete the following components:

o  Have students publish their presentations to the class website. They may use the presentations, or articles to complete, Student Handout #2 “Comparison Guide.”

AND/OR

o  Students can turn the class discussion on appropriate criteria into a self-created chart, and complete the chart for each option. It is recommended that they use at least three specific criteria. Then, they should write a reflective paragraph about which option they are most interested in, and why, using specific evidence from their research and chart to prove their opinion.

Student Handout #1: Presentation Guide

Directions:

1.  Read the articles about your assigned post-high school option.

2.  You will create a brief presentation including specific information to help your classmates understand your option, including some benefits and drawbacks. Your presentation should include three parts:

o  Introduction: A brief description of what your option is, and why someone would choose it.

o  Benefits: Include two benefits of choosing this option. Make sure to include at least one fact or statistic you read in the articles to support each benefit.

o  Drawbacks: Include two drawbacks of choosing this option. Make sure to include at least one fact (or statistic) you read in the articles to support each benefit.

3.  Complete the organizational chart one the next page in order to help you prepare your presentation.

4.  Use a technology tool, like Prezi, Padlet, or PowerPoint to transform your chart into an interactive presentation. Make sure that it is clear, easy to understand, and visually appealing. Proofread your presentation for grammar and spelling.

Organizational Chart

Introduction
Name of Option:
What is the definition of this option:
Why would someone choose this option:
Benefits
Benefit #1
Why is this an important reason in choosing this option?
What is one fact or statistic you read that helps you support your idea?
Benefit #2
Why is this an important reason in choosing this option?
What is one fact or statistic you read that helps you support your idea?
Drawbacks
Drawback #1
Why is this important reason in choosing this option?
What is one fact or statistic you read that helps you support your idea?
Drawback #2
Why is this an important reason in choosing this option?
What is one fact or statistic you read that helps you support your idea?
Post High-School Presentation Rubric
Name: ______
Date : ______/ Title of Work: ______
Criteria / Points
1 / 2 / 3 / 4
Overview of Option / Students did not include an introduction of this option. / Students provided an introduction covering the definition and description of this option. However, the introduction was not concise or clear. / Students provided a clear introduction covering the definition and description of this option. However, the introduction was not concise. / Students provided a clear and concise introduction covering the definition and description of this option. / ____
Benefits / Students did not include benefits of this option. / Students provided a basic description of the benefits of this option. However, the description was not concise or clear and did not include sufficient evidence. / Students provided a clear description covering the benefits of this option. However, the description was not concise, and/or failed to include sufficient evidence. / Students provided a clear and concise description covering two main benefit of this option, using at least one supporting piece of evidence per benefit. / ____
Drawbacks / Students did not include drawbacks of this option. / Students provided a basic description of the drawbacks of this option. However, the description was not concise or clear and did not include sufficient evidence. / Students provided a clear description covering the drawbacks of this option. However, the description was not concise, and/or failed to include sufficient evidence. / Students provided a clear and concise description covering two main drawbacks of this option, using at least one supporting piece of evidence per drawback. / ____
Presentation Skills / Presentation successfully included one component. / Presentation successfully included two components. / Presentation successfully included three components. / Presentation included the following four components: 1) loud enough to be heard 2) appropriate grammar and spelling 3) organized 4) visually appealing / ____
____
Total----> / ____
Teacher Comments:

Student Handout #2: Comparison Guide

Directions: Complete this chart using the presentations and/or articles. Make sure to use complete sentences.

Option#1 / Military
·  Description
·  Benefit #1
·  Benefit #2
·  Drawback #1
·  Drawback #2
·  Your Opinion
Option#2 / College/University
·  Description
·  Benefit #1
·  Benefit #2
·  Drawback #1
·  Drawback #2
·  Your Opinion
Option #3 / Vocational Training
·  Description
·  Benefit #1
·  Benefit #2
·  Drawback #1
·  Drawback #2
·  Your Opinion
Option#4 / Gap Year
·  Description
·  Benefit #1
·  Benefit #2
·  Drawback #1
·  Drawback #2
·  Your Opinion
Option#5 / Straight to Work
·  Description
·  Benefit #1
·  Benefit #2
·  Drawback #1
·  Drawback #2
·  Your Opinion

9