These lesson plans were created for educators (teachers, counselors, coaches, Career Development Coordinators - CDCs, career advisors, etc.) to make it easier to bring Career Exploration into the academic setting. Feel free to use and amend the plans to best meet your classroom needs. If you have any questions or comments about the plans, please contact nccareers @ commerce.nc.gov.
 
Click on a link to download the Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) or PDF file.

Overview of Site Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
Conversation Starter (4-12 Grade)  
Overview (4-5 Grade)WebQuest Fillable WorksheetWebQuest Printable Worksheet
Overview (6-8 Grade)WebQuest Fillable WorksheetWebQuest Printable Worksheet
Overview (9-12 Grade)WebQuest Fillable WorksheetWebQuest Printable Worksheet
Overview Post SecondaryExploratory Questions Post Secondary Worksheet 

Reality Check Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
Reality Check (4-5)Reality Check Worksheet 
Reality Check (6-8)  
Reality Check (9-12)Venn Diagram Worksheet 
Reality Check Post Secondary  
Reality Check Results (4-8)Reality Check Results Percentage Worksheet 

Interest Finder Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Resource
Interest Finder (4-5)The Holland Codes WorksheetHolland Code Descriptions Worksheet
Interest Finder (6-8) Holland Code Descriptions Worksheet
Interest Finder (9-12) Holland Code Descriptions Worksheet
Interest Finder Post Secondary Holland Code Descriptions Worksheet

Career Cluster Match Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
Career Cluster Match (4-5)Career Cluster Booklet Worksheet 
Career Cluster Match (6-8)  
Career Cluster Match (9-12)Conversation Starters for Clusters (9-12) Worksheet 
Career Cluster Match Post Secondary  

Be Your Own Boss Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
Be Your Own Boss (4-5)Be Your Own Boss Word Search Worksheet 
Be Your Own Boss (6-8)Be Your Own Boss Word Search Worksheet 
Be Your Own Boss (9-12)Be Your Own Boss Word Search WorksheetBe Your Own Boss Crossword Worksheet
Be Your Own Boss Post Secondary  

Skills Matcher Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
Skills Matcher (9-12)  
Skills Matcher Post Secondary  

Work Values Sorter Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
Work Values Sorter (4-5)Work Values Graphic Worksheet 
Work Values Sorter (6-8)Work Values Four Corner Worksheet 
Work Values Sorter (9-12)Work Values Classroom Activity 
Work Values Sorter Post Secondary  

I Didn’t Know this Existed Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
I Didn’t Know this Existed (4-8)  
I Didn’t Know this Existed (9-12)  
I Didn’t Know this Existed Post Secondary  

What Can I do with that Education? Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
What Can I do with that Education (4-5)What can I do with that Education Worksheet 
What Can I do with that Education (6-8)What can I do with that Education Worksheet 
What Can I do with that Education (9-12)  What can I do with that Education Worksheet 
What Can I do with that Education Post SecondaryWhat can I do with that Education Worksheet 

Common Job Titles Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
AKA Common Job Titles (4-5)AKA: Common Job Titles Worksheet 
AKA Common Job Titles (6-8)AKA: Common Job Titles Worksheet 
AKA Common Job Titles (9-12)  AKA: Common Job Titles Worksheet 
AKA Common Job Titles Post SecondaryAKA: Common Job Titles Worksheet 

Similar Occupations Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
Similar Occupations (4-5)Compare & Contrast Worksheet 
Similar Occupations (6-8)Compare & Contrast Worksheet 
Similar Occupations (9-12)Compare & Contrast Worksheet 

What’s the Future of My Occupation? Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
What’s the Future of My Occupation (9-12)Future of Occupation Worksheet 
What’s the Future of My Occupation Post SecondaryFuture of Occupation Worksheet 

Career Planning Resources Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
Career Planning Resources (9-12)Career Planning WorksheetCareer Planning Scavenger Hunt
Career Planning Resources Post SecondaryCareer Planning WorksheetCareer Planning Scavenger Hunt

Getting a Job Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
Getting a Job (9-12)  
Getting a Job Post Secondary  
Creating a Cover Letter (9-12)  
Creating a Resume (9-12)  
Job Applications (9-12)  
Job Interviews (9-12)  

 

 

 

These lesson plans were created for educators (teachers, counselors, coaches, Career Development Coordinators - CDCs, career advisors, etc.) to make it easier to bring Career Exploration into the academic setting. Feel free to use and amend the plans to best meet your classroom needs. If you have any questions or comments about the plans, please contact nccareers @ commerce.nc.gov.

Click on a link to download the Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) or PDF file.

 

Upper Elementary School (4-5 Grade) Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
Conversation Starter (4-12 Grade)  
Overview (4-5 Grade)WebQuest Fillable WorksheetWebQuest Printable Worksheet
Reality Check (4-5 Grade)Reality Check Worksheet 
Reality Check Results (4-8 Grade)Reality Check Results Percentage Worksheet 
Interest Finder (4-5 Grade)The Holland Codes Worksheet 
Career Cluster Match (4-5 Grade)Career Cluster Booklet Worksheet 
Be Your Own Boss (4-5 Grade)Be Your Own Boss Word Search Worksheet 
Work Values Sorter (4-5 Grade)Work Values Graphic Worksheet 
I Didn’t Know this Existed (4-8)  
What Can I do with that Education (4-5 Grade)What can I do with that Education Worksheet 
AKA Common Job Titles (4-5 Grade)AKA: Common Job Titles Worksheet 
Similar Occupations (4-5 Grade)Compare & Contrast Worksheet 

Middle School (6-8 Grade) Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
Conversation Starter (4-12 Grade)  
Overview (6-8 Grade)WebQuest Fillable WorksheetWebQuest Printable Worksheet
Reality Check (6-8 Grade)Reality Check Worksheet 
Reality Check Results (4-8 Grade)Reality Check Results Percentage Worksheet 
Interest Finder (6-8 Grade)  
Career Cluster Match (6-8 Grade)  
Be Your Own Boss (6-8 Grade)Be Your Own Boss Word Search Worksheet 
Work Values Sorter (6-8 Grade)Work Values Four Corner Worksheet 
I Didn’t Know this Existed (4-8)  
What Can I do with that Education (6-8 Grade)What can I do with that Education Worksheet 
AKA Common Job Titles (6-8 Grade)AKA: Common Job Titles Worksheet 
Similar Occupations (6-8 Grade)Compare & Contrast Worksheet 

High School (9-12 Grade) Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
Conversation Starter (4-12 Grade)  
Overview (9-12 Grade)WebQuest Fillable WorksheetWebQuest Printable Worksheet
Reality Check (9-12 Grade)Venn Diagram Worksheet 
Interest Finder (9-12 Grade)  
Career Cluster Match (9-12 Grade)Conversation Starters for Clusters (9-12 Grade) Worksheet 
Be Your Own Boss (9-12 Grade)Be Your Own Boss Word Search WorksheetBe Your Own Boss Crossword Worksheet
Skills Matcher (9-12 Grade)  
Work Values Sorter (9-12 Grade)Work Values Classroom Activity 
I Didn’t Know this Existed (9-12 Grade)  
What Can I do with that Education (9-12 Grade)  What can I do with that Education Worksheet 
AKA Common Job Titles (9-12 Grade)  AKA: Common Job Titles Worksheet 
Similar Occupations (9-12 Grade)  Compare & Contrast Worksheet 
What’s the Future of My Occupation (9-12 Grade)Future of Occupation Worksheet 
Career Planning Resources (9-12 Grade)Career Planning WorksheetCareer Planning Scavenger Hunt
Getting a Job (9-12 Grade)  
Creating a Cover Letter (9-12 Grade)  
Creating a Resume (9-12 Grade)  
Job Applications (9-12 Grade)  
Job Interviews (9-12 Grade)  

Post Secondary Lesson Plans

Lesson PlanActivity # 1Activity # 2
Overview Post SecondaryExploratory Questions Post Secondary Worksheet 
Reality Check Post Secondary  
Interest Finder Post Secondary  
Career Cluster Match Post Secondary  
Be Your Own Boss Post Secondary  
Skills Matcher Post Secondary  
Work Values Sorter Post Secondary  
I Didn’t Know this Existed Post Secondary  
What Can I do with that Education Post SecondaryWhat can I do with that Education Worksheet 
AKA Common Job Titles Post SecondaryAKA: Common Job Titles Worksheet 
What’s the Future of My Occupation Post SecondaryFuture of Occupation Worksheet 
Career Planning Resources Post SecondaryCareer Planning WorksheetCareer Planning Scavenger Hunt
Getting a Job Post Secondary  

 

 

 

Career Development lesson plans were created for educators (teachers, counselors, coaches, Career Development Coordinators - CDCs, career advisors, etc.) to make it easier to bring career exploration into an academic setting. Feel free to amend the plans to best meet your classroom needs. Please share your thoughts about the value of these lessons so that others can benefit from your experience by completing the following survey. If you have your own career lesson plans that you would like to share with fellow educators, please contact nccareers @ commerce.nc.gov.

The Career Development Lesson Plans can be accessed either by topic or by grade level.

A special thank you to Kesha Dawson, Penny Clontz and Jennifer Yandle for their work in making these plans possible. 

 

Educators

 

 

Printables

 

Career Cluster Re-Entry Guide (Printed 2025) - A small PDF version of the Career Exploration Guide focused on individuals reentering the workforce after a period of incarceration.

2025 Star Jobs Brochures by Region (8.5x11) - A printable resource that details the top rated occupations by region sorted by BLS minimum education level.

Career Exploration Guide (Updated Spring 2023 for viewing) (12MB) - North Carolina’s guide to career clusters, pathways, and occupations to help grow your future.

Career Exploration Guide (updated Spring 2023 for printing) (140MB) -- This is a version of the guide to share with professional printers for those interested in printing their own copies.

Printable version of the Interest Finder Assessment

Printable version of the Career Cluster Match Assessment

Mini-Career Cluster Handbook (Printed 2019) - A small PDF version of the Career Exploration Guide.

Career Cluster Military Guide (Printed 2020) - A small PDF version of the Career Exploration Guide focused on individuals entering the civilian labor force after exiting military service.

Educators can access student accounts with a ProTools account through CFNC.

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