ASPIRE Mini Lessons

This is a career exploration activity. Students will complete two different mazes. At the end of the activity students will be matched with a career based on the choices they made in each maze. This activity is meant to be completed by students individually or in small groups and it includes some discussion questions for classes or mentor-student groups.

• Career Maze Complete Instructions
• Career Maze Student Handout
• Career Maze Results Pages

This activity uses a crossword puzzle to help students learn about a variety of careers in the healthcare, life and physical sciences, and art, media, and sports industries. The handout is meant to be completed by students, individually but could be modified for pair work. The activity includes some discussion questions for classes or mentor-student groups. Located within the instructions are activity modifications based on student level.

• Career Crossword Complete Instructions
• Career Crossword Student Handout

This activity helps students learn about different types of colleges and universities located in the state of Oregon. To complete this worksheet students will locate different colleges, including community colleges, public colleges and universities, and private colleges on a blank map. This activity can be completed independently by the student or together in a group. Level of difficulty can be modified based on student level.

• College Map Complete Instructions
• College Map Student Handout

This activity uses flowcharts and infographics to help students learn about a variety of postsecondary educational opportunities including apprenticeships, colleges and universities, community colleges, and military service. It can be completed independently or in groups. It is easily adaptable based on various student needs.

• Life After High School Complete Instructions
• Life After High School Student Handout 

This worksheet helps students learn more about a variety of postsecondary options including apprenticeships, colleges and universities, community colleges, and military service. Students will be given information about a postsecondary option and will make a selection based on the information they received.

• This or That Complete Instructions
• This or That Student Handout

This activity helps students learn more about high school by interviewing adults in their lives. By listening to the answers and stories from adults it helps students contextualize high school options and begin thinking about their time in high school.

• Are you ready for HS- Instructions
• Are you ready for HS- Student Handout

This worksheet provides students a step-by-step guide for developing SMART goals.

• SMART Goals Worksheet

This activity helps staff describe their own post-secondary journey by declaring if they went to college, went to trade school, started a career, or served in the military. This activity helps build and develop a career and college going culture by highlighting the real-world journeys that known adults pursued.

• Download I Went To... (Word Document)
• Download I Went To... (Fillable PDF)

A completed activity chart can be used to help students apply for scholarships or complete applications for college, technical schools, and apprenticeship programs. In addition, the chart can be used to build a strong resume. By starting an activity chart in 9^th or 10^th grade it helps students not only track what activities they participate in but also helps plan future activities that might “fill in the gap” in their activity charts.

• Activities Chart Complete Instructions
• Activities Chart Student Handout