DO YOUR PREP WORK - Educator Edition Activities
Below you will find activities that align with the Toolkit process and resources. These activities are designed to enhance classroom learning and the interactivity of the materials. Feel free to adjust and adapt to meet the needs of your students. Have fun!
DISCOVER YOUR WHY
This action step has three steps. To bring these activities to life in your classroom, incorporate vision boards (with a gallery walk) or having students complete the 5 Whys activity to help clarify their values.
Using sticky notes or a blank piece of paper ask 5 Whys:
Why does this value matter to me?
Why does this matter?
Why does this matter?
Why does this matter?
Why does this matter?
Another inspiring activity is having students interview their parents or other family members about their first job.
What was the job?
How did they get the job?
What did they learn?
How did that first job help them as they moved on with their career or life?
FIND YOUR POWER
We each have different passions and talents. Finding the right job where we can use our talents and shine is sometimes a challenge.
Many students aren’t even sure how their interests align. Use the Cultural X-Ray activity and Infographic from the National Retail Foundation to prompt small group conversations about how students’ interests align with potential careers in retail and beyond.
What activities do you currently engage in related to the passion(s) you identified?
What skills and talents do you think you will need to work on to pursue the retail career related to your passion(s)?
SET LEADERSHIP GOALS
There are many different definitions of what it means to be a leader, and almost every definition includes having a vision, working toward goals, and communicating effectively.
In the classroom, augment step 3 by setting class goals for completing the ACRC.
If you are looking for an activity that helps students identify leadership qualities, use the activity below to prompt conversation and help students see their own leadership potential.
Leadership Qualifications Activity
Have students share their best qualities (e.g. loyal, good friend, organized).
Write these up on the board.
Have students identify the qualifications of a leader.
Write these on the other side of the board.
Ask students to identify how their qualities overlap with those of a leader.
Have a convo about how to leverage your personal strengths to grow leadership potential and invest in skill development.
RESEARCH THE OPPORTUNITY
Once you feel like you have a good idea of where you want to go, it’s time to take steps to get there. The first step is researching the retail job opportunities that are right for you.
One way to increase engagement is to have students create “company profiles” for the companies where they hope to apply for jobs. These “company profiles” can be posters, digital collages, or slide shows that present information about the company and its culture.
Be sure to have students include information about if the companies they are researching offer Quality Jobs.
APPLY
Now it’s time to apply for a job (or two). The following activities can help students refine their skills through critical application and feedback.
Resume Rubric - Work as a class to create a simple resume rubric to evaluate resumes and cover letters
Resume Workshop - Have students work in small groups to review resumes and cover letters using the job postings they are applying for.
Mock interview - Have two students role play an interview and have the class provide constructive feedback. Then have students practice mock interviews in small groups to practice interviewing and feedback.
