Beltane: Career Exploration & High School Prep
Who will you become? At Beltane, we celebrate growth and potential. Explore career paths, develop life skills, and prepare for high school.
UU Principle Focus
5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process
🎯 Learning Goals
- • Discover personal strengths, interests, and values
- • Explore diverse career paths and educational options
- • Develop essential life skills: money, time, communication
- • Master data analysis, statistics, and probability
- • Prepare confidently for high school
Weekly Lessons
Week 1: Who Am I?
🕯️ Hearth Circle
At Beltane, we celebrate growth and potential. As you prepare for high school, who are you becoming? What are your strengths, interests, and values?
📚 Language Arts
Self-discovery and reflection. Personality assessments. Identifying strengths and interests. Begin career journal. Write a personal mission statement.
✖️ Math
Data analysis and statistics. Mean, median, mode. Interpreting data displays.
🔬 Science: Careers
Scientific careers overview. STEM fields. Research and discovery. Scientists who changed the world.
✏️ Form Drawing
Personal symbol or crest design
🧶 Handwork
Beltane crafts; create a vision board
📖 Story
Finding Your Path: Stories of Self-Discovery
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Personality Types
- Finding Your Strengths
Shows:
- Abstract: The Art of Design
Audio:
- What Color Is Your Parachute? for Teens
Week 2: Exploring Career Paths
🕯️ Hearth Circle
There are so many ways to contribute to the world. What problems do you want to solve? What kind of work excites you?
📚 Language Arts
Career exploration. Career clusters and pathways. Researching careers of interest. Continue career journal. Write about a dream career.
✖️ Math
Scatter plots and correlation. Positive, negative, and no correlation. Making predictions.
🔬 Science: Careers
Healthcare and medical careers. Doctors, nurses, researchers. Public health and wellness professions.
✏️ Form Drawing
Career pathway diagrams
🧶 Handwork
Continue Beltane crafts; interview a professional
📖 Story
Many Paths to Success: Career Stories
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Career Exploration
- Day in the Life videos
Shows:
- Dirty Jobs excerpts
Audio:
- Career exploration audiobooks
Week 3: Education and Training
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Different careers require different paths—college, trade school, apprenticeships. What path might be right for you?
📚 Language Arts
Post-secondary options. College, trade schools, military, workforce. High school course planning. Continue career journal. Write about educational goals.
✖️ Math
Two-way tables. Relative frequency. Analyzing categorical data.
🔬 Science: Careers
Trade and technical careers. Electricians, mechanics, technicians. The value of skilled trades.
✏️ Form Drawing
Educational pathway maps
🧶 Handwork
Create a high school plan; Maypole ribbons
📖 Story
Many Roads to Learning: Education Stories
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- College vs. Trade School
- High School Tips
Shows:
- Most Likely to Succeed
Audio:
- Education and career audiobooks
Week 4: Life Skills: Money and Time
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Managing money and time are essential life skills. How do you currently manage your time? What do you know about money?
📚 Language Arts
Financial literacy basics. Budgeting, saving, spending. Time management strategies. Continue career journal. Write about goals and planning.
✖️ Math
Simple and compound interest. Financial calculations. Budgeting math.
🔬 Science: Careers
Business and entrepreneurship. Starting a business. Economics basics.
✏️ Form Drawing
Budget and planning charts
🧶 Handwork
Create a budget; time management tools
📖 Story
Money Matters: Financial Wisdom
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Budgeting for Teens
- Time Management
Shows:
- Money Explained
Audio:
- Financial literacy audiobooks
Week 5: Life Skills: Communication
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Good communication opens doors. How do you express yourself? How do you listen to others?
📚 Language Arts
Communication skills. Public speaking. Professional writing. Interviewing skills. Continue career journal. Practice elevator pitch.
✖️ Math
Probability basics. Theoretical vs. experimental probability. Compound events.
🔬 Science: Careers
Communication and media careers. Journalism, marketing, public relations. Digital media.
✏️ Form Drawing
Communication diagrams and infographics
🧶 Handwork
Practice presentations; create a resume
📖 Story
The Power of Words: Communication Stories
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Public Speaking Tips
- Interview Skills
Shows:
- The Social Dilemma
Audio:
- Communication audiobooks
Week 6: High School Readiness
🕯️ Hearth Circle
High school is a new chapter. What excites you? What worries you? How can you prepare?
📚 Language Arts
High school expectations. Study skills and organization. Extracurriculars and involvement. Continue career journal. Write about hopes and fears.
✖️ Math
Review statistics and probability. Real-world applications.
🔬 Science: Careers
Arts and creative careers. Artists, musicians, designers. Creative problem-solving.
✏️ Form Drawing
High school planning visuals
🧶 Handwork
Create a high school survival kit; organization tools
📖 Story
The Next Chapter: High School Stories
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- High School Survival Guide
- Study Skills
Shows:
- High school documentaries
Audio:
- Teen success audiobooks
Week 7: Celebration & Transition
🕯️ Hearth Circle
You've completed 8th grade! At Beltane, we celebrate growth and new beginnings. What have you learned? Who are you becoming?
📚 Language Arts
Reflection on middle school journey. Complete career journal. Write a letter to your future self. Prepare graduation speech.
✖️ Math
Year-end review. Algebra I mastery check. Preparing for high school math.
🔬 Science: Careers
Review all career explorations. Final career project presentation.
✏️ Form Drawing
Create a Beltane celebration page with growth themes
🧶 Handwork
Complete Beltane crafts; prepare celebration feast
📖 Story
Commencement: The Beginning of a New Journey
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Graduation Inspiration
- Looking Ahead
Shows:
- Inspiring graduation speeches
Audio:
- Beltane stories and music
🌸 Beltane Celebration & 8th Grade Graduation
- 🟡 Present career exploration projects
- 🟡 Share vision boards and future plans
- 🟡 Read letters to future selves
- 🟡 Dance the Maypole celebrating growth
- 🟡 Graduation ceremony and celebration
- 🟡 Feast honoring the transition to high school
📚 Recommended Resources
Career Exploration
- • What Color Is Your Parachute? for Teens
- • Career exploration websites
- • Personality and interest assessments
Life Skills
- • Financial literacy resources
- • Study skills guides
- • Communication and leadership books