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About the Career Exploration Wax Museum

The purpose of the career exploration activity is to help students learn more about themselves. By

identifying their interest areas, students will be guided to explore careers within these areas. Whether a

student has known since first grade what he/she wants to be or has no idea, this activity will help students

learn more about many careers and then, intensely study one of particular interest to them.

The culminating project is a presentation of each career at our Wax Museum. Students will become

an expert within their career and present information about this career to an audience (peers, faculty/staff,

parents/guardians, etc). Through this activity, students will not only become very familiar with a specific job

but also learn the important skills of planning, researching, organizing, time-managing, and oral presentation.

American School Counselors Association (ACSA)

Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Standards

Career Development

Standard A: Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self

and to make informed career decisions

Benchmark A:1 – Develop career awareness

C:A1.1, C:A1.2, C:A1.4

Standard B: Students will employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success

Benchmark B:1 – Acquire career information

C:B1.4, C:B1.5, C:B1.6

Benchmark B:2 – Identify career goals

C:B2.1,

Standard C: Students will understand the relationship between personal qualities, education, training, and

the world of work

Benchmark C2 – Apply skills to achieve career goals

C:C1.1, C:C2.3

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ACITIVITY INFORMATION

MATERAILS NEEDED:

● Tri-Boards (supplied by students)● Books● Pencil● Paper● Art Supplies (glue, markers, scissors)● Computers● Printer● Worksheets for Lessons (provided)● Costume Props (supplied by students)—can be created from arts & crafts

TIMELINE:

October 1st-7th

o Students introduced to Wax Museum during guidance

o Students complete interests and careers worksheet during guidance

o Parent letters sent home

October 20th-24th

o Students complete pondering a career worksheet during guidance

o Students complete interest inventory during guidance

January 2015: Students will practice presentations during guidance

January 23rd, 2015: Students should have Tri-Board

February 17, 2015: Completed Tri-Board, Costumes, and Paper Due

February 20th-26th: Dress rehearsal held during guidance

March 2nd-March 5th, 2015: Students present Wax Museum

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Dear Parents/Guardians,

Over the next several months, your 5th grader will be exploring their interests and future careers, and investigating one particular career in-depth. As a culminating experience, the students will celebrate what they have learned by hosting a Wax Museum for students and parents/guardian in March.

As part of this activity, students will be required to create a tri-board with information about the career they are studying and a written presentation for the Wax Museum event. Students will be researching their specific careers at in and outside of school, as well as creating the tri-board.

Some of the benefits of this project for the students will be:● Identifying interests and related careers● Gaining an in-depth understanding of their chosen career● Planning and organizing a project● Developing research skills

Please note the following requirements:● Students must have a tri-board by January 23 rd , 2015

Tri-boards can be found at Walgreens, Staples, Hobby Lobby, Dollar Tree, etc.● Students may have a written presentation on 3x5 note cards. ● Students will need to dress in the professional attire of his/her career choice. ● Students must attend the Wax Museum event.

Your son/daughter will be choosing a career in school after taking an interest inventory and exploring the different career pathways/clusters. It is strongly recommended that you help your child put together his/her “costume” for the presentation as well as finding research sources (outside of school). Students will be able to learn about the many careers available to them in the future! The project’s due date is February 17 th , 2015 . (This includes the tri-board and presentation notes)

All of your assistance in this project is much appreciated!! Please sign and return this form by October 17th, 2014 and contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Shanna MitchellSchool Counselor-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have read the letter about the Wax Museum and will support my child,

______________________________, in completing the requirements for the project which is due on

February 17th, 2015. I also am aware of the Wax Museum event in March.

________________________________________________ _______________________4

Parent/Guardian’s Signature DateACTIVITY 1 (COMPLETED DURING GUIDANCE IN OCTOBER)

MATERIALS:

✓ Presentation Outline Worksheet

✓ Presentation & Paper Rubric

✓ Sample of Written Outline

✓ Tri-Board Layout

ACTIVITY:

1. Introduce the Wax Museum Project. Explain to students that they will be creating a “Wax

Museum” for students and parents to learn more about careers! They will be the experts of their

profession sharing all that another person would need to know about a career. (Be sure to explain

what a wax museum is and show wax museum sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=Kg61r2LaQxY)

2. Pass out Wax Museum Rubric and review with students.

3. Students will begin to write their Wax Museum presentation using the research they find. (See

Rubric for details.) Teacher should model writing a presentation with students’ help before students

begin their own. (Teacher may model any job or use the model provided below.)

● See example of Zookeeper Presentation.

4. Handout Presentation Outline worksheet. This is designed to help students get started but they don’t

have to follow it exactly.

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Name: ______________________________________________________ Due Date: ______________

Wax Museum Presentation and Paper Rubric

Criteria 3Exceeds Expectation

2Meets Expectation

0Does Not Meet

Expectation

Score

Introduction Introduction clearly states career and is

catchy

Introduction clearly states career but

isn’t catchy

Introduction does not clearly state career

Training, Education &

College Majors

Clearly and accurately describes level of

training/education & college majors

Somewhat clearly and/or accurately describes level of training/education & college majors

Does not accurately describe level of

training/education & college majors

Skills & Interests Describes at least three skills and/or interests beneficial to career

Describes two skills and/or

interests

Describes less than two skills and/or

interests

Typical Day (Duties of the Job)

Accurately and clearly describes a typical or

duties of the job

Somewhat clearly and accurately

describes a typical day

Does not clearly or accurately describe a

typical day

Wage/Salary Accurately states average wage or salary

Does not accurately state wage or salary

Related Jobs Identifies at least three related jobs

Identifies two related jobs

Identifies less than two related jobs

Occupational Outlook

Clearly and accurately states the average

annual growth AND the number of job openings

Accurately states either the average annual growth or the number of job

openings

Does not accurately state either the average annual growth or the

number of job openings

Pictures Tri-board includes at least 1 pictures that

helps audience understand the career

Tri-board includes at least 1 picture

but it doesn’t help audience

understand the career

Tri-board does not include a picture

Conclusion Conclusion is well-stated

Conclusion is somewhat well-

stated

Conclusion isn’t well-stated

TOTALOut of 27

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Example of Wax Museum Presentation

Introduction

My name is Kim. I am a zookeeper. As a kid, I loved animals – all kinds from my dog, Samantha, to

the snapping turtles that swam in our lake. It was this love of animals, science, and the outdoors, that helped

me decide to be a zookeeper.

What to you have to do to become a zookeeper? (Include: Training and education, skills, interests)

Loving animals helps me be very good at this job, but it also helps that I love the outdoors and don’t

mind getting pretty dirty at times. I have a uniform that I wear of khaki pants, a zoo shirt, and heavy boots.

Pew, they sometimes stink after work! A typical day for me might include cleaning exhibits, feeding the

animals, helping care for sick animals, and much more. In order to be a zookeeper, you must earn a

bachelor’s degree in biology or animal science. (That’s four years of college!) You must also have some

work experience. For example, I used to volunteer at the local animal shelter.

Wages or Salary

A zookeeper will make at least $40,000 per year depending on the size of the zoo and his/her

experience.

Related Jobs

There aren’t many job openings to be a zookeeper, and before I decided to be a zookeeper, I also

considered other jobs where I would’ve worked with animals such as being a veterinarian, wildlife

biologists, animal trainer, and pet store owner.

Challenges You Might Face

Being a zookeeper will require me to be on my feet all day long. I will have to get in shape to do this

job. I will also have to get used to lots of different smells and sounds from the animals.

Conclusion

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I look forward to going to work every day because I know the animals need me and I need them too!

We are a family!

Name: ________________________ Job: ____________________________

Due Date: __________________

PRESENTATION & PAPER

Introduction

My name is _____________________________________. I am a _______________. _________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

What do you have to do to become a _____?

(Include: Training and education, college majors, skills, interests, what do you actually do)

________________ helps me be very good at this job, ___________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

A typical day for me might include __________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Being a ________________________________ requires _______ years of training/education. __________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Wages or Salary

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Related Jobs

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Challenges You Might Face in this Career

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion

_______________________________________________________________________________________

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_______________________________________________________________________________________

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Activity 2: INTERESTS & CAREERS

Name: ________________________________________________ Date: _________________

One interest area of mine is ___________________________ because I am

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Several careers I think might be included in this interest area: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Another interest area of mine is ___________________________ because I am

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Several careers I think might be included in this interest area: 1. 2. 3. 4.

After learning about the career pathways/clusters, I believe the cluster that best describes me is

__________________________________________________________________________. Of the jobs

listed in this pathway, I think I would most enjoy being a (n)

_________________________________________________________________________ when I grow up.

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Activity 3: PONDERING A CAREER

CAREER: ____________________________________________

What is it?

What are three duties you might have with this job?

1.

2.

3.

How does this job help others?

What might this job look like? (Draw a picture)

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ACITIVTY 4 (Completed in Guidance)

MATERIALS:

✓ Computer

✓ Interest Inventory (via SCOIS Jr.)

ACTIVITY:

1. Each student must pick one occupation he/she will explore in more depth by completing the interest

inventory on SCOIS Jr.

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ACTIVITY 5 & 6: (Completed during both ½ lessons of Guidance in January)

TIME: 25 minutes

MATERIALS:

✓ Paper

✓ Markers

✓ Scissors

ACTIVITY:

1. Students will review Wax Museum format. (5 minutes)

● Students will remain in their position and frozen unless a visitor pushes the “TALK” button

● Students will only talk from script. They may not answer questions from visitors.

(Remember that you are not alive but a wax figure.)

● Students must all be in appropriate professional attire (costume).

2. Students will bring in or make “TALK” button that museum visitors will push to get you to talk. (5

minutes)

3. Practice presentations to each other (15 minutes)

Students should have a Tri-Board by January 23rd, 2015

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ACTIVITY 7:

DATE: February 23rd-February 27th, 2015

TIME: During Guidance

LOCATION: Guidance-410

MATERIALS:

Presentation

Costume

Talk Buttons

ACTIVITY:

1. DRESS REHEARSAL DAY! Students should have costume and TALK buttons and be placed in

their proper position.

2. One at a time, students will present their presentation to entire class.

Students should have Tri-Board and costumes completed by

February 20th, 2015

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ACTIVITY 8:

DATE: March 3rd-March 5th, 2015

TIME: During Related Arts

LOCATION: Two classes will present per day, in two separate locations

MATERIALS:

Presentation

Costume

Talk Buttons

ACTIVITY:

1. Present to students and parents!

ASSESSMENT: Teacher will use rubric to assess presentation content.

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