Scholarships for Post-Secondary Options
Practicum in Manufacturing
Lesson Plan
Performance Objective
Upon completion of this lesson, each student will create an organized structure and the files needed to
apply to multiple scholarships.
Specific Objectives
 Students will locate five scholarships that they meet the requirements for.
 Students will create an organized file system for the documents required by the scholarship.
 Students will write three essays appropriate to submit with scholarship applications.
 Students will request and collect at least three references to be submitted with scholarship
applications.
 Students will write thank you letters to anyone who writes references.
 Students will create a calendar to track the due dates of the scholarships.
This lesson should take eight to 10 class days to complete.
Preparation
TEKS Correlations
Practicum in Manufacturing
 130.330 (c)
o (2) The student applies concepts of critical thinking and problem solving. The student is
expected to:
(D) conduct technical research to gather information necessary for decision
making.
 130.330 (c)
o (4) The student demonstrates oral and written communication skills in creating,
expressing, and interpreting information and ideas, including technical terminology and
information. The student is expected to:
(A) demonstrate the use of content such as technical concepts and vocabulary
when analyzing information and following directions;
(B) employ verbal skills when obtaining and conveying information;
(C) use informational texts such as Internet websites and technical materials to
review and apply information sources for occupational tasks;
(D) evaluate the reliability of information from informational texts such as
Internet websites, technical materials, and resources; and
(G) use academic skills such as effective written and oral communication.
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
130.330 (c)
o (5) The student demonstrates technical knowledge and skills required to pursue a career
in the manufacturing cluster. The student is expected to:
(A) use information literacy skills such as accessing, evaluating, and disseminating
information;
(D) develop goals;
(E) prioritize tasks; and
(F) develop timelines using time-management skills.

130.330 (c)
o (6) The student documents technical knowledge and skills. The student is expected to:
(A) update a professional portfolio to include:
(i) attainment of technical skill competencies;
(ii) licensures or certifications;
(iii) recognition;
(iv) extended learning experiences such as community service and active
participation in career and technical student organizations and
professional organizations;
(vi) resumé; and
(vii) samples of work.
110.34. English Language Arts and Reading, English IV (One Credit), Beginning with School Year
2009- 2010
(15) Writing/Expository and Procedural Texts. Students write expository and procedural or workrelated texts to communicate ideas and information to specific audiences for specific purposes.
Students are expected to:
(B) write procedural and work-related documents (e.g., résumés, proposals, college
applications, operation manuals) that include:
(i) a clearly stated purpose combined with a well-supported viewpoint on the
topic;
(ii) appropriate formatting structures (e.g., headings, graphics, white space);
(iii) relevant questions that engage readers and address their potential problems
and misunderstandings;
(iv) accurate technical information in accessible language; and
(v) appropriate organizational structures supported by facts and details
(documented if appropriate).
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(16) Writing/Persuasive Texts. Students write persuasive texts to influence the attitudes or
actions of a specific audience on specific issues. Students are expected to write an
argumentative essay (e.g., evaluative essays, proposals) to the appropriate audience that
includes:
(A) a clear thesis or position based on logical reasons with various forms of support (e.g.,
hard evidence, reason, common sense, cultural assumptions);
(B) accurate and honest representation of divergent views (i.e., in the author's own
words and not out of context);
(C) an organizing structure appropriate to the purpose, audience, and context;
(D) information on the complete range of relevant perspectives;
(E) demonstrated consideration of the validity and reliability of all primary and secondary
sources used;
(F) language attentively crafted to move a disinterested or opposed audience, using
specific rhetorical devices to back up assertions (e.g., appeals to logic, emotions, ethical
beliefs); and
(G) an awareness and anticipation of audience response that is reflected in different
levels of formality, style, and tone.
(18) Oral and Written Conventions/Handwriting, Capitalization, and Punctuation. Students write
legibly and use appropriate capitalization and punctuation conventions in their compositions.
Students are expected to correctly and consistently use conventions of punctuation and
capitalization.
(19) Oral and Written Conventions/Spelling. Students spell correctly. Students are expected to
spell correctly, including using various resources to determine and check correct spellings.
Tasks
Day 1: Scholarship & Funding Opportunities
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Teacher presentation on scholarships and demonstration of finding scholarships.
Students will identify two sources of scholarships.
Day 2: Getting Organized


Teacher presentation on scholarship process and organizations.
Students will identify two additional sources of scholarships.
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

Students will create a digital system to organize and track scholarship applications.
Students will identify the common elements of scholarship applications, including but not limited
to, transcripts, resumes, essays, photographs, and letters of recommendation.
Day 3: Keeping Track of Time



Teacher presentation on time keeping and calendaring.
Students will identify one additional source of scholarships.
Students will create a plan for five scholarships with a calendar timeline to complete and submit
the materials.
Day 4: Resumes
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Teacher presentation on writing resumes.
Students will write resumes.
In partners, students will edit and review resumes.
Day 5: References

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Teacher presentation on getting personalized references.
Student will write an email that can be used to solicit references.
Students will contact at least three individuals for reference letters for each scholarship.
Day 6- 8: Writing essays

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Teacher presentation on writing scholarship essays.
Students will write and edit one essay per day.
In pairs, students will review and revise edits.
Essays can be written in class or assigned as homework.
Day 9: Collecting Transcripts
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Students will collect necessary transcripts from high school or college programs.
Students will work on documentation in folder system.
Students will be editors for each other’s work for proof and review.
Students will contact/follow-up with individuals for reference letters.
Students will scan and organize reference letters.
Students will write thank you letters to references.
Day 10: Finalize Project



Students will finalize project.
Students will complete a self-evaluation of the project using the rubric.
Students will submit final USB flash drive or link to collaborative drive.
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Accommodations for Learning Differences
It is important that lessons accommodate the needs of every learner. These lessons may be modified to
accommodate your students with learning differences by referring to the files found on the Special
Populations page of this website (cte.unt.edu).
Preparation
 Find scholarships that would be appropriate for your cluster area.
 Find scholarship listings for your local community.
 Pull example resumes.
 Each year, ask students for samples to share with other students.
Instructional Aids
 Scholarship websites
 Grading rubric
 Internet
Materials Needed
 USB flash drives or collaborative drives
Equipment Needed
 Computers (for students to complete project)
 Projector (for digital presentation)
 Scanner to scan recommendation letters
Outline
MI
Outline
I.
II.
Explain different types of funding
a. Apply for Financial Aid
b. Scholarships
c. National Grants
d. Pell Grants
e. Service Commitment:
AmeriCorps, PeaceCorps,
ROTC, Military
f. Local schools / living at home
What Kinds of Scholarships
Instructor Notes
Talk through the different types
of funding for post-secondary
education. Open the discussion
to see what the students have
thought about using.
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III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
a. University / College
b. National
c. State
d. Organizational
e. Local
Scholarship Searches & Strategies
a. Search sites & aggregators
b. Professional organizations
c. Local organizations
d. School counselors
e. Lists
f. Emails
Scholarship Process
a. Key components
b. Personal information
c. Resume
d. Academic information
e. Community information
f. Essay
g. References
h. Transcripts
i. Due dates
Organization
a. File types
b. USB flash drives or
collaboration drives
Keeping Track of Time
a. Start early
b. December due dates
c. Documentation of enrollment
/ grades
Resume
a. Content types
b. Writing tips
c. Example
d. Content Ideas
Reference letters
a. Reference process
b. Get more letters than you
Give examples of the different
types of scholarships someone
may find at each level. Add
appropriate examples from your
own industry.
Help students find scholarships
that would be beneficial to
them.
By looking at the scholarships
that they found, have a
discussion about the common
elements that students have
found.
Based on your school’s security,
find out what collaborative
drives are available.
Show different types of calendar
templates. Allow students to
use what they will actually
follow – even their smart
phones.
Provide examples of student
resumes.
Help students brainstorm whom
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IX.
X.
XI.
need
c. Write thank you notes
Scholarship Essays
a. Good writing
b. Flow / structure
c. Memorable
d. Tell your story
e. Share your heart
f. Stand out from other students
g. Essay ideas
Transcripts
a. Ordering and organizing
Finalize Project
a. Self-review
b. Finalize project pieces
c. Submit
they could ask to be a reference.
Essays may take more or less
time in the classroom
depending on your own
schedule and how much writing
they can do at home.
Check with your own school
about the transcript request
process.
Give a copy of a rubric to each
student for a self-evaluation.
Multiple Intelligences Guide
Interpersonal
Existentialist
Intrapersonal
Kinesthetic/
Bodily
Logical/
Mathematical
Musical/Rhyth
mic
Naturalist
Verbal/Linguistic
Visual/Spatial
Application
The application for this lesson is outlined in the Scholarship Planning Project and Rubric at the end of
this lesson.
Extension
Create a bulletin board to share the successes of each scholarship received. One idea is to have fake
checks that can be put up on the board. You can also track how much total funding each class receives.
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Summary
Review
 What do you think scholarship committees are looking for when they review resumes, essays,
and letters of recommendations?
 Where are the best places to find scholarships?
Evaluation
Informal Assessment
 Instructor will observe students during Independent Practice.
 Instructor will assist students as needed.
Formal Assessment
 Use the Scholarship Planning Rubric to evaluate.
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Scholarship Resources Handout
You can search for scholarship listings and find many sites that include listings of scholarships. Here are
a few to get you started.
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
Every Chance Every Texan
o http://www.everychanceeverytexan.org/funding/aid/faidalpha.php
My College Options (Texas)
o https://www.mycollegeoptions.org/TX/0/Texas/search-results-scholarship-search-bylocation.aspx
College Scholarships (Texas)
o http://www.collegescholarships.org/states/texas.htm
College Scholarships (Subjects)
o http://www.collegescholarships.org/scholarships/subject-specific.htm
Big Future by the College Board
o https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search
Student Scholarships
o http://www.studentscholarships.org/
Some school districts have great scholarship listings too:
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Austin ISD
o https://www.austinisd.org/scholarships
Arlington ISD
o http://www.aisd.net/AISD/Default.aspx?alias=www.aisd.net/aisd/scholarships
Mesquite ISD
o http://www.mesquiteisd.org/college-scholarships/
Fort Worth ISD
o http://www.fwisd.org/files/_FFAsx_/a22733bd372513063745a49013852ec4/scholarship
_senior.pdf
Houston ISD
o http://www.houstonisd.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=110473
Waxahachie ISD
o http://schools.wisd.org/default.aspx?name=whs.scholarships
Scholarship Aggregators
There are many sites that help you find scholarships. You can use them to help find the scholarships,
but we recommend that you use it only as a directory and submit directly to the organization instead of
through the aggregator site. There are many scams where you have to pay to get scholarships. You
should never have to pay anything to receive a scholarship.
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Scholarship Project
For this project, you will be setting up your own plan to apply for scholarships that you meet the
requirements for. You will collect files and documents to do this.
There are two options for completing this task.
A) Collaborative Drives – This option is valuable if you want to be able to work with your teachers
and parents. You can share documents and get help with reviewing documents very easily.
B) A USB flash drive – If your school limits the access to a collaborative drive or file sharing, then a
USB flash drive is a good way to bring the documents back and forth to school and home.
Requirements
1. Identify at least five scholarships for which you meet the requirements.
2. For each scholarship, create a folder in either a USB flash drive or virtual drive. Name that folder
to correspond to the name of the scholarship.
a. In each folder, create a document named REQUIREMENTS that lists with each of those
requirements.
3. Create a folder called ESSAYS.
a. In this folder, you will put any essay that you have written as a scholarship essay or for a
class that could be used as content in a scholarship essay.
b. Review the current essays in “Apply Texas” if you are planning on attending school in
Texas.
c. Include at least three different essays in your folder.
4. Create a folder called RECOMMENDATIONS.
a. In this folder, you will file any letters of recommendations that you have been able to
collect. These are best if they have been signed, scanned, and can be reprinted or sent
digitally if needed.
b. Include at least three letters of recommendation.
i. A teacher
ii. An administrator
iii. A member of the community
5. Create a folder called RESUMES.
a. In this folder, you will file a copy of your resume. Some scholarships will require different
lengths. Therefore, if you create a new version, keep any copies in this folder and save
with the name of the file relevant to the type of resume that it is (For example, “OnePaged Resume” or “Two-Paged Resume).
b. Include at least one resume in this folder.
6. Create a CALENDAR to document the due date of each scholarship.
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a. If you are using a collaborative drive with a calendar app, you can make this in a shared
Calendar that you can share with your family.
b. If you are using digital file share site or a USB flash drive, you can make a calendar in a
table in a document, spreadsheet, or a calendar template for a slide.
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Scholarship Planning Rubric
0
Poor/Not Evident
Scholarships were
identified, however, they
were not an appropriate
match for the
qualifications of the
student.
The drive is not
organized.
1
Needs Improvement
Four scholarships were
identified that match the
qualifications of the student.
2
Exemplary
Five scholarships were identified that
match the qualifications of the student.
The drive includes a folder for
each scholarship.
Requirements
The requirement listing is
not included.
Essay 1
The first essay is missing
or is too short to be
considered for a
scholarship.
Essay 2
The second essay is
missing or is too short to
be considered for a
scholarship.
Essay 3
The third essay is missing
or is too short to be
considered for a
scholarship.
Recommendations
Zero to one
recommendation letters
are included.
A resume is not included
in a folder.
Some requirements for
scholarships are missing in the
folder structure.
The first essay does not align
well to the prompt or may not
be appropriate yet without
revision for scholarship
consideration.
The second essay does not
align well to the prompt or may
not be appropriate yet without
revision for scholarship
consideration.
The third essay does not align
well to the prompt or may not
be appropriate yet without
revision for scholarship
consideration.
Two recommendation letters
are included.
The drive includes a well-organized
structure with a folder for each
scholarship.
Requirements for each scholarship are
listed in each folder.
Scholarship
Identification
Folders Created
Resumes
Calendar
A calendar is not
included.
Writing
The writing needs
significant revisions with
many errors in grammar
or mechanics.
A resume is included in a folder
that needs revisions to be able
to appropriately highlight the
student’s academic career for
scholarship consideration.
A calendar is created to
document due dates for each
of the scholarships identified,
but the formatting is not clean
and professional.
The writing needs revisions
with some errors in grammar
or mechanics.
The first essay aligns well with the
prompt and would be an appropriate
essay to submit for scholarship
consideration.
The second essay aligns well to the
prompt and would be an appropriate
essay to submit for scholarship
consideration.
The third essay aligns well to the prompt
and would be an appropriate essay to
submit for scholarship consideration.
Three recommendation letters are
included.
A resume is included in a folder that
appropriately highlights the student’s
academic career for scholarship
consideration.
A professional, well-formatted calendar
is created to document due dates for
each of the scholarships identified.
The writing is exemplary with no errors
in grammar or mechanics.
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Peer Review for Essay
Writer: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Peer Reviewer: ____________________________________________________________________________
Essay Prompt: _____________________________________________________________________________
Scholarship Organization: ____________________________________________________________________
Yes/No
Notes
Does the essay meet the prompt?
Does the essay meet the goals of
the scholarship organization?
Does the essay convey a personal
tone and voice?
Does the essay maintain good
organization, structure, and flow?
Does the essay maintain correct
writing grammar and mechanics?
Is the essay unique and
memorable?
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