Career Exploration Module – DAY ONE
Lesson Title
Career Module
Introduction
Cluster
Pathway
All Pathways
Objectives
- Discuss the STEM Career Cluster
- Identify and explore career opportunities within the STEM Career
Cluster
- Identify and discuss the eight pathways within the STEM Career
Cluster
TEKS
1.A, 1.B, 2.A
Materials/Equipment/Handouts Needed
- Introduction of Careers in STEM slide presentation (computer,
projector, screen, etc.)
- Career Exploration Module Vocabulary List
- Career Pathway Vocabulary Activity Mat
- Career Pathway Matching Activity
- Careers in STEM Crossword Puzzle
- Lesson handouts for the next lesson if needed
Prior Student
Learning
Students should
already be
aware that there
are 15 other
career clusters
Introduction/Engage
- Initiate a class discussion by asking each student to give one
example of a career in the STEM Career Cluster without repeating
another student’s response
- Search the Internet to find a video about careers in STEM to show
during the introduction of the lesson (slide 2)
Essential
Question
What is the
STEM Cluster?
Estimated time
45 minutes
Activities
- Lecture: Introduction of Careers in STEM slide presentation
- Discuss upcoming career module experiences and expectations
- Assignment: STEM Vocabulary Activity Mat
- Assignment: Career Pathway Matching Activity
- Assignment: Career in STEM Crossword Puzzle
- Distribute and review Career Exploration Module Vocabulary List
Lesson Closure
- Review the eight pathways of STEM using questioning techniques
- Review and collect Career Pathway Matching Activity sheets
- Distribute handouts for the next lesson if applicable and instruct
students to prepare for the following lesson
- Homework: Instruct students to begin searching for vocabulary list
definitions
Assessment
- Verbal responses to questions
- STEM Vocabulary Activity Mat
- Completion of Career Pathway Matching Activity
- Career in STEM Crossword Puzzle
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Day 1 of 10
Page 1
Extension
- Challenge students to make a list of personal skills and interests
Accommodations for Learning Differences
- Accommodations Manual
- Guidelines and Procedures for Adapting Instructional Materials
- Sample Curriculum Customizations for Learning Differences
- Lesson Plan/Curriculum Modification Checklist
- Instructor Format for Curriculum Customization for Learning
Differences
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Day 1 of 10
Page 2
VOCABULARY LIST- DEFINITIONS
1. Advanced Manufacturing - a variety of activities that depend on the use and
coordination of information, automation, computation, software, sensing, and networking,
and/or making use of cutting edge materials and emerging capabilities enabled by the
physical and biological sciences; examples would be nanotechnology,
chemistry and biology. Advanced Manufacturing involves both new ways to manufacture
existing products, and especially the manufacture of new products emerging from new
advanced technologies.
2. Aerospace - involves the design and manufacturing of aircraft, rockets, missiles,
spacecraft, etc., that are needed to operate in aerospace
3. Biotechnology – the utilization of living organisms or other biological systems to
manufacture drugs or other products needed for environmental management; an
example would be waste recycling where microorganisms are used to degrade a waste
or oil spill
4. Energy - the many different forms of energy to power other industries, for example light,
heat, mechanical, gravitational, electrical, sound, chemical, nuclear, etc.; often these
different forms of energy transfer back and forth from each other
5. Geospatial Technology – utilization of a range of modern tools to perform geographic
mapping and analysis of the Earth and human societies
6. Information Technology - development, implementation, and maintenance of computer
hardware and/or software systems to organize and communicate information
electronically
7. Nanotechnology – creation and/or use of technology that is on a scale of less than 100
nanometers with a goal of controlling individual atoms and molecules, especially to
create computer chips and other microscopic devices
8. Robotics – robotics careers include anything from a robotics engineer to a behind-thescenes designer, who is responsible for creating robots and robotic systems that are able
to perform duties that humans are either unable or prefer not to complete; robots can be
created that help make jobs safer, easier, and more efficient, particularly in the
manufacturing industry
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Day 1 of 10
Page 3
VOCABULARY LIST
1. Advanced Manufacturing
2. Aerospace
3. Biotechnology
4. Energy
5. Geospatial Technology
6. Information Technology
7. Nanotechnology
8. Robotics
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Day 1 of 10
Page 4
CAREER PATHWAY VOCABULARY ACTIVITY MAT
Name: ______________________________________________________________________
Class Period: ________________ Date: ___________________ Score: ___________ out of 25
Instructions: find an image that you feel best represents the vocabulary word, define it in your
own words, and then list one to two actual career titles that would fall under it that you find
interesting. Explain what it is about that career that you like.
VOCABULARY
Image
Definition
Careers/Jobs
1. Advanced
Manufacturing
2. Aerospace
3. Biotechnology
4. Energy
5. Geospatial
Technology
6. Information
Technology
7. Nanotechnology
8. Robotics
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Day 1 of 10
Page 5
Career Pathway Matching Activity
Materials needed:
Career Pathway Worksheet
TEKS:
§127.4.(c)(1)(A)(B), (2)(A)
Approximate time:
15-20 minutes
Directions:
1. Give each student a Career Pathway worksheet and go over the directions with them.
2. Students may use computers and the internet to find information needed on the activity
sheet.
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Day 1 of 10
Page 6
CAREER PATHWAY MATCHING ACTIVITY
Group Members: ______________________________________________________________
Class Period: ________________ Date: ___________________ Score: ___________ out of 25
The STEM Career Cluster is divided into eight career pathways. The eight pathways of the
STEM Career Cluster are:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
Advanced Manufacturing
Aerospace
Biotechnology
Energy
Geospatial Technology
Information Technology
Nanotechnology
Robotics
Instructions: Using the list above, place the letter of the career pathway next to the occupation
that it relates to. Be prepared to explain your responses.
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
1. Industrial Engineers
2. Nuclear Medicine Physicians
3. Aerospace Engineers
4. Wind Energy Engineers
5. Manufacturing Production
Technician
6. Aerospace Engineering and
Operations Technicians
7. Energy Engineers
8. Remote Sensing Scientists and
Technologists
9. Command and Control Center
Specialists
10. Electrical Engineers
11. Biological Technicians
12. Instructional Designers and
Technologists
13. Bioinformatics Specialist
14. Computer System Analysts
15. Solar Energy Systems Engineers
16. Manufacturing Engineer
17. Informatics Nurse Specialist
18. Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology
and Product Development
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved.
19. Robotics Engineer
20. Mapping Technicians
21. Fuel Cell Engineers
22. Mechanical Engineering
Technologist
23. Network and Computer Systems
Administrators
24. Bioinformatics Technician
25. Robotics Technician
26. Geophysical Data Technicians
27. Commercial and Industrial
Designers
28. Structural Metal Fabricators and
Fitters
29. Cartographers and
Photogrammetrists
30. Geoscientists
31. Information Security Analysts
32. Software Developer, Systems
Software
33. IT Project Managers
34. Cytogenetic Technologist
Day 1 of 10
Page 7
CAREER PATHWAY MATCHING ACTIVITY KEY
1. A
2. C
3. B
4. D
5. A
6. B
7. D
8. E
9. B
10. D
11. C
12. F
13. C
14. F
15. D
16. A
17. G
18. C
19. H
20. E
21. D
22. A
23. F
24. G
25. H
26. E
27. H
28. H
29. E
30. E
31. F
32. F
33. F
34. G
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Day 1 of 10
Page 8
CREATE A CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Materials needed:
Computer, internet, printer, copy of the crossword puzzle for each student
TEKS:
Varied, dependent on content
Approximate time:
10 to 15 minutes
Directions:
1. Create a list of terms and clues. These can be vocabulary terms or occupation
information such as tools, tasks, requirements, etc.
2. Use an online crossword puzzle maker. There are many free programs available. Simply
search for “free crossword puzzle maker.”
3. Follow the prompts of the program to enter the terms and clues.
4. Keep a completed puzzle for yourself as a key.
5. Monitor the students as they complete the puzzle to make certain they have identified the
correct terms from the clues.
6. *For difficult puzzles or modification, provide a word bank
7. *An alternative activity is to divide the class into small groups and have them create a
crossword puzzle. Exchange the puzzles and have each group complete the puzzle they
receive.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved.
Day 1 of 10
Page 9
1
2
Careers in STEM
Crossword Puzzle
6
3
DOWN:
1. There are many forms of this
2. Software systems to organize and
communicate information electronically
3. Products needed for environmental
management
4. Design and manufacturing of aircraft,
rockets, missiles, space crafts, etc.
5. Scale of less than 100 nanometers
4
5
7
ACROSS:
6. Helps make jobs safer, easier, and more
efficient, particularly in the manufacturing
industry
7. Contributes to the geographic mapping and
analysis of the Earth and human societies
8. Involves both new ways to manufacture
existing products, and especially the
manufacture of new advanced technologies
8
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved.
Day 1 of 10
Page 10
Day 1 of 10
Page 10
1
Careers in STEM
Crossword Puzzle Key
2
E
I
N
N
E
F
6
R O B O T I
G
C S
R
3
DOWN:
1. There are many forms of this
2. Software systems to organize and
communicate information electronically
3. Products needed for environmental
management
4. Design and manufacturing of aircraft,
rockets, missiles, space crafts, etc.
5. Scale of less than 100 nanometers
Y
B
M
4
5
A
A
N
I
E
T
A
O
R
I
N
T
O
O
O
E
S
N
T
C
P A
T
A
E
C
N
C
C
H
O
E
H
N
L
N
O
O
O
L
G
L
O
Y
O
G
7
G E
O S
ACROSS:
6. Helps make jobs safer, easier, and more
efficient particularly in the manufacturing
industry
7. Contributes to the geographic mapping and
analysis of the Earth and human societies
8. Involves both new ways to manufacture existing
products, and especially the manufacture of new
advanced technologies
I
A L T E C H N O L O G Y
8
A D V A N C E D M A N U F A C T
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved.
U R
I
N G
Day 1 of 10
Y
Page 11
Y
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Day 1 of 10
page 11
#
Missed
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved.
Grade
100
88
76
64
52
40
28
16
4
Day 1 of 10
Page 12