Elementary Courses and Career Cruising
Curriculum documents* for the following courses were reviewed:
French as a Second Language
Health and Physical Education
Language
Mathematics
Native Languages
Science and Technology
Social Studies / History and Geography
(*as posted at www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/curricul/elemcurric.html)
Although career-related issues do not play a central role in any of these documents, most
make mention of the need to link subjects to careers in the community and the students’
own future career plans. The following passages from the Mathematics and Language are
fairly representative:
Teachers can also encourage a positive attitude to mathematics by linking the study of
mathematics to careers of people whom students observe in the community, or to careers that
students might be exploring with their own future in mind. Career education should be a part
of all subjects, and teachers should help students learn about the many careers that rely on
mathematics skills.
Finally, teachers will help students – particularly students in Grades 7 and 8 – understand
that language skills are employability skills that are important in many careers. They will
encourage students to identify and learn about specific careers that require strong language
skills.
Career Cruising provides several program features and activities that complement these
curricular goals very well.
Linking School Subjects and Careers
In the Explore Careers section, students can click on a subject area, such as Mathematics
or Languages, and see a list of careers that rely on that subject’s skills. If they click on
any of these careers, they can learn about working conditions, earnings, education and
training, as well as see multimedia interviews with Canadians in each occupation.
Alternatively, students can select specific careers and then see what school subjects are
important for those careers; recommended subject areas are listed in the Education
section of each occupation profile.
Classroom Activities
In addition, a number of classroom activities and worksheets have been developed to help
students explore the link between school subjects and careers, including School Subjects
and Careers and Using School Subjects in the Workplace.
Easily Added to Courses
Students can access Career Cruising not only from school computers, but also from home
or from local libraries using the school’s Career Cruising username and password. This
means that teachers can have the students do these activities in a computer lab during
class, or – if they have limited class time – assign them as homework. The worksheets are
very easy to follow and should require no direct supervision in most cases.