Gwinnett County Public School
Advisement Program Lesson Plan
Grade Level: 12th
Reference: GR12.Aug.Importanttasks.07.01
Length of Lesson: 20 min
Lesson Plan Title: A Recipe for Success
Essential Question: What important task do I need to be sure I do this year?
Career Focus: Important Tasks
Materials Needed:
 Ten Things to Do Your Senior Year handout for each student group
 Ten Things to Do Your Senior Year Answer Key transparency
 Overhead projector
 See the following website for additional teacher information. http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/theapplication/8626.html
Basic Outline:
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Break into groups of 4-5 and complete handout.
Allow groups to share their responses.
Go over handout on transparency with suggested correct order.
Class discussion over any missing steps in their “Recipe for Success.”
Activity Introduction:
 (2 min) Teacher reads: “Just imagine your senior year is like baking a cake, but with the following instructions: put
the cake pan into the oven, mix the ingredients together, turn oven to 350, collect the ingredients, add frosting, crack
eggs, pour batter into pan, sit and enjoy! What if you were given these instructions to baking a cake? What kind of
cake would this be - A recipe for disaster! A positive senior year is a direct result of good planning and making sure
all your responsibilities are taken care of. It is like having your cake and eating it too!”
Activity:
 (2 min) Place students into groups of 4–5.
 (5 min) Each student group will be handed a copy of the Ten Things to Do Your Senior Year handout. Students will
be allotted 5 minutes to place the tasks in the order in which they should be completed during their senior year,
staring in August (1) and ending in May (10).
 (7 min) Allow groups to share their response, and discuss what each group finds as the most important task. Ask
students to defend their answers.
 Teacher displays Answer Key transparency on overhead with the “suggested” order.
 (4 min) Class discusses any missing steps to their “Recipe for Success.” Also allow time for students to ask
questions.
Conclusion:
 Suggest that students create their own timeline using the applicable information that was presented in advisement.
 Review counseling assignments and how to make an appointment with appropriate counselor.
Mentor Focus Follow-up/Assessment Options:
 At next advisement check to see if students have any plans on their senior timelines.
Quality Plus Teaching Strategies:
 Collaboration
Gwinnett County Public School
Advisement Program Lesson Plan
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Background Knowledge
Questioning
Modeling and Practice
Summarizing
Technology
Student Goal Setting
GPS/AKS/:
 follow written and verbal directions (QCC) (CECE_A2006-13)
 discuss the importance of the transition from high school to post high school years (HLLD_B2002-3)
 evaluate long and short term goals to make visions a reality (QCC) (SSWG_B1998-23)
Gwinnett County Public School
Advisement Program Lesson Plan
Ten Things to Do Your Senior Year
Place the following tasks in the order in which you believe you should do them.
o ______ Confirm that all school admissions application materials,
including recommendations, have been sent on schedule.
o ______ Devote time, energy, and thought to writing and re-writing any
required essays.
o ______ Give recommendation forms to teachers, counselors, and other
persons from whom you are seeking a reference at least a month
before they are due to be returned; include a stamped, addressed
envelope. Follow-up with your references to make sure they have
remembered to send them.
o ______ Graduate from high school on time!
o ______ Keep up with senior dues and obligations. Make sure to keep
up with the deadlines for activities and other events.
o ______ Make sure your high school course selections are appropriate
for your college/career interests and that you are meeting high school
graduation and college or vocational school admissions requirements.
o ______ Request application materials for admissions and financial aid
from schools to which you intend to apply, if you have not already
done so.
o ______ Request that your high school send a copy of your transcript
which includes first semester senior grades to the schools to which you
have applied.
o ______ Stay focused! Avoid senioritis!
o ______ Talk to your counselor about your current plans for college or
post-secondary options; evaluate those plans in light of your test
scores and high school grades/graduation requirements.
Gwinnett County Public School
Advisement Program Lesson Plan
Ten Things to Do Your Senior Year Answer Key
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Stay focused! Avoid senioritis!
Make sure your high school course selections are appropriate for
your college/career interests and that you are meeting high
school graduation and college or vocational school admissions
requirements.
Talk to your counselor about your current plans for college or
post-secondary options; evaluate those plans in light of your test
scores and high school grades/graduation requirements.
Keep up with senior dues and obligations. Make sure to keep up
with the deadlines for activities and other events.
Request application materials for admissions and financial aid
from schools to which you intend to apply, if you have not
already done so.
Devote time, energy, and thought to writing and re-writing any
required essays.
Give recommendation forms to teachers, counselors, and other
persons from whom you are seeking a reference at least a month
before they are due to be returned; include a stamped,
addressed envelope. Follow-up with your references to make
sure they have remembered to send them.
Confirm that all school admissions application materials,
including recommendations, have been sent on schedule.
Request that your high school send a copy of your transcript
which includes first semester senior grades to the schools to
which you have applied.
Graduate from high school on time!