Grade 7
Post-Secondary Awareness
One Class Period
Objective/Goals: For students to learn about their post-secondary options.
What ASCA/DPS Standards and Competencies are you addressing?
Standards: ACADEMIC DOMAIN
Standard B: Students will complete school with the academic preparation essential to choose from a
wide range of substantial post-secondary options, including college.
Standard C: Students will understand the relationship of academics to the world of work and to life at
home and in the community
Competencies:
A:B2: Plan to Achieve Goals
A:C1: Relate School to Life Experiences
Preparation:
 Photocopy Post-Secondary Awareness Pre/Post tests (2x the number of students)
 Photocopy Post-Secondary Options notes page (1x the number of students)
 Photocopy post-secondary option questionnaires: work, military, technical school, 2yr college, 4-yr college (~10-15 of each, exact # unknown until the students get into
groups)
 Photocopy ‘Education Pays’ handout (1x the number of students)
 Bring pens/pencils
Activity
Description
Pre-test: One week prior to giving the lesson, pass out the Post-Secondary
Awareness pre- test. Have students complete and collect. Collate the
information. Determine information that the majority of the students know
(this will help guide you on what activities to include in the lesson and
where to “take time”). Keep the results to compare to your post-test results.
Note those students who may need extra help with the information.
1) Warm-Up (5 minutes): Introduce yourself, describe what a school
counselor is and what you do.
2) Lesson (35 minutes):
Ask questions: Who knows what they want to do after graduating
high school? What do you want to do? What are your options after
high school?
Write down their responses on the board. Once you have a good
sample on the board, categorize them. There are 5 options after high
school: 4-year College, 2-year College, Technical School, Military,
Work.
Pass out Post-Secondary Options notes page. Define what ‘Postsecondary’ means and then define each option. Students take notes.
Please expand each definition with your own knowledge and
experiences.
4-year college: These are often called universities. They offer
bachelor’s degrees and prepare students for professional careers as
well as graduate school. Students receive a broad education which
can open doors to many opportunities later on. Often students live
on the campus in dormitories. Examples: Harvard University, The
University of Colorado, Colorado State University…..
2-year college: These are often called community colleges. They
offer associate’s degrees, certificates, and/or training to prepare
students for skilled jobs. Students who attend 2-year colleges can
transfer to a 4-year college or university if they wish to earn a
bachelor’s degree. A community college tuition is often less
expensive than university tuition. Students usually live off campus.
Examples: Community of College of Denver, Front Range
Community College…..
Technical school: Schools that offer training for a particular field or
career. Often these programs can be completed in 2 to 18 months.
Examples: University of Phoenix, ITT Tech, Westwood College…
Military: Also called the Armed Forces. There are five major types
or branches: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force.
As part of the military you serve to protect the country and our
country’s freedoms. The military offers funds/money to help pay for
college after your military service is over.
Work: an occupation. The primary activity you do to earn money.
Group by interest. Ask the students by a show of hands, “Who is
interested in going straight to work after high school?” Have these
students gather in one corner or area of the room. Ask, “Who is
interested in going into the military after high school?” Have these
students gather in another corner or area of the room…and so on.
You should have 5 groups.
Pass out the corresponding questionnaire to each group. Each
student should fill one out by him or herself and then share within
their group. Once the students are finished sharing their thoughts
with each other, share out with entire class.
Direct each group to share their responses. (Decide if you want one
person to share their answers of have each student be responsible for
reading an answer, etc.)
Facilitate discussion on their responses if necessary. Clarify any
incorrect or misunderstood information.
Have students return to their seats.
Ask: Why is it important to further your education after high school?
Pass out Education Pays handout to each student. Discuss the
concept of the more education you have, the more money you can
earn and you’ll less likely be unemployed. Education pays!
3) Closure (10 minutes)
Ask: What did the students learn? Is it okay to change your mind
about what option you choose after high school? Is there a right or
wrong option? Does everybody go to Harvard?
Explain the misconception that everyone should or needs to go to
‘Harvard’ or ‘college’. There are many options after high school.
Pass out post-tests for student completion. Collect.
Pre/Post Test Data Collection:
Type of Data
Process Data
Perception
Data
Results Data
Data Collected
How many students took the pre- test? How many students took the posttest?
Collate answers: determine the number of correct answers for skill (what did
they learn) and knowledge (can they apply the information) questions, the
totals for the attitude questions.
Achievement/Achievement Related Data: Long term intent is to increase
graduation rates, post-secondary attendance.