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About the Career Exploration Wax Museum
The purpose of the career exploration activity is to help students learn more about themselves. By
identifying their interest areas, students will be guided to explore careers within these areas. Whether a
student has known since first grade what he/she wants to be or has no idea, this activity will help students
learn more about many careers and then, intensely study one of particular interest to them.
The culminating project is a presentation of each career at our Wax Museum. Students will become
an expert within their career and present information about this career to an audience (peers, faculty/staff,
parents/guardians, etc). Through this activity, students will not only become very familiar with a specific job
but also learn the important skills of planning, researching, organizing, time-managing, and oral presentation.
American School Counselors Association (ACSA)
Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Standards
Career Development
Standard A: Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self
and to make informed career decisions
Benchmark A:1 – Develop career awareness
C:A1.1, C:A1.2, C:A1.4
Standard B: Students will employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success
Benchmark B:1 – Acquire career information
C:B1.4, C:B1.5, C:B1.6
Benchmark B:2 – Identify career goals
C:B2.1,
Standard C: Students will understand the relationship between personal qualities, education, training, and
the world of work
Benchmark C2 – Apply skills to achieve career goals
C:C1.1, C:C2.3
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ACITIVITY INFORMATION
MATERAILS NEEDED:
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Tri-Boards (supplied by students)
Books
Pencil
Paper
Art Supplies (glue, markers, scissors)
Computers
Printer
Worksheets for Lessons (provided)
Costume Props (supplied by students)—can be created from arts & crafts
TIMELINE:
 October 1st-7th
o
Students introduced to Wax Museum during guidance
o Students complete interests and careers worksheet during guidance
o Parent letters sent home
 October 20th-24th
o Students complete pondering a career worksheet during guidance
o Students complete interest inventory during guidance
 January 2015: Students will practice presentations during guidance
 January 23rd, 2015: Students should have Tri-Board
 February 17, 2015: Completed Tri-Board, Costumes, and Paper Due
 February 20th-26th: Dress rehearsal held during guidance
 March 2nd-March 5th, 2015: Students present Wax Museum
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Dear Parents/Guardians,
Over the next several months, your 5th grader will be exploring their interests and future careers, and
investigating one particular career in-depth. As a culminating experience, the students will celebrate what
they have learned by hosting a Wax Museum for students and parents/guardian in March.
As part of this activity, students will be required to create a tri-board with information about the
career they are studying and a written presentation for the Wax Museum event. Students will be researching
their specific careers at in and outside of school, as well as creating the tri-board.
Some of the benefits of this project for the students will be:
● Identifying interests and related careers
● Gaining an in-depth understanding of their chosen career
● Planning and organizing a project
● Developing research skills
Please note the following requirements:
● Students must have a tri-board by January 23rd, 2015
Tri-boards can be found at Walgreens, Staples, Hobby Lobby, Dollar Tree, etc.
● Students may have a written presentation on 3x5 note cards.
● Students will need to dress in the professional attire of his/her career choice.
● Students must attend the Wax Museum event.
Your son/daughter will be choosing a career in school after taking an interest inventory and exploring the
different career pathways/clusters. It is strongly recommended that you help your child put together his/her
“costume” for the presentation as well as finding research sources (outside of school). Students will be able
to learn about the many careers available to them in the future!
The project’s due date is February 17th, 2015. (This includes the tri-board and presentation notes)
All of your assistance in this project is much appreciated!! Please sign and return this form by October 17th,
2014 and contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Shanna Mitchell
School Counselor
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I have read the letter about the Wax Museum and will support my child,
______________________________, in completing the requirements for the project which is due on
February 17th, 2015. I also am aware of the Wax Museum event in March.
________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian’s Signature
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_______________________
Date
ACTIVITY 1 (COMPLETED DURING GUIDANCE IN OCTOBER)
MATERIALS:
✓ Presentation Outline Worksheet
✓ Presentation & Paper Rubric
✓ Sample of Written Outline
✓ Tri-Board Layout
ACTIVITY:
1. Introduce the Wax Museum Project. Explain to students that they will be creating a “Wax
Museum” for students and parents to learn more about careers! They will be the experts of their
profession sharing all that another person would need to know about a career. (Be sure to explain
what a wax museum is and show wax museum sample:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg61r2LaQxY)
2. Pass out Wax Museum Rubric and review with students.
3. Students will begin to write their Wax Museum presentation using the research they find. (See
Rubric for details.) Teacher should model writing a presentation with students’ help before students
begin their own. (Teacher may model any job or use the model provided below.)
● See example of Zookeeper Presentation.
4. Handout Presentation Outline worksheet. This is designed to help students get started but they don’t
have to follow it exactly.
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Name: ______________________________________________________ Due Date: ______________
Wax Museum Presentation and Paper Rubric
Criteria
3
Exceeds Expectation
2
Meets Expectation
0
Does Not Meet
Expectation
Introduction
Introduction clearly
states career and is
catchy
Introduction clearly
states career but
isn’t catchy
Introduction does not
clearly state career
Training,
Education &
College Majors
Clearly and accurately
describes level of
training/education &
college majors
Does not accurately
describe level of
training/education &
college majors
Skills & Interests
Describes at least three
skills and/or interests
beneficial to career
Somewhat clearly
and/or accurately
describes level of
training/education
& college majors
Describes two
skills and/or
interests
Typical Day
(Duties of the Job)
Accurately and clearly
describes a typical or
duties of the job
Somewhat clearly
and accurately
describes a typical
day
Does not clearly or
accurately describe a
typical day
Wage/Salary
Accurately states
average wage or salary
Related Jobs
Identifies at least three
related jobs
Identifies two
related jobs
Identifies less than two
related jobs
Occupational
Outlook
Clearly and accurately
states the average
annual growth AND the
number of job openings
Pictures
Tri-board includes at
least 1 pictures that
helps audience
understand the career
Does not accurately
state either the average
annual growth or the
number of job
openings
Tri-board does not
include a picture
Conclusion
Conclusion is wellstated
Accurately states
either the average
annual growth or
the number of job
openings
Tri-board includes
at least 1 picture
but it doesn’t help
audience
understand the
career
Conclusion is
somewhat wellstated
Describes less than
two skills and/or
interests
Does not accurately
state wage or salary
TOTAL
Out of 27
6
Conclusion isn’t wellstated
Score
Example of Wax Museum Presentation
Introduction
My name is Kim. I am a zookeeper. As a kid, I loved animals – all kinds from my dog, Samantha, to
the snapping turtles that swam in our lake. It was this love of animals, science, and the outdoors, that helped
me decide to be a zookeeper.
What to you have to do to become a zookeeper? (Include: Training and education, skills, interests)
Loving animals helps me be very good at this job, but it also helps that I love the outdoors and don’t
mind getting pretty dirty at times. I have a uniform that I wear of khaki pants, a zoo shirt, and heavy boots.
Pew, they sometimes stink after work! A typical day for me might include cleaning exhibits, feeding the
animals, helping care for sick animals, and much more. In order to be a zookeeper, you must earn a
bachelor’s degree in biology or animal science. (That’s four years of college!) You must also have some
work experience. For example, I used to volunteer at the local animal shelter.
Wages or Salary
A zookeeper will make at least $40,000 per year depending on the size of the zoo and his/her
experience.
Related Jobs
There aren’t many job openings to be a zookeeper, and before I decided to be a zookeeper, I also
considered other jobs where I would’ve worked with animals such as being a veterinarian, wildlife
biologists, animal trainer, and pet store owner.
Challenges You Might Face
Being a zookeeper will require me to be on my feet all day long. I will have to get in shape to do this
job. I will also have to get used to lots of different smells and sounds from the animals.
Conclusion
I look forward to going to work every day because I know the animals need me and I need them too!
We are a family!
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Name: ________________________
Job: ____________________________
Due Date: __________________
PRESENTATION & PAPER
Introduction
My name is _____________________________________. I am a _______________. _________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
What do you have to do to become a _____?
(Include: Training and education, college majors, skills, interests, what do you actually do)
________________ helps me be very good at this job, ___________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
A typical day for me might include __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Being a ________________________________ requires _______ years of training/education. __________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Wages or Salary
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Related Jobs
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Challenges You Might Face in this Career
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Conclusion
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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Activity 2: INTERESTS & CAREERS
Name: ________________________________________________ Date: _________________
One interest area of mine is ___________________________ because I am
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Several careers I think might be included in this interest area:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Another interest area of mine is ___________________________ because I am
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Several careers I think might be included in this interest area:
1.
2.
3.
4.
After learning about the career pathways/clusters, I believe the cluster that best describes me is
__________________________________________________________________________. Of the jobs
listed in this pathway, I think I would most enjoy being a (n)
_________________________________________________________________________ when I grow up.
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Activity 3: PONDERING A CAREER
CAREER: ____________________________________________
What is it?
What are three duties you might have with this job?
1.
2.
3.
How does this job help others?
What might this job look like? (Draw a picture)
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ACITIVTY 4 (Completed in Guidance)
MATERIALS:
✓ Computer
✓ Interest Inventory (via SCOIS Jr.)
ACTIVITY:
1. Each student must pick one occupation he/she will explore in more depth by completing the interest
inventory on SCOIS Jr.
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ACTIVITY 5 & 6: (Completed during both ½ lessons of Guidance in January)
TIME: 25 minutes
MATERIALS:
✓ Paper
✓ Markers
✓ Scissors
ACTIVITY:
1. Students will review Wax Museum format. (5 minutes)
● Students will remain in their position and frozen unless a visitor pushes the “TALK” button
● Students will only talk from script. They may not answer questions from visitors.
(Remember that you are not alive but a wax figure.)
● Students must all be in appropriate professional attire (costume).
2. Students will bring in or make “TALK” button that museum visitors will push to get you to talk. (5
minutes)
3. Practice presentations to each other (15 minutes)
 Students should have a Tri-Board by January 23rd, 2015
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ACTIVITY 7:
DATE: February 23rd-February 27th, 2015
TIME: During Guidance
LOCATION: Guidance-410
MATERIALS:
 Presentation
 Costume
 Talk Buttons
ACTIVITY:
1. DRESS REHEARSAL DAY! Students should have costume and TALK buttons and be placed in
their proper position.
2. One at a time, students will present their presentation to entire class.
 Students should have Tri-Board and costumes completed by
February 20th, 2015
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ACTIVITY 8:
DATE: March 3rd-March 5th, 2015
TIME: During Related Arts
LOCATION: Two classes will present per day, in two separate locations
MATERIALS:
 Presentation
 Costume
 Talk Buttons
ACTIVITY:
1. Present to students and parents!
ASSESSMENT: Teacher will use rubric to assess presentation content.
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