OBJECTIVE:

Students understand the two-year college/technical degree pathway

MATERIALS:

Grade Level Site

REQUIRED PREP:

Preview videos, review PowerPoint

Opening Mood Check

Goal: Discuss stigma around vocational school

As students enter the room, have them ‘clip’ or ‘post’ their mood onto their cohort Mood Board. 

  • With Cohort Leaders going first, explain why you selected the mood that you did including any events in the day that affected your mood.
  • Once both cohort leaders have gone, go around the room and have each student share what happened in their day that led them to their particular mood.

Activity 1: Two-Year College Basics

Goal: Students review overview of 2-year college options

Watch the video with Mike Rowe (host of Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs and advocate for skills and vocational training):
https://youtu.be/KK8QnrXJFNc

  • Facilitate discussion around the potential stigmas of attending a two-year/vocational school. Potential discussion questions below.
    • What does Mike Rowe mean by skills gap?
    • Do you agree that there is a difference in the way 2-year and 4-year college is discussed or viewed?
    • What messages have you heard about two-year school, or trade/vocational school?

Close out by explaining that while sometimes people may have prejudices against skills or vocational training, there are many employment opportunities and fulfilling careers available that could be a good fit for you if you choose 2-year college.

Activity 2: Trade Superhero

Goal: Students explore trade careers

  • Using the comic books and blank construction paper, every student will choose a trade and create a superhero based off that trade.
  •  Each superhero should have a unique name and a superpower associated with that trade. 
  • Students can draw their superhero or cut pictures out of the comic books (or both!)
  • Encourage students to be as unique and creative as possible when creating their superhero.
  • After about 15 minutes, allow students to introduce their superheroes with the cohort
    • They should tell their superhero’s name along with what their superpower is and how they got that superpower from the trade the superhero selected.

Closing Huddle:

Have students think about two pros and two cons from attending a 2-year college. Allow students to share their pros and cons along with any other questions they may have about 2-year colleges.