Exploring Futures Activities & Curriculum

6-8 Grade Curriculum Scope & Sequence

6th and 7th Grade Lesson Plans
(Each lesson plan requires 60 mins to complete)

Unit 1: Introduction to Exploring Futures

1) The Me I Choose

2) Know Your Spark

Unit 2: Early Career Exploration

3) H&L: Spark Career Curiosity

4) H&L: What is Work?

5) H&L: Which Me Am I?

6) H&L: NYC Works Career Quest

7) H&L: Explore Hats

8) H&L: My Career Growth (Part 1)

Unit 3: My Industry-Focused Pathways

In this unit, educators collaborate with students to select a pathway-focused unit on either STEM, Education, or Entrepreneurship. View this link for all lesson plans.

9) Pathways Session 1

10) Pathways Session 2

11) Pathways Session 3

12) Pathways Session 4

13) Pathways Session 5

Unit 4: My Next Step

14) Exposure Event: Community Walk, Career Panel, or Field Trip

15) My Next Step: Showcase, Celebration and Reflection

8th Grade Lesson Plans
(Each lesson plan requires 60 mins to complete)

Unit 1: Introduction to Exploring Futures

1) My Superpowers

2) Building my Vision Board

Unit 2: Transition to High School

3) Who is My High School Self?

4) Lesson 2: Who is My High School Self? Part 2- Building Relationships

5) Lesson 3: Unpacking My High School Decision – Part 1

6) Lesson 4: Unpacking My High School Decision – Part 2

7) Lesson 5: Making Career Connections in High School

8) Lesson 6: All About SYEP

Unit 3: Financial Literacy

9) H&L: Financial Literacy 101

Guidance for sessions 10-13 can be accessed here.

10) Financial Literacy: Your Future Life

11) Financial Literacy: Comparison Shopping

12) Financial Literacy: Why Saving is Important

13) Financial Literacy Let’s Make a Budget

Unit 4: My Next Step

14) Exposure Event: Community Walk, Career Panel, or Field Trip

15) My Next Step: Showcase, Celebration and Reflection

Hats & Ladders Curriculum

Implementation Toolkit

Planning Your Hats & Ladders Implementation

6-Week Implementation Schedule for 6th and 7th Grade
(1 day per week)

Week 1
Week 1

Which Me Am I? (blended*)

or Top Values (paper-based)

Week 2
Week 2

What is Work? (blended*)

or Spark Career Curiosity (paper-based)

Week 3
Week 3

Explore Hats (blended*)
or Explore Hats (paper-based)

Week 4
Week 4

NYC Works Career Quest (paper-based)

Week 5
Week 5

Financial Literacy 101 (blended*)

or Financial Literacy 101 (paper-based)

Week 6
Week 6

My Career Growth (paper-based)

*Blended indicates usage of complementary digital Career Climbs

8th Grade

Financial Literacy (paper-based)