Middle School Career Exploration Guidance- Summer Rising 2025
Middle Schools (Grades 6-8): Career Exposure and Exploration
Each Summer Rising site will integrate career exposure and exploration into the schedule during the CBO-led portion of the day with the option to integrate it during the morning with follow up discussion with school leadership. Exploring Futures is a set of programs that offer career exploration and early exposure to career opportunities for middle school students. ExpandED Schools, in partnership with NYC DYCD, NYC Public Schools, CUNY Explorers, and Hats and Ladders, will provide fun and engaging curriculum, professional development, and technical assistance.
Middle school sites will implement 12 hours of career exploration during Summer Rising programming. Sites can utilize the curriculum below to meet the 12 hour requirement. Exposure events such as community walks, trips, and panels, should be embedded into the 12 hour sequence. Sites can use the collaborative planning tool to co-plan and coordinate trips, panels, and curriculum implementation with their Principal-in-charge. Free opportunities for field trips, panels, and other exposure events will be updated regularly on our hub.
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School day Team Lead
(Each lesson plan requires 60 mins to complete)
Week 1
Introduction to Exploring Futures
Week 2
High School Planning Session 1: My High School Self
Week 3
High School Planning Session 2: Types of NYC High Schools
Week 4
High School Planning Session 3: Specialized High Schools
Week 5
High School Planning Session 4: Out of School Opportunities
Week 6
High School Planning Session 5: My Next Steps
Afterschool Team Lead
(Each lesson plan requires 60 mins to complete)
Week 1
Session 1: Introduction to Exploring Futures
Session 2: My Future Self
Week 2
Session 3: Hats and Ladders
Session 4: Hats and Ladders
Week 3
Session 5: Hats and Ladders
Session 6: Hats and Ladders
Week 4
Session 7: Hats and Ladders
Session 8: Hats and Ladders
Week 5
Session 9: Pre-Field Trip Career Exploration
Exposure Event: Community Walk, Career Panel, or Field Trip
Week 6
Session 11: Post-Field Trip Career Exploration
Session 12: My Next Steps – Building my Vision Board
Co-Planning Exposure Events
The school-day and afterschool team can use the collaborative planning tool to co-plan and coordinate trips, and panels. The afterschool team should be in charge of the field trip and pre-and post field trip activities. The school team should support the facilitation of trips and panels that begin during the school-led portion of the day.
Professional Learning and Office Hours
Professional Learning
School Team PL Sessions
Afterschool Team PL Sessions
Office Hours
Weekly Office Hours From June 1st to August 8th
Middle School Career Exploration Goals
- Students will be able to engage in career exploration activities that connect to existing afterschool programming and support opportunities for self-exploration, career exploration, and goal-setting.
- Students will be able to grow self-awareness about their interests, passions, and values, and identify how this can inform decision making and build a sense of agency as they explore careers.
- Students will be able to Investigate jobs in multiple sectors, including careers in STEM and those that rely on leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
- Exploring Futures activities will serve as a tool for ongoing career exploration and support for high school choice in afterschool programming.
At co-located D75 sites, Exploring Futures will be available to both teachers and CBO staff, and teams are encouraged to plan such that all students have access. Looking for training on Exploring Futures? Click here to jump to the section of this guide.
