Model: Monthly students explore careers, including STEM careers, professional activities, and skills, as a part of their coursework (e.g. online activities, guidance from teachers, guidance from business partners, etc.)
10.3 - Career Exploration for Students
At Patriots STEM Elementary, our staff is intentional about incorporating careers into all subject areas. For the past 2 years, the school counselors have highlighted careers on our PTV newscast with weekly videos that feature STEM based careers. At the start of the year, each counselor taught career lessons that helped students to identify various careers that connect with their personal strengths and interests. Each grade level completed a modified interest inventory and career project. Projects were prominently displayed throughout the main hallways as part of our school wide Career & College Week activities. Throughout the year, teachers continue to connect subject matter to various aspects of STEM careers through PBL activities, class discussions and guest speakers.
Patriots STEM Elementary works with community members, as well as families from our STEM Pipeline to expose all students to STEM careers, especially local careers found in our community. We have created a database that includes all parents and family members from our four schools that work in STEM careers or use 21st Century Skills at work. This database can be accessed by our STEM coaches to bring in guest speakers, PBL evaluators, or plan career connections for teachers.
Sample of weekly videos shared on PTV news for all students.
 Hallways were decorated with flags representing the schools attended by our staff members |  Kindergarten Display: Career Week |  Kindergarten Investigated How STEM fits into their future careers. Why does a princess need science, technology, engineering, and math? |
|---|---|---|
 1st Grade Career Projects based on the book, "Being Wendy" |  1st Grade Career Projects |  1st grade close-up |
 2nd Grade career project |  2nd grade close-up |  3rd Grade Career Projects: Close-Up |
 3rd grade career projects |  2nd grade close-up |  4th and 5th grade career project |
 5th grade career resume example |  4th and 5th grade also created want ads seeking employees. They were posted in the hallway with student resumes so younger students could match the want ad and resume. |
To start the year off, our guidance counselors completed interest surveys and had students research STEM careers that fit their interests. Check out the pictures below for some of the final projects.
Click on the above picture to see the website created by our guidance councilors. Students use this website to explore careers and match their own skills and interestes to STEM careers.