Governor's Institute for Career Education and Work
It’s My Bag/Not My Bag

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Governor’s Institute for Career Education and Work Activity

by Elaine Durham and Joseph Schaeffer

Title

It’s My Bag/Not My Bag
Standards Addressed
  • 13.1.5 E Investigate people’s rationale for making career changes.
Brief Overview Students will focus on and discuss the importance of liking the career they are in.
Grade Level 5th
Content Area(s) Writing and communication
Other standards supported
  • RWSL 1.8 A,B,C
  • ST 3.8 A,B
Prep Time 10 minutes
Implementation Time 45 minute sessions
Learning Objectives Students will be able to discuss the importance of liking a job and the option of career change.
Materials Needed List of jobs from a computer program source or teacher-produced list; brown paper bags for each student; crayons; pencils.
Detailed Activity Steps
  1. Students select partners.
  2. From a list of jobs they will choose a job that they think their partner would like.
  3. On one side of the bag each student will write the name of the job they chose for the partner and give reasons about the choice:
    • Is it because of what they would wear?
    • Is it because of what they would have to do?
    • Is it something to do with where they would work?
    • Is it because of who they would work with?
  4. When each has completed the above, student will ask partner if they like the job. If so, were the reasons the same as the friend wrote out?  If they did not like the job, student will tell his/her partner the reasons.
  5. On the other side of the bag, ask the student to draw a picture of the partner doing a job that he/she likes.
Theory basis Trait and Factor Theory
Evaluation/Assessment Students will demonstrate interpersonal skills as they work and will explore career change through discussion with their partner.
Comments Working with a partner that the child knows will be helpful in this lesson.
Enhancement Activities
  1. Invite a panel of people who have changed jobs to come into the classroom. Afterwards, teacher and students will compile a list of reasons why people have changed jobs.
Teacher selects several famous contemporary or historical persons who changed jobs (athlete, movie star, scientist etc.) and together with class brainstorm reasons for the change.
Adaptation for at risk kids None needed.
Resources Bridges-to-Careers, K-5

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