Lesson Plan: Career Stereotyping

Grade Level: 7th-12th

Objective: Students will be able to identify and challenge career stereotypes and understand the importance of pursuing their own interests and passions.

Materials: - Whiteboard and markers - Handouts with career stereotypes - Computer and projector for video clips - Paper and pencils for reflection

Introduction (10 minutes): - Begin by asking students what they want to be when they grow up. Write their answers on the board. - Ask students if they have ever heard someone say that a certain career is only for a certain gender or race. Write their answers on the board. - Explain that today’s lesson is about career stereotypes and how they can limit our potential.

Activity 1: Stereotype Identification (20 minutes): - Hand out the career stereotype handouts to each student. - Ask students to read through the stereotypes and identify any that they have heard before. - Have students share their findings with the class and write them on the board. - Discuss as a class why these stereotypes exist and how they can be harmful.

Activity 2: Video Clips (20 minutes): - Show video clips of people in non-traditional careers. Examples could include a male nurse, a female mechanic, or a person of color in a leadership position. - After each clip, ask students to reflect on what they saw and how it challenges stereotypes. - Discuss as a class how these individuals were able to pursue their passions despite societal expectations.

Activity 3: Personal Reflection (20 minutes): - Have students reflect on their own interests and passions. - Ask them to write down any careers they are interested in pursuing, regardless of whether or not they fit into traditional gender or race roles. - Have students share their reflections with the class and discuss how they can support each other in pursuing their goals.

Conclusion (10 minutes): - Summarize the lesson by reminding students that career stereotypes can limit our potential and that it’s important to pursue our own interests and passions. - Ask students to share one thing they learned from the lesson and one thing they will do differently moving forward.