Christi Johnson and Ashlee Lowry Union High School Tulsa, Oklahoma

3,000 students, grades 10-12 55-60% Free or Reduced lunch 35% Minority 40% Attend a four year institution 45% Attend a two year institution

Union High School

What did you want to be when you were little?

Did you get the help you needed

planning for college?

How do high school counselors who are already stretched too thin serving the needs of the students on their case loads, take on the work of empowering all students in their school and district to make college a goal?

Empower students with the skills and knowledge to spread the college and career message to all students.

Behold the Power of Peer Influence!

The mission of the College and Career Crew is to promote awareness of the benefits of a

college education or career training to students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. This is a student-led, student-driven organization. There are no requirements to

join, everyone is welcome!

The thing I like best about high school... After high school I want to… When I grow up I want to be…

SMART Board/Power Point presentation support gives Crew members confidence.

Balloon Juggle The goal of this game is to keep the balloons(s) up in the air. You cannot Tap the balloon twice in a row; it must be touched by a different player. If a balloon touches the ground, all players must sit down.

College and Career Taboo

In Taboo, you have a word with clues written under it. The object is to get your team to guess the word, without using any words printed on that card.

1. Break into two teams. (The facilitator should keep time)

2. Each team forms a line.

3. Teams flip a coin for first turn.

• Student a the front of the line goes up to the board and gets a word.

• Student must try to get his/her team to say the word. He/she may gesture, point, or draw on the board (NO WORDS OR LETTERS!), or say anything except the taboo words and/or the clues written on the card.

• Student’s own team tries to guess the word within sixty seconds. Once the team guesses the word, it is the next team’s turn.

• If the team cannot guess the word, the student may choose another word (up to a maximum of 3 words), but the clock cannot stop. Any cards that are passed just go back in the pile.

Today, all of the cards will be the name of careers. First, to get you comfortable, we will play a practice round with familiar random topics. We will not keep score; it is just to model the game. So let’s get in our teams and send the first person up to practice. ***Facilitator’s Notes: During the game, display the rules from the “Let’s Play” slide. Once the game is over, give the winning team candy. Limit activity to 10 minutes.

Future Timeline

NO WORDS!!! ONLY PICTURES Imagine yourself at the different stages in your life. Think about what type of student you are now. Visualize a symbol or picture that could represent that. Think about what you want to do or be in high school or college. Imagine your future career and your adult life. Do you want a family? Do you want a home? Do you want to travel? For each box on the timeline, draw a picture or symbol or even an emotion that shows what you think of each stage of life.

Please use all of the time you are given. There is no such thing as finished. Students should add shading, color, or detail if they finish before time is called. If you choose to, volunteer to tell us about your timeline. We will collect these when time is called.

Facilitator’s Note: Give students 10 minutes for this activity. Ask for volunteers to share if time allows. Please collect their papers.

Career Pictionary

• The class will be separated into two teams.

• Each team will send one person up to the board. Both players will be shown the same card which features a career that they are trying to get their team to guess.

• Students can only draw pictures or symbols. No words or letter.

• The team that guess the career first gets a point.

• Every team member has to draw at least once.

8th

Exploring Careers

9th

Being a Successful Student

10th

College Planning and Admission

Raising Awareness

Creating Awareness 11th and 12th

Counselor

• Reaches more students

• Can equip crew members with talking points

• Can insure grade level college/career concepts are taught

• Can impact entire district

Crew Members

• Are provided leadership opportunities

• Are empowered with college knowledge

• Are reflective of their own educational experience

• Are connected to another caring adult