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Day 5: Nimitz Vet Pathway + H&L Favorites

Lesson Overview
Time 50 minutes
Objectives Research the Nimitz HS Veterinary Science pathway and Elanco certification; favorite vet careers in H&L Climber Profile; write a personal pathway brief
TEKS d(2)(A), d(2)(B), d(1)(C)
Deliverable One-page Veterinary Pathway Brief (Hat Research + comparison + reflection paragraph + Climber Profile screenshot)
Materials Chromebooks, H&L accounts, Nimitz HS pathway info sheet, Vet Career Comparison worksheet from Day 2, Hat Research from Day 1, projector

Warm-Up (5 min)

WARM-UP: After this week, do you see yourself working with animals as a career? Why or why not? One sentence.

Take 4 student responses. There are no wrong answers — some students will say yes, some will say no, and some will be undecided. The goal of CCE is informed exploration, not pressure.

Activity 1: Nimitz Vet Science Pathway Research (15 min)

Source: Irving ISD Pathways reference (PATHWAYS.md): Nimitz HS Veterinary Science pathway leading to Elanco Veterinary Medical Applications certification

Project the Nimitz HS Veterinary Science pathway info on the screen. Walk students through the pathway map:

  • Middle school (now): CCE course, explore Animal Systems, complete Hat Research
  • High school at Nimitz: Veterinary Science pathway → Elanco Veterinary Medical Applications certification
  • Post-high school options:
    • Direct to vet clinic employment as Veterinary Assistant or Kennel Tech (with high school cert)
    • Community college Vet Tech program (2 years) → state credential as Vet Tech
    • 4-year university pre-vet program → 4-year DVM at vet school → Veterinarian
    • Animal-related military career (Army Veterinary Corps)

Students take notes on which post-high school option appeals to them and why. They identify which middle school courses would help them prepare: science, math, English (for client communication), CTE electives.

Facilitation Tip

Some students will think "I have to decide right now." Reassure them: the goal of taking this pathway in high school is OPTIONS. A Nimitz Vet Science graduate can work in a clinic the day after graduation, or use it as a credential while going to community college. The pathway opens doors; it doesn't lock them in.

Activity 2: H&L Favorites + Climber Profile Update (15 min)

Source: H&L Workbook Ch 2, "Hat Finder" instructions

Students return to Hats & Ladders and use the Hat Finder to favorite 2-3 Animal Systems careers in their Climber Profile.

[H&L PLATFORM] Direct students to the Hat Finder in the H&L app, filter by Agriculture cluster, browse Animal Systems careers, and click the heart/favorite icon on each Hat they want to save. The favorited Hats appear in their Climber Profile under "Favorites." The workbook (Ch 2) directs students to "explore and favorite careers across the Agriculture cluster."

After favoriting, students take a screenshot of their Climber Profile favorites screen and save it to their Google Drive (or print). This screenshot is part of today's deliverable.

Activity 3: Veterinary Pathway Brief (12 min)

Students assemble their one-page summative brief. The brief is the synthesis of everything they did this week:

Brief includes:

  1. Hat Research template from Day 1 (one Animal Systems career, fully filled in)
  2. Vet Career Comparison worksheet from Day 2 (Vet Tech vs. Veterinarian table + analysis)
  3. Reflection paragraph (4-6 sentences) answering: Does the Nimitz HS Vet Science pathway interest me? Why or why not? Use specific evidence from this week's research.
  4. Screenshot of H&L Climber Profile favorites from Activity 2

The reflection paragraph is the only new writing, the rest is assembly of work already completed. Students write the reflection in their notebook or in a Google Doc.

DOK 4: Looking back at all 5 days this week, what is one thing you now KNOW about veterinary careers that you did not know on Monday? How did you learn it (which activity)?

Sentence stems for the reflection

"After researching this week, I am [interested / not yet sure / not interested] in the Nimitz Vet Science pathway because _. The most surprising thing I learned was . If I do pursue this pathway, my next step would be __."

Exit Ticket (3 min)

EXIT TICKET (Concept Map / Connection Diagram) · Printable PDF:

A veterinary career I favorited in H&L today: _____

Connect this career to THREE things:

1. The Nimitz HS Veterinary Science pathway (leads to Elanco Veterinary Medical Applications certification)

Does the Nimitz pathway lead DIRECTLY to my favorited career or is it a STEPPING STONE? Circle: DIRECT / STEPPING STONE. One sentence why:

2. ONE life experience I logged in Xello yesterday

My experience: _____. In one sentence, how does this experience prepare me for the favorited career?

3. My Wk0 RIASEC type (Doer, Analyzer, Creator, Helper, Persuader, or Organizer)

My RIASEC type: _____. In one sentence, does this career fit my type, and why?

(d(2)(A), d(2)(B), d(1)(C))

Submit your Veterinary Pathway Brief with this ticket.

Differentiation

  • Support: Provide a Brief Assembly Checklist with each component listed and a checkbox. Students check off each piece as they assemble it.
  • Extension: Add a fourth section to the brief: a 4-year high school course plan based on the Nimitz Vet Science pathway requirements. Use the Nimitz HS course catalog as a reference.
  • ELL: Pre-teach: Pathway = Carrera/Camino, Certification = Certificación, Brief = Resumen. The reflection paragraph may be written in English, Spanish, or bilingual. Provide Spanish sentence stems.