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Day 3: Job Search Scavenger Hunt + Xello Learning Pathways

Lesson Overview
Time 50 minutes
Objectives Identify the steps of an effective job search; complete the H&L Job Search Scavenger Hunt; explore learning pathways in Xello
TEKS d(1)(C), d(6)(A)
Deliverable Completed Job Search Scavenger Hunt chart (4 jobs) + Xello Discover Learning Pathways completion
Materials Chromebooks, H&L Workbook (Ch 6, pp. 95-96 Job Searching Steps; pp. 96-97 Job Search Scavenger Hunt), Xello accounts, Indeed.com or ZipRecruiter for job postings

Warm-Up (5 min)

WARM-UP: Imagine you are 18 and looking for your first real job. What is the very first thing you would do? Do you go to a website? Walk into a store? Ask family? Write down your answer.

Take 3 student responses. Most will say "Indeed" or "ask my parents." Bridge to today: every great job search starts with a process, and the H&L workbook spells out the steps.

Activity 1: Job Searching Steps (12 min)

Source: H&L Workbook Ch 6, pp. 95-96, "Job Searching Steps"

Walk through the four steps from the workbook. Display each on the projector and discuss briefly:

  1. Know Yourself: Think about what you're good at, what kind of job you'd enjoy, and how much money you'd like to make. (Teacher note: This is exactly what students have been doing all year through RIASEC, Hat research, and Building Blocks.)
  2. Get Your Materials Ready: Create a resume, write a cover letter, and practice answering common interview questions. (Teacher note: This is Weeks 2, 4, and 5 of this six-weeks block.)
  3. Search Smart & Connect: Talk to people in the field, go to job fairs, and use websites and online job platforms. Use specific keywords like "part-time cashier" or "entry-level graphic design" to filter results.
  4. Ask for Help: School counselors, local job centers, and career coaches can give advice, check your resume, and even help you find openings.

After walking through the steps, students take 2 minutes to write a one-sentence reflection: "Of these four steps, the one I am most prepared for right now is _ because ___."

Activity 2: H&L Job Search Scavenger Hunt (25 min)

Source: H&L Workbook Ch 6, pp. 96-97, "Job Search Scavenger Hunt"

Introduce the activity using the workbook scenario: students will use a job search engine (Indeed.com is the easiest) to find real job postings that match four specific clues. They will fill out the workbook chart with company name, job title, and salary (or "none" if not listed).

The four clues from the workbook:

Clue Find a...
1 Job that requires you to work on a team
2 Job in the food industry
3 Job that allows you to work from home
4 Job that involves travel

Student task:

Direct students to indeed.com (or ZipRecruiter). They search the DFW area. For each clue:

  • Find a real, current posting that matches
  • Read the job description carefully to confirm it matches the clue
  • Record the company name, the exact job title, and the listed salary (or "None" if not posted)

This is a real research skill. Students learn that not all jobs post salaries, that "remote" is a filter on Indeed, and that "team-based" jobs often say so in the description.

Facilitation Tip

Show students the Indeed.com filters on the projector at the start: location (Dallas TX), remote toggle, and the search bar. This eliminates 80% of the "I can't find anything" hands. Also model what counts as evidence, the job description must say "team," "collaborate," or "work with others," not just imply it.

After students complete the chart, lead a quick partner discussion using the workbook's discussion questions (Ch 6, p. 97):

  • Which job search method or tool did you find most helpful?
  • What was the most challenging part of the job search process?
  • What is one key takeaway from this activity that will help you in the future?

DOK 2: Did the salary information you found match what you expected? Were any of the salaries surprising, too high or too low?

Activity 3: Xello Discover Learning Pathways (8 min)

Source: Xello 7th-grade task list (scope-and-sequence column 8)

Direct students to log into Xello and open the Discover Learning Pathways lesson. This Xello lesson connects to the Education week because it covers the different learning pathways students can take after high school: 4-year university, 2-year community college, trade school, apprenticeship, military, and direct-to-work with certification.

Students work through the lesson at their own pace. Most will finish in 8 minutes. Those who don't can complete it as homework or during catch-up time.

Connection to the week: Becoming a teacher is one specific pathway. But Xello shows students the FULL menu of options, and any of them can lead to an education-adjacent career (corporate trainer, instructional designer, ESL coach, daycare director, etc.).

Exit Ticket (3 min)

EXIT TICKET (Short Constructed Response) · Printable PDF:

  1. List the 4 H&L job search steps in order:

1) ___ 2) ___

3) ___ 4) ___

  1. The step I am MOST prepared for RIGHT NOW: _____. Why?
  1. ONE specific Irving ISD OR DFW resource for ONE of the steps (campus Career Fair / Singley counselor / LinkedIn Learning at the public library / specific neighbor or family member):

Step: ___. Resource: ___

  1. ONE company from my scavenger hunt + the salary (or "None"):

Company: ___. Job title: ___. Salary: _____

(d(6)(A), d(1)(C))

Differentiation

  • Support: Pre-bookmark the Indeed Dallas-TX search page on student Chromebooks. Reduce the scavenger hunt to 2 clues instead of 4. Provide a list of 6 sample companies students can choose from if they get stuck.
  • Extension: Students complete the workbook scavenger hunt for ALL FOUR clues AND identify which of the four jobs they would actually want to apply for. They write a one-sentence justification.
  • ELL: Pre-teach: Job Search = Búsqueda de empleo, Salary = Salario, Remote = Remoto, Travel = Viaje. Indeed has a Spanish version (indeed.es) but the DFW jobs are mostly listed in English. Pair ESL students with bilingual partners.