Interests and Skills

Year Level

Year 9

Unit

Pathways to Employment Success Lesson 1 of 10

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Lesson Duration

60 minutes Class size: 35 students

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Curriculum Links (Australian Curriculum v9)

Personal and Social Capability

• Recognise personal qualities, strengths, and interests, and understand how these relate to potential career pathways and workplace demands.
• Develop self-awareness to support informed decisions about career and learning pathways.
• Actively participate in collaborative activities to communicate and consider diverse perspectives.

ACPPS092 Explore a range of influences on personal strengths, interests, and abilities, and how they relate to opportunities for learning and work.

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Learning Intention

Students will understand their personal interests and recognise their relevance to the workplace.

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Success Criteria

• Identify at least three personal interests.
• Explain how these interests relate to potential career paths or workplace roles.

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Resources Needed

• Whiteboard and markers
• Personal Interests and Skills Reflection worksheet (tailored with prompts)
• Sticky notes and pens
• Projector/screen for group presentation
• "Skills vs Interests" sorting cards (prepared ahead)
• Timer or clock

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Lesson Outline

1. Warm-up: Personal Interests Brainstorm (10 minutes)

• Begin with a quick energiser: Students write down 3 things they love doing in their free time on sticky notes (one interest per sticky).
• Collect and stick these on the whiteboard under “Interests.”
• Facilitate a brief class discussion asking:
• What do you notice about the range of interests?
• Can anyone guess how some of these could relate to workplace tasks or jobs?

Objective: Activate prior knowledge and begin connecting interests to work contexts.

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2. Direct Teaching: What Are Interests and Skills? (10 minutes)

• Present a clear definition and examples of:
• Interests (things you enjoy that motivate you to learn or participate).
• Skills (capabilities that you develop through practice or experience).
• Display a simple Venn diagram contrasting interests and skills.
• Emphasise that both are important for choosing career pathways, but they are not always the same.

Adaptation for flexible learners: Use visuals, concrete examples from familiar jobs, and pause for checks on understanding.

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3. Individual Reflection: Interests and Skills Worksheet (15 minutes)

• Distribute worksheets prompting students to:
• List 5 personal interests.
• Identify 3 personal skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, problem-solving).
• For each interest, write one example of a job or workplace where it might be useful.
• Teacher circulates to support students who need help articulating ideas or making career connections.

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4. Group Discussion: Sharing and Exploring Connections (15 minutes)

• Divide class into groups of 5–6 students.
• Each student shares one interest and the related workplace example with their group.
• Groups discuss: How do interests match or differ from skills? What workplaces or careers might combine these well?
• Each group prepares a quick summary of their ideas (on whiteboard or flip chart).
• Select groups to share highlights with the class.

Inclusive practice: Encourage quieter students by providing speaking roles (note-taker, presenter, encourager).

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5. Consolidation and Exit Ticket (10 minutes)

• Summarise key ideas: recognising personal interests helps with choosing pathways; knowing skills also guides workplace readiness.
• Provide an exit ticket prompt:
• “Name three personal interests you have identified. How could each interest relate to a potential career or job?”
• Collect exit tickets as students leave.

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Differentiation and Support

• Provide sentence starters and word banks on the worksheet for students needing language support.
• Use visual aids and clear examples for students requiring concrete explanations.
• Allow verbal responses or drawings for students who find writing challenging.
• Scaffolding during group discussions to ensure all voices are heard.

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Assessment and Feedback

• Formative assessment via worksheets and group sharing to check understanding of interests and their workplace relevance.
• Exit tickets to assess individual ability to link personal interests with potential careers.
• Use observations during activities to identify students needing further support in future lessons.

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Teacher Reflection

• Did students confidently identify and explain links between their interests and careers?
• Were all students actively involved in discussions and reflections?
• Adjust pacing or supports for next lessons based on engagement and comprehension levels.

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This lesson sets the foundation for students to explore their personal strengths and consider their pathway options thoughtfully, combining self-awareness and career awareness in alignment with the Australian Curriculum’s focus on personal and social capability.