“Do you see what I see?” is a self-contained classroom topic that introduces the idea of body language and non-verbal expression as an essential part of our communication, whether we realise it or not. The activities in this topic will help students to consider what signals they give and receive to and from other people and how this impacts on their level of communication and understanding of others. Internet access is required for one small optional activity. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 4 but can be used with a range of groups depending on their needs and abilities, and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes modern and striking imagery to appeal to young adult learners.

“Being my own boss” is a self-contained classroom topic that introduces students to thinking about key aspects involved in running a business: organising premises, people, marketing and simple finance (profit and loss). They will consider the factors involved in selecting premises, planning for items of income and expenditure and then go on to complete a simple exercise in calculating profit and loss for a new business start up. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 4 but can be used with a range of groups depending on their needs and abilities, and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes modern and striking imagery to appeal to young adult learners.

“It’s a risky business” is a topic that helps students to understand the difference between hazards and risks. These are present in every workplace, and everyone at work needs an understanding of how to minimise and deal with risks to their own and others’ safety. In this topic students will consider what hazards and risks are using pictures and examples, then go on to carry out a practical exercise in completing a risk assessment on part of their own location (school/college). You may need to plan in advance students to be allowed access to these areas. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 4 but can be used with a range of groups depending on their needs and abilities, and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes modern and striking imagery to appeal to young adult learners.

“My role at work” is a self-contained classroom topic that explores some frequently found job roles in many organisations. It encourages students to think not just about a company they want to work for but the role they may take within it and the skills required for these roles. This topic also introduces the concept of job progression from entry level to higher roles within the same area. The topic includes a small scale research project into job roles and progression for which internet access is required. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 3 and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes engaging and high quality images to add visual appeal.

“CV Success” is a self-contained classroom topic that will help students to understand the different types of Curriculum Vitae that are commonly used and when they might be used. Students will work on producing a basic CV and learn how to identify and highlight their own skills in it. They will be made aware of the most common mistakes people make in CVs and how to avoid them. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 4 but can be used with a range of groups depending on their needs and abilities, and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes modern and striking imagery to appeal to young adult learners.

“What everybody wants” is a self-contained classroom topic that introduces the skills most in demand from employers, commonly referred to as “employability skills”. They are personal qualities and attributes other than qualifications, which are seen as valuable and useful at work. Young people who have never had formal employment can still develop these wider skills for work through other activities, so it is useful to be able to understand and talk about them. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 3 and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes engaging and high quality images to add visual appeal.

“Think outside the box” is a self-contained classroom topic about creative thinking. Employers value creativity. It can help businesses to stay competitive, develop new products, solve problems and predict future growth areas. Creativity in business means being able to find a clever solution to a problem, especially a problem no one has seen before. This topic helps students to understand that creative thinking is a skill they can develop and work on themselves. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 4 but can be used with a range of groups depending on their needs and abilities, and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes modern and striking imagery to appeal to young adult learners.

“What’s my motivation” is a self-contained classroom topic that will help students to explore their own motivation and how this affects their career choices. Students will be asked to identify motivating and demotivating factors and how this could affect their attitude and achievement at work. Understanding motivation is essential to making good career choices. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 3 and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes engaging and high quality images to add visual appeal.

“My plan of action” is a self-contained classroom topic that introduces students to creating a personal action plan using LMI or Labour Market Information. Action planning is a useful tool in career development as it helps students to focus their plans towards a longer term goal and identify what steps they can take now. This topic will also reinforce the idea that plans can be adapted; students may face setbacks along the way but should still try to focus on the long term goal and how to achieve it. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 4 but can be used with a range of groups depending on their needs and abilities, and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes modern and striking imagery to appeal to young adult learners.

“My bright future!” is a self-contained classroom topic for students that introduces them to how thinking positively could benefit their lives and futures. A positive attitude and positive thinking are important to both career success and personal fulfilment. It supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 3 and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Students will identify some strategies they can use to visualise a positive future for themselves and try to maintain a positive attitude when faced with difficult or significant decisions. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes engaging and high quality images to add visual appeal.

“What matters to me?” is a self-contained classroom topic that helps students to explore what their personal values and goals are and how they might change over time. Understanding personal values is fundamental to identifying a future career which will be fulfilling. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 4 but can be used with a range of groups depending on their needs and abilities, and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes modern and striking imagery to appeal to young adult learners.

“Fair’s fair” is a self-contained classroom topic that will help students to start to talk about gender stereotyping is and how it can restrict opportunities and prevent career progression, by exploring whether they have perceptions about job roles being gender specific. Students will explore whether they have in-built gender expectations at work which they may be unaware of. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 4 but can be used with a range of groups depending on their needs and abilities, and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes modern and striking imagery to appeal to young adult learners.

“Have you got what it takes?” is a classroom topic that introduces students to discussion about enterprise skills or what it means to be enterprising. It will help them to explore why being enterprising is not just about entrepreneurship or running a business, although people with these skills are often entrepreneurial as well. Being enterprising also means being creative and managing risk, which are useful skills in many roles. Students will think about how they can develop their own skills in this area through other activities that they may be involved in. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 4 but can be used with a range of groups depending on their needs and abilities, and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes modern and striking imagery to appeal to young adult learners.

“Can you communicate well” is a self-contained classroom topic about two vital aspects of communication: speaking and listening. There are 2 parts to communication: What we send ... and what is received (seen or heard). It is vital that students understand that developing effective speaking and listening are skills will not only get their point across but help them to learn to be good negotiators, a highly valued quality in many job roles. The activities in this topic include some role play involving selective listening and interpreting body language while we speak or listen to others. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 4 but can be used with a range of groups depending on their needs and abilities, and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes modern and striking imagery to appeal to young adult learners.

“Too much information?” is a self-contained classroom topic about finding and using LMI (Labour Market Information). Understanding LMI is vital to informed decision making about careers. This topic will help students to make informed and realistic choices for their future by drawing on all available sources of knowledge and evaluating how useful they are. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 3 and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes engaging and high quality images to add visual appeal.

“Are you environmentally friendly” is a self-contained classroom topic about the use of resources. All organisations have an obligation to deliver goods and services at the best value for the consumer but they also need to consider how to use finite resources and minimise the damage they do to the environment. In this topic students will think about their own school or college environmental policies and research the environmental policies of other organisations that make items they use every day. This topic requires internet access for a small scale research activity. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 4 but can be used with a range of groups depending on their needs and abilities, and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes modern and striking imagery to appeal to young adult learners.

“Tell me when…” is a self-contained classroom topic about how to handle a competency based interview. This is a widely used interview technique which is designed to test your suitability for a job by looking at your past behaviour. Instead of asking you to describe your work background, the interviewer(s) will give you some scenarios and ask you to give a specific example of when you have been in this situation and how you dealt with it. This can be a challenging interview if you haven’t prepared for it, but there is one advantage in that if you don’t have a lot of work experience you can draw on other examples from your life. The title is a play on words as the question may start “Tell me when (…you faced this situation). This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 4 but can be used with a range of groups depending on their needs and abilities, and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes modern and striking imagery to appeal to young adult learners.

“It’s my business” is a self-contained classroom topic that introduces students to different types of business and helps then to understand the differences between public and private sector companies, charities and sole traders. They will explore some key job roles in these businesses and complete an organisational chart, then go on to discuss different working patterns and the advantages of flexible working. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 4 but can be used with a range of groups depending on their needs and abilities, and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes modern and striking imagery to appeal to young adult learners.

“It’s good to talk!” is a self-contained classroom topic about how to hold a positive conversation. Effective speaking is a skill that can be applied in any situation but is critically important when your ability to speak well is being measured in a presentation or interview. Being aware of how your tone or body language affects your conversation is necessary to avoid misunderstandings with other people. This topic explores how to develop good conversation skills. This topic supports the learning outcomes in the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) framework for career and work-related learning at Key Stage 4 but can be used with a range of groups depending on their needs and abilities, and provides good evidence of lesson planning. Two files are included with this topic. The first file is a lesson plan, worksheets and suggested running order for the activities. The lesson plan also includes differentiated learning goals, reflective questions and a “before and after” review of learning relating to this topic. The second file is a slide show presentation which can be used with a whiteboard or pc/laptop and projector, to add structure to the lesson for students. The slideshow has the same running order as the lesson plan, and includes modern and striking imagery to appeal to young adult learners

This topic covers employability skills as defined by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and employers: communication and literacy, teamwork, problem solving, customer awareness, numeracy and ICT. It includes an attractive presentation to help structure your lesson, instructions and activiy sheets. Students will explore how they can develop and evidence their own employability skills even if they have little or no work experience, and discuss why employers value these skills. This resource includes activities to help students to take stock of their existing skills and plan to develop future skills through all their activities including academic learning, hobbies and social time. They will also learn to understand the difference between skills and tasks and explore the concept of transferable skills. This topic will help students who are new to job applications or CVs to think about how to describe their skills and aptitudes to a potential employer.