Lesson 4.1 - Introducing Your High School Course Guide
Snapshot & Resources
At-a-Glance:
Overview
Estimated Time: 1 Class Period (50 minutes)
Unit: High School In Focus
Lesson: 4.1
Theme: Introducing Your High School Course Guide
Students become familiar with their high school's course guide by exploring its organization, graduation requirements, diploma options, and course offerings. Through an interactive scavenger hunt, students develop the skills needed to locate and interpret important information within the guide while building confidence in navigating the resource they will use throughout high school planning. This lesson establishes the foundation for the remainder of the unit by helping students become informed advocates for their educational choices.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson students will:
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Navigate a high school course guide to locate important academic information.
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Identify graduation requirements, diploma options, and course offerings within the course guide.
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Apply textbook literacy skills by using tables of contents, section headings, and other organizational features to locate information efficiently.
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Create and complete a course guide scavenger hunt that demonstrates understanding of the guide's organization and content.
Indiana Standards
PCC-2.3 – Identify the courses, experiences, and achievements necessary to prepare for future career goals.
PCC-5.2 – Demonstrate the ability to locate, interpret, and apply information from career and educational resources.
PCC-5.4 – Use educational planning resources to make informed academic and career decisions.
Before You Begin:
Student Materials
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Device with internet access
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High school course guide (digital or printed)
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"Course Guide Scavenger Hunt" sheet
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Writing materials (pen or pencil)
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Teacher Preparation
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Provide students with access to their school's current high school course guide, either digitally or in print.
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Print copies of the "Course Guide Scavenger Hunt" sheet.
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Review the organization of the course guide, including the table of contents, graduation requirements, diploma options, grading policies, course catalog, and prerequisite information.
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Prepare several sample scavenger hunt questions to demonstrate how students will locate information using the course guide.
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Encourage students to bookmark or save the digital course guide, as it will be used throughout the remainder of the unit.
Lesson Flow
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Hook / Warm-Up (Course Guide Scavenger Hunt Demonstration)
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Mini Lesson: Understanding the High School Course Guide
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Exploring the Course Guide
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Creating a Course Guide Scavenger Hunt
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Partner Scavenger Hunt Challenge
Student Work Products
Students will complete:
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"Course Guide Scavenger Hunt" sheet
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Completed partner scavenger hunt responses
External Resources
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Student's high school course guide
Teacher Tips
Remind students that they are not expected to memorize the information contained in the course guide. Instead, emphasize that successful students know how to find important information when they need it. Encourage students to use the table of contents, headings, page numbers, and other organizational features to locate answers efficiently. Reinforce that becoming familiar with the course guide now will help them make informed decisions throughout high school.