Overview

Estimated Time: 3 Class Periods
Unit: High School In Focus
Lesson: 4.6
Theme: Highlighting Opportunities

Students work collaboratively to research high school career pathway programs and create persuasive commercials that promote those opportunities to their classmates. By analyzing effective advertising techniques and applying them to a real-world marketing project, students strengthen their communication, collaboration, creativity, and presentation skills while learning about career and technical education programs available through their high school. The lesson emphasizes informed decision-making by encouraging students to become advocates for educational opportunities that align with a variety of career interests.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson students will:

Research a high school career pathway program and gather accurate information about its opportunities and benefits.
Analyze the elements of an effective commercial and apply those techniques to a persuasive presentation.
Collaborate with a team to design, rehearse, and present a commercial promoting a career pathway program.
Demonstrate effective communication and presentation skills while encouraging classmates to explore educational opportunities.

Indiana Standards

PCC-4.1 – Use career information and resources to support career exploration and planning.

PCC-4.2 – Develop and maintain a personal career portfolio.

PCC-7.2 – Demonstrate professionalism through communication, collaboration, and personal responsibility.

PCC-7.3 – Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication appropriate for career and workplace settings.

Before You Begin:

Student Materials

Device with internet access
High school course guide
"Commercial Checklist" sheet
Writing materials (pen or pencil)
Presentation materials or video recording equipment (optional)

Teacher Preparation

Print copies of the "Commercial Checklist" sheet.
Select and preview several engaging commercials to use during the lesson introduction, ensuring they demonstrate a variety of effective advertising techniques.
Review the career pathway programs available through your local high school or career center and identify reliable resources students can use during their research.
Organize students into collaborative groups of three to four and prepare expectations for teamwork, participation, and presentations.
Review the six components of an effective commercial—Audience, Engagement, Style, Story, Information, and Action—so you can coach students throughout the project.

Lesson Flow

Hook / Warm-Up (Commercial Analysis)
Mini Lesson: What Makes an Effective Commercial?
Career Pathway Research
Commercial Planning and Production
Commercial Presentations and Reflection

Student Work Products

Students will complete:

"Commercial Checklist" sheet
Group commercial promoting a high school career pathway program
Commercial presentation

External Resources

High school course guide
Local career center website
Career pathway program information
Sample television or online commercials

Teacher Tips

Encourage students to think beyond simply listing facts about a career pathway program. Effective commercials tell a story, capture attention quickly, communicate clear information, and inspire the audience to take action. As students work in teams, emphasize respectful collaboration and remind them that every group member should contribute to both the planning process and the final presentation. Reinforce that the goal is to create an informative and engaging advertisement that helps classmates better understand the opportunities available through high school career pathway programs.

Lesson 4.6 - Highlighting Opportunities