09/01/2025

Resources to Aid in Career Awareness for K-5 Students

By Jennifer Maley

There is much attention directed towards career planning for high school and middle school students. While high school students receive guidance and information from counselors, assessments and websites, elementary students are only beginning to become aware of how their schooling can be related to the world of work. There are some states and private entities that are creating career awareness materials and programs for elementary students, but it is not a nationwide endeavor. To set up students for success it is necessary to introduce them to career awareness in the elementary grades (Maia Learning, 2025).

Why Start Career Awareness at the Elementary Level?

Donald Super’s Theory of Career Development emphasizes the importance of self-concept in career choices. This theory includes five stages. The first stage is considered the Growth Stage (Childhood to Adolescence). During this stage, children are developing their self-concept based on their experiences and observations of their world.  Super believed this stage is important because it can provide experiences that can help guide career choices later in life (Teachers Institute, 2023). While there are many ways that K-5 students can experience and observe career-related learning outside of the school setting, it is important there are also opportunities provided within the school setting that not only introduce students to careers but also aid parents in their roles in the student’s career development. “Providing early career exploration opportunities improve students’ academic performance and help them connect the dots between self-concept, education, and various career paths” (Yavuz, 2022, p. 47).  Informing young students about career opportunities is an important step in their development. Educators and counselors can help them see the connection between their schooling and the world of work.

What Does Career Awareness Look Like at the K-5 Level?

Career awareness at the elementary level involves exposing children to various occupations, fostering an understanding of the skills needed for different jobs, and encouraging curiosity and exploration. Activities can include guest speakers, hands-on projects, field trips, and interactive lessons that highlight diverse career paths. Parents, teachers, and school counselors play a crucial role in facilitating these experiences by providing resources, sharing their own career journeys, and connecting students with professionals in the community.

Arizona, Delaware, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin are a few of the states that have invested money, time, and resources in developing websites to reflect their commitment to providing access to opportunities for parents, educators, and school counselors to learn more about career development for the K-5 population. The resources include activities, book lists, family guides, lesson plans, posters, standards, videos, and more.

Arizona Career Awareness Grades K-5

This website contains the Arizona Career Awareness standards for K-5. It includes ways to develop communication skills, problem solving skills, teamwork and leadership skills and investigate technology use and while exploring the world of work.

Delaware Career Resource Network

This site is full of resources broken down by grade level. There are booklists with descriptions. One can search by occupation; Agriculture, Architecture, Arts, etc. There are activities specific to each grade level. There is also a family resource section.

Kentucky Department of Education Elementary School Career Resources

This link is specifically targeted to elementary school resources. It highlights Kentucky Academic Standards for Career Studies, Career Cluster Resources, and Career Cluster Activities.

Ohio K-5 Elementary In Demand Jobs Toolkit

This is a Department of Education and Workforce site devoted to K-5, 6-8, 9-12 students, administrators, teachers, and parents. It is full of activities, guidebooks, and a multitude of topics related to career exploration.

Virginia Career View

This website features a dashboard with links to K-5, 6-8, 9-12, Parents, Professionals, and Clusters. Each link provides further information, guides, activities, books, etc. to educate the reader on career choices.

Wisconsin Department of Education

This is a powerpoint presentation by a school counseling consultant that includes research, rationale, and resources to support career awareness in elementary school.

In addition to the list of resources provided, each state uses the 16 Career Clusters Framework as a guide to the multiple career opportunities available in the public and private sectors. The 16 Career Cluster Framework highlights the 16 sectors, and the various professions associated with each sector. Students can begin to see the pathways that lead to certain careers. This awareness may help children see the connections between their interests, schooling and choices available to them.

Online platforms have joined the movement by developing interactive courses, engaging games, and informative websites designed to spark curiosity and expand understanding of various career paths. Here are two such websites:

Elementary Defined Careers is an online project-based learning model specifically designed for K-5 career awareness. The benefits of project-based learning (PBL) in the education field are well known. This course was designed to allow students to work on real world problems either individually or in a group. It promotes the development of future ready skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, adaptability, cognitive flexibility, creativity and communication skills while simultaneously introducing students to career awareness.

Xello for Elementary School is an online platform designed to provide students with activities to learn about various careers in a game-like setting (Xello K-2). Upper elementary (Xello 3-5) is primarily customized to the individual and their interests. Both the K-2 and 3-5 modules provide opportunities for students to gain knowledge about themselves and their interests and the world of work.

Looking Ahead

Initiating career awareness at the elementary level is not merely a beneficial supplement to education but a foundational step in a student's holistic development. By introducing children to a diverse array of professions, fostering self-concept, and explicitly connecting classroom learning to real-world applications, educators, parents, and school counselors empower the next generation. The growing efforts by states and private organizations, leveraging frameworks like the 16 Career Clusters and innovative platforms, demonstrate a clear commitment to broadening young minds. Ultimately, these initiatives ensure that K-5 students begin to envision a wider spectrum of possibilities, enabling them to make more informed choices as they progress through their educational and professional journeys.

References

Maia Learning. (2025, January 28, 2025). 4 reasons why career awareness is important for K-5 students. https://www.maialearning.com/blog/4-reasons-why-career-awareness-is-important-for-k-5-students 

Teachers Institute. (2023). Super's stages of career development: Mapping the vocational pathway. Teachers Institute. https://teachers.institute/guidance-counselling/supers-stages-career-development/ 

Yavuz, O. (2022). The career development needs of elementary students. International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications (IJONTE), 12(2), 47-57.

Jennifer R. Maley, M.Ed., is certified in K-12 Literacy and K-6 Elementary Education. She is an instructor at Virtual Learning Academy Charter School in Exeter, NH. She is a veteran teacher with 20+ years helping students maximize their potential. She recently completed the Facilitating Career Development Course and is seeking her CCSP credential. She is passionate about creating opportunities to make a positive impact. Email: jmaley1@vlacs.org