Local businesses need manufacturing staff, chemists, engineers, and other STEM professionals to be profitable and sustainable over time. To engage high school students with careers in their home communities, Learning Undefeated has teamed up with Purdue University’s TRAILS 2.0 team to create authentic, meaningful, and personalized learning opportunities for students across the country. The program’s place-based learning context enables students to explore their local environment and learn about STEM opportunities in their region.
From the beautiful coast of Maryland’s Eastern Shore to the breathtaking vistas of eastern Colorado—and all the way to the vibrant landscapes of Hawaii—we’re showcasing local entrepreneurs to provide students with a firsthand peek into STEM-related career fields. Each activity set includes an anticipation guide, a career profile video, a teacher guide, and a post-activity handout for teachers to use in the classroom.
Eastern Shore Career Profile: Fishing & Aquaculture Industries
NGSS HS-LS2-7. VA LS.11
+ Unit of Instruction: Interdependence of Ecosystems
+ Subject/Course: Career Readiness/Life and Environmental Sciences
Fishing is one of the main industries along the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. Hear from local entrepreneur Bryan Dolph from the Old Skool Tackle Company about his experience. Students will create a proposal supporting the build of a new fishing/aquaculture facility to help promote economic growth in the community.
- Step 1: Review teacher guide
- Step 2: Have students complete the video anticipation guide
- Step 3: Play the Eastern Shore Career Profile video (6 minutes, see video below)
- Step 4: Have students fill out the post-activity handout
- Step 5: Have students complete research project
Colorado Career Profile: Water Management Industry
SC.HS.3.9. SC.HS.3.11
+ Unit of Instruction: Earth and Human Activity
+ Subject/Course: Career Readiness/ Earth and Space Science/ Environmental Science
Coloradans and visitors love the state’s beautiful landscapes, many of which include or are supported by the state’s many rivers. This activity introduces students to careers in southeast Colorado as they create a proposal to improve the water management system of a local river basin. Innovative Water Technologies Founder and President Jack Barker takes students inside his manufacturing plant in Rocky Ford, CO.
- Step 1: Review teacher guide
- Step 2: Have students complete the video anticipation guide
- Step 3: Play the Colorado Career Profile video (6 minutes, see video below)
- Step 4: Have students fill out the post-activity handout
- Step 5: Have students complete research project
Hawaii Career Profile: Fishing and Agriculture Industries
HS-LS2-7: Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
+ Unit of Instruction: Interdependence of Ecosystems
+ Subject/Course: Career Readiness/Life and Environmental Sciences
The fishing industry is one of the major industries in Hawaii. However, the future of the industry depends on ensuring that it is done in a sustainable manner. Overfishing and pollution have threatened populations of many species vital to Hawaii’s economy and culture, including tuna, snapper, and reef fish. Hear Dr. Tianlu Wang, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Hawaiʻi at Mānoa discuss how robotics can help make fishing on the island more sustainable.
- Step 1: Review teacher guide
- Step 2: Have students complete the video anticipation guide
- Step 3: Play the Hawaii Career Profile video (5 minutes, see video below)
- Step 4: Have students fill out the post-activity handout
- Step 5: Have students complete research project
By the end of these lessons, students should be able to identify STEM careers in their area and understand the interdependence of the environment, the economy, and society.
This project is supported by the National Science Foundation, award # DRL – 2148781 (Purdue University) / 2148782 (University of Hawaii). Any opinions, and findings expressed in this material are the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF.
