FACILITATOR NOTES: Mind mapping is a concept development organizer. This helps the students/youth to personally reflect on key concepts or big ideas of what they have been learning, from the conversations they have been having or what they have read.

ACTIVITY:

• Either pick a specific article for the whole class to read or allow the students to pick their own article.
• Ask students to read the article and create a one-page mind map of the main ideas found in the article.
• Ask them to share their thoughts with a partner.
• Have the students put their mind maps up on the wall, then as the larger group, brainstorm the connections.
• Create a web. Use key words to describe main ideas.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Create one large mind map as a group.

JOURNAL REFLECTION:
After completing this activity, write down your thoughts. Was there a predominant thought that you had? What was that thought?

• Identify an article to use as a whole group.
• In small groups, decide which paragraph contains the most important ideas in the article.
• As a group, have the students outline the statements that support their choice.
• Each group must outline their reasons for picking the paragraph and defend their choice to the class.

JOURNAL REFLECTION:
After completing this activity, write down your thoughts. What impact did the group discussion have on your personal thoughts about the most important ideas? Did you agree with the group? Was it hard to come up with ideas on how to defend your choice? Why or why not?

FACILITATOR NOTES: Working in teams is an essential skill these days in just about every place of work. Each student must identify the skills that they have and ones that they could bring to a work situation. Review the Employability Skills 2000+ Profile website.

ACTIVITY:

• Identify an article that contains information about employability or career-specific skills.
• Identify an article that discusses skills that are needed to be successful in the workplace.
• In small groups, have the students create a 'co-operative résumé.' Was it an easy task?
• Have them share their résumé with another group and discuss the process of creating a 'co-op' résumé.

JOURNAL REFLECTION:
Did the article help you to understand essential and employability skills? How? Did the group process help you to identify new skills?

FACILITATOR NOTES: Write up a "key concept" sheet from a number of the articles. Identify one key concept per article that is chosen.

• Have students participate in a carousel brainstorm activity.
• Ask students to form groups of four to six.
• Have each group of students go to a station with a 'key concept' sheet.
• Give them three to four minutes per station.
• Have them write down their comments about the key concept or theme of the article.
• Ask them to identify specific skills, knowledge or attitudes that are described in the article that relate to the 'key concept.'
• Have students engage in a 'gallery walk' or 'carousel' and move from station to station, adding comments and information to each of the sheets.