Authentic Lessons for 21st Century Learning

Campus Visits for Middle Schoolers

Lori Kemmet, Michell Eike | Published: June 13th, 2025 by K20 Center

Summary

This collection includes two professional learning resources and four student-focused educator resources designed to support early college and career readiness. The professional learning resources equip educators with research-based benefits and strategies to implement scalable postsecondary campus visits for middle school students. The accompanying educator resources prepare students for campus visits through engaging activities that build postsecondary vocabulary, explore learning preferences, and connect interests to career pathways.

Resources

In this session, participants will examine research on the importance of postsecondary campus visits for middle school and early high school students. This professional development is designed to help participants implement a campus visit as a scalable college and career readiness intervention. Read more »

Professional Learning

Tag Target Audience

  • Administrators, All Staff or Teachers, Campus Visits, New Teachers, Other Stakeholders, Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year, Planning/Collaboration/Conference Time

User Group Group Size

  • Large Group (at least 30)

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Activate Prior Knowledge, Analyze, Collaborate, College-Going Culture, Critical Thinking, Identify, Reflection

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 1c, 1i, 1k, 2j, 3b
More
Time Frame 60 minutes

In this session, participants will examine how early college visits impact middle school students. Participants will discuss research on the impact of early college visits and explore online resources available on the LEARN website. Participants will use this knowledge to develop plans for implementing... Read more »

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • College-Going Culture
More
Time Frame 45 minutes

In this activity, students will rate their preferred learning style and explore typical vocabulary surrounding postsecondary educational opportunities. This vocabulary exposure will help students be prepared for the 7th-grade campus visit and discussion of possible future pathways. Read more »

Educator Resource

Tag Target Audience

  • Students

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year

User Group Group Size

  • Whole Class

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • College-Going Culture

Tag College & Career Readiness Framework

  • Finding a Good Fit
More
Time Frame 25–30 minutes

This 7th grade campus visit companion activity complements a college campus tour for students. To learn about different facets of college life, students will participate in a learning activity to familiarize themselves with college degrees and other postsecondary education (PSE) options for various... Read more »

Educator Resource

Tag Target Audience

  • Campus Visits, Students

Tag Calendar Placement

  • 2nd Nine Weeks, 3rd Nine Weeks, 4th Nine-Weeks

User Group Group Size

  • Large Group (at least 30)

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Activate Prior Knowledge, Active Engagement, College-Going Culture, Compare & Contrast, Identify

Tag College & Career Readiness Framework

  • Benefits of Higher Education, Degrees, Professions, & Earnings, College Visits
More
Time Frame 30-45 minutes

In this activity, students will create an interest board and explore how interests can relate to selecting a degree or program of study at a community college, university, or career tech. This activity will help prepare students for 8th-grade campus visits and encourage them to begin thinking about... Read more »

Educator Resource

Tag Target Audience

  • Students

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year

User Group Group Size

  • Whole Class

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • College-Going Culture

Tag College & Career Readiness Framework

  • Degrees, Professions, & Earnings, Finding a Good Fit
More
Time Frame 30 minutes

This 8th-grade campus visit activity will complement a student tour of a college or career tech campus to learn about postsecondary options. Students will participate in a learning activity to explore their interests, career clusters, and postsecondary opportunities to prepare for various careers. The... Read more »

Educator Resource
More
Time Frame 45-60 Minutes

Standards

InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards (K-12th)
1c: The teacher collaborates with families, communities, colleagues, and other professionals to promote learner growth and development.
1i: The teacher is committed to using learners’ strengths as a basis for growth, and their misconceptions as opportunities for learning.
1k: The teacher values the input and contributions of families, colleagues, and other professionals in understanding and supporting each learner’s development
2j: The teacher understands that learners bring assets for learning based on their individual experiences, abilities, talents, prior learning, and peer and social group interactions, as well as language, culture, family, and community values.
3b: The teacher develops learning experiences that engage learners in collaborative and self-directed learning and that extend learner interaction with ideas and people locally and globally.

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