This document discusses values and how they affect our choices and decisions. It begins with learning objectives about defining values and identifying personal values. A discussion activity asks students to choose three items to take if leaving home quickly. The document defines values as ideas and beliefs that differ between individuals and are based on factors like family and culture. Values guide our decisions and impact us every day. Knowing our values is important as they influence our future choices, including career decisions where certain jobs match our values. Students discuss how values appear in actions and relationships. An activity involves ranking values in order of importance. The document explores understanding values through puzzles and relates values to career satisfaction based on the match between individual values and job requirements.

1. Values
LearningObjectives:
• Students will define a value.
• Students will identify three of their
personal values.
• Students will state how their values
affect their choices in everyday living

2. Kick-off
Discussion:
• Consider the following scenario:
• You must leave your house quickly, within 10 minutes, and never
return.You can only take three items with you.
• What do you take?
• Why did you choose these items?

3. Values:
Main ideas
• Values are your ideas and beliefs.
• Each person has different values.
• Our values are based on many aspects including
family, religion, peers, culture, race, social
background, gender, etc.
• Our values help us decide what is important, or not, in
our life.
• Values impact our decisions every day.
• Knowing your values is important because values
guide decisions about our future.
• Not only is the career itself important, but sometimes
what the career can offer (i.e. lots of money, status,
relationships, meaningful work) satisfies a person’s
values.

4. Classroom
Discussion:
Values
• Why did the person act this way?
• What personal values might have caused them to act in this way?
• Name a value that is important to them.
• How does this value show up in your actions?
• In decision making?
• In the way you relate to others?

5. Values Word
Wall
Adventure/Fun Friendship/Family
Money/Wealth Justice/Honesty
Spirituality/Religion Knowledge/Education

6. Values Word
Wall Extension:
What’s Importantto
Me?Activity
• Put these value cards in order from 1 through 6
• 1 being very important, 3-4 being somewhat important, and 6 being least
important
• No right or wrong answers
• When finished, compare with a partner.
• Was their ranking similar or different?
• Share why you put the cards in a particular order.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Very important Somewhat important Least Important

7. Understanding
Yourself Puzzle
Activity
Create your own self-identity puzzle
by adding personal value statements
through writing or drawing. Design
and share with your peers!

8. Values in Career
Activity:
TheoryofWork
Adjustment
“People with certain values and needs are best suited
for jobs that have requirements that correspond with
those characteristics.”
(Dawis and Lofquist’s, 1984)
• Explains the interaction between an individual and a work environment.
• The individual brings a set of skills to perform the tasks of the work
setting.
• In exchange, the individual receives a paycheck.
• Ongoing adjustment by the individual and the work environment is
required to maintain positive interaction (called work adjustment).
• Work adjustment leads to satisfaction of both individual and work setting.

9. Values in Career
Activity: Achievement Relationships
Independence Support
Recognition Working Conditions