Postsecondary Pathways Bingo: Exploring Education & Training Options
What do you want to be when you grow up? Society has posed this question to children, teens, and young adults since the Industrial Revolution. Interestingly, research reveals that two-thirds of high school students and recent graduates believe they would have benefited from more career exploration opportunities during middle and high school. In fact, 75% of high school graduates feel unprepared to make informed college or career decisions after graduation (YouScience Post-Graduation Readiness Report, 2022).
Gamifying Postsecondary Planning for Greater Engagement
While I address the need for postsecondary preparation through more formal lessons and activities, I’ve also found success with gamifying the exploration process. Postsecondary Pathways Bingo: Exploring Education & Training Options is a fun and engaging way to get students talking, sharing ideas and experiences, and building a sense of classroom community. I’ve successfully used this resource with both high school and adult education students, both as an icebreaker and an informal assessment tool.
Best of all, you can download the Postsecondary Pathways Bingo resource for free here. It's ready to print and use in your classroom to support students in exploring their postsecondary options!
Breaking Down Social Barriers and Building Rapport
Many educators are familiar with bingo as a beginning-of-the-year icebreaker. Activities like these help ease students into the learning environment and foster a welcoming atmosphere. They help build rapport, reduce social barriers, and create a sense of community. Traditionally, bingo boards feature prompts like “I took a summer trip,” “I have an unusual hobby,” or “I speak more than one language.” I put a twist on this concept by replacing the prompts with interests, skills, or strengths related to postsecondary transitions. For example, the boards now include prompts such as “I have volunteer experience,” “I want to enlist in the military,” or “I know what FAFSA stands for.”
Facilitating Peer Discussions on Postsecondary Goals
The beauty of these postsecondary prompts is that they get students moving, talking, and interacting in a non-threatening way. There are no right or wrong, better or worse answers. Instead, each student brings their own background and interests, allowing them to share their unique experiences. I've noticed that students are often quick to share stories about a friend or family member or describe something they've seen on a tour, a TV show, or social media. The game-like nature of the activity helps students feel more comfortable discussing their future plans.
How to Use Postsecondary Pathways Bingo: Step-by-Step Instructions
The goal of the game is to encourage students to explore various postsecondary options, such as college, vocational training, military service, apprenticeships, and possible career paths. Its structure offers a dynamic and engaging way for students to learn about each other's interests and aspirations.
Materials
Set of 10 unique Postsecondary Pathways Bingo cards.
Printable activity instructions.
Instructions
Distribute Bingo Cards: Give each student a bingo card that includes various postsecondary pathways (e.g., "I want to attend a community college," "I’m interested in an apprenticeship," etc.).
Circulate the Classroom: Students move around, interacting with their peers.
Ask for Signatures: When a student finds a peer whose future goals match one of the boxes, they ask that peer to sign their card.
Engage in Conversation: Encourage students to ask follow-up questions, though conversations usually flow naturally!
Complete the Card: Students aim to complete a row, column, or diagonal with signatures. The prompts are diverse enough that students often can’t achieve a full blackout bingo, but if you have a large group or a wide variety of experiences, you can give it a try.
Shout "Bingo!": The first student to complete a line calls out "Bingo!" and shares the names and details from their winning row, sparking further discussion.
Celebrate and Continue: Recognize the winner(s) and keep the game going for additional rounds if desired.
Key Benefits of Postsecondary Pathways Bingo
Developing Social and Networking Skills for Postsecondary Success
I’ve found that this activity encourages conversations between students who might not typically interact, fostering inclusion and peer engagement. As students ask questions, engage in discussions, and learn about each other’s postsecondary plans, they practice the social skills needed for networking. These skills—such as initiating conversations, asking follow-up questions, and building connections—have real-world applications in the workplace. Beyond academics, strong interpersonal skills are essential for thriving in both postsecondary environments and careers. Forming connections early on can be critical for future success, as networking often opens doors to opportunities students may not have considered.
This activity helps students practice key life skills like starting conversations, asking questions, and listening to others—skills that are important in adulthood. At the same time, they broaden their understanding of different postsecondary pathways (e.g., trade school, college, military) by talking to peers with varying plans and goals.
Using Bingo to Gauge Student Understanding of Postsecondary Pathways
Pairing Postsecondary Pathways Bingo with more formal lessons adds an element of fun and competition, which boosts student motivation and participation. I also use the game to assess students’ knowledge of postsecondary pathways and track their interests for future planning. During the activity, I observe as students sign each other’s cards, paying attention to their plans, interests, and any misunderstandings or misconceptions. I often join the game myself, signing some of the more obscure boxes or offering clarifications when students get stuck.
While the community building takes place during the game, most of the learning happens in the debrief. Once a student shouts “Bingo!”, I engage the class by discussing the winning student’s completed row. The student reads the name of each peer who signed a box, and one by one, I ask follow-up questions. For example, I might say, “Do you have a particular school in mind?” or “How many scholarships have you applied for so far? Where did you find them?” I aim to explore specifics without making students uncomfortable or putting them on the spot—though I’ve found that they’re often eager to share details!
To prevent any surprises, I inform students at the beginning of the activity that the winner will share their responses and participants will be called on to provide more details, so they know what to expect and students won’t sign boxers that don’t apply to them.
After reviewing the winning card(s) and asking follow-up questions, we hold a class discussion to reflect on what students learned about the different pathways. I invite a few students to share any new insights or questions they have about postsecondary options.
Ideas for Customizing Bingo to Further Explore Postsecondary Options
If you're looking for a fresh twist on Bingo or want to repeat the activity later in the year for a pulse check on students' evolving postsecondary plans, here are a few ideas to customize the game and keep the momentum going:
Speed Bingo: Set a time limit (e.g., 5-10 minutes) to see who can collect the most signatures, introducing an element of urgency and excitement.
Collaborative Bingo: Have students work in pairs or groups to encourage teamwork and collaborative problem-solving.
Research Component: After the game, assign students to research a topic or pathway they learned about during the activity and present their findings.
Staff Participation: Invite school staff or older students to play to add mentorship and a broader community-building element.
Empowering Students to Explore Their Postsecondary Pathways
Incorporating activities like Postsecondary Pathways Bingo into your curriculum is a powerful way to engage students in meaningful conversations about their futures. This game not only fosters social interaction and community building but also helps students explore various education and career options in a fun, low-pressure environment. As they share their aspirations and learn from each other, they develop essential communication and networking skills that will serve them well in adulthood.
If you're looking for an effective, interactive tool to introduce postsecondary pathways in your classroom, download Postsecondary Pathways Bingo for free here and get your students excited about exploring their future possibilities today! Be sure to check out my other postsecondary planning lessons and activities to support your students in making informed decisions about life beyond high school.
