Just in time for the back-to-school season, these interactive games and tools help younger students and teens start thinking about their future careers. From classroom activities, board games to digital apps, and many other resources. Each is designed to make career learning fun, hands-on and impactful. It’s never too early to dream big!
Career Day: A Board Game for Career Education and Exploration! (Counselor Keri) [Board Game]
This printable, career-themed board game is designed for classrooms and small-group use (grades 3-6). Players journey around the board learning about 80+ community helper roles- daily tasks, workplaces, and interests- and record ones they find intriguing. It includes career-cluster cards (e.g. health, technical, arts), college-prep “would you rather” prompts, and handouts that encourage self-reflection. A fun, interactive way for students to discover occupational possibilities together.
Career SUPERDRIVE™ (My Working Title) [Board game]
This board game frames careers as dynamic journeys – a mix of Monopoly and The Game of Life, but for career exploration. Designed for groups of 3-6, it prompts reflection through scenario-based questions, storytelling and strategic discussion about careers. Players uncover insights about their strengths, work preferences, and long-term goals in a fun space. Useful for classrooms, career centers and youth groups.
CareersCraft Minecraft Education [Video Game]
Careers Craft is a free Minecraft Education Edition world where students aged 8-14 explore real Welsh landmarks while completing interactive, career themed challenges. As they take on roles like engineer, historian or event planner, kids develop transferable skills and learn how different jobs connect to their interests and school subjects. It’s an engaging way to spark career curiosity through hands-on, story-driven gameplay.
Challenge Cards (Sparkpath) [Card activity]
The Challenge Cards are a career development tool that academic advisors, guidance counsellors and teachers can use to prepare students for the future of work. This deck of 30 cards aims to help students explore challenges, problems and opportunities that exist in the world in the areas of health, technology, society, environment, and the economy.
Claim Your Future (Finance Authority of Maine) [Game]
While based in the U.S. and sometimes played in classrooms, Canadian players can try the website version. The game encourages students to explore career paths in the context of financial literacy. It encourages middle and high school students to think about future returns on investment in post-secondary education and training.
Exploring Possibilities! in Grades 4–6: [A Teaching Toolkit]
This CERIC-published toolkit is designed to help elementary educators integrate career development into classroom learning. Targeting ages 8-12, it features research-backed activities – from self-assessment and goal setting to inquiry projects and skill reflection – to build students’ self-awareness, confidence and foundational career competencies. Each ready-to-use lesson includes clear instructions, reproducible materials, and is fully adaptable to diverse classroom contexts.
Jamming on the Job [Podcast]
This PBS kids podcast for children focuses on introducing various jobs to kids ages 4-8. The professions featured include park rangers, costume designers, music therapists, teachers, doctors, video game designers, and more. The hosts Christina and Andres travel to meet people with different jobs. While primarily narrative, each episode ends with an interactive original song that helps children reflect on the key soft skills needed for the featured career and imagine their own future paths.
Kids Learn Professions (Kideo) [App]
This app is geared toward younger kids. It aims to help them learn about jobs and occupations and the tools they use. Activities include helping the farmer, fishing games, cooking, making pizza, making ice cream, building a railway, colouring and memory cards.
When I Grow Up (Elementary Careers) [Card game]
A memory matching game where players learn about career education without gender and racial bias. Each card has fruits and vegetables at work. Decks are available for kindergarten, and Grades 1 and 2.
When I Grow Up: Career Lessons and Activities for Grades 9-12 (Workforce Solutions) [Class activity]
This series of activities was designed for high school students. They enable students to consider their career options through research, education, and future lifestyle decisions. Each lesson integrates employability skills needed for workplace success.
The Who Am I? Self Assessment Game (York University) [Board game]
Originally developed for post-secondary students and alumni, this game was refreshed so high school, training and development professionals can use it in counselling sessions. It is played in groups of four to five people.
Additional reading
- 9 activities to help children understand careers (Education Services Australia)
- 5 podcasts to help kids start learning about careers (CareerWise)
- 5 ways to talk with young children about work and careers (CareerWise)
- Career Cluster Resource
- Career education needs to start earlier than you think (CareerWise)
- Games for Teaching About Careers (Classroom)
- ‘Just one thing’ to help parents and students navigate career planning (CareerWise)
- Minecraft career exploration tool ignites young learners’ curiosity (CareerWise)
- These New Apps And Their Creators Are Changing The Game On Career Pathways For America’s Youth (Forbes)
- The power of ‘unusual’ career conversations for kids and teens (CareerWise)
