Level Up Life Planning with Postsecondary Pathways Bingo!
“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.
But interestingly, research shows that two-thirds of high school students and recent graduates wish they’d had more opportunities for career exploration during middle and high school. In fact, 75% of high school graduates feel unprepared to make informed decisions about college or career paths after graduation (YouScience Post-Graduation Readiness Report, 2022).
Gamifying Postsecondary Planning for Greater Engagement
While formal lessons and activities are key to postsecondary preparation, I’ve found that gamifying the exploration process can make a big impact too. Postsecondary Pathways Bingo: Exploring Education & Training Options is a fun, interactive way to get students talking, sharing ideas and experiences, and building a strong classroom community. I’ve used this resource with both high school and adult education students, serving as both an icebreaker and a casual assessment tool—and it’s been a hit every time!
Best of all, you can download the Postsecondary Pathways Bingo resource for free! It’s ready to print and use right away to help students explore their postsecondary options.
Breaking Down Social Barriers and Building Rapport
Many of us are familiar with bingo as a classic icebreaker at the start of the year. These types of activities ease students into the learning environment and create a welcoming atmosphere. They help build rapport, break down social barriers, and foster a sense of community.
Traditional bingo boards often include prompts like “I took a summer trip” or “I speak more than one language.” I’ve put a twist on this by replacing those typical prompts with ones that connect to postsecondary transitions. For example, the boards now feature statements like “I have volunteer experience,” “I want to enlist in the military,” or “I know what FAFSA stands for.”
Facilitating Peer Discussions on Postsecondary Goals
What’s great about these postsecondary prompts is how they get students moving, talking, and interacting in a relaxed, non-threatening way. There are no right or wrong answers—each student brings their own background, interests, and experiences to the conversation.
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, in a TV show, or on social media. The game-like aspect of the activity helps students feel more at ease when discussing their future plans, encouraging open, meaningful conversations.
How to Use Postsecondary Pathways Bingo: Step-by-Step Instructions
The goal of the game is to help students explore different postsecondary options—whether it's college, vocational training, military service, apprenticeships, or potential career paths. The structure of the game makes it a dynamic and engaging way for students to learn about each other’s interests, experiences, and aspirations while having fun!
Materials
Set of 10 unique Postsecondary Pathways Bingo cards.
Printable activity instructions.
Instructions
Distribute Bingo Cards: Hand out a bingo card to each student. The cards will feature different postsecondary pathways, like “I want to attend a community college” or “I’m interested in an apprenticeship.”
Circulate the Classroom: Students move around the room and interact with their peers.
Ask for Signatures: When a student finds someone whose future goals match one of the squares on their card, they ask that peer to sign the corresponding box.
Engage in Conversation: Encourage students to ask follow-up questions as they interact. The conversations usually flow naturally!
Complete the Card: Students aim to complete a row, column, or diagonal with signatures. Since the prompts are varied, achieving a full blackout is often challenging, but you can try it if you have a large group or a wide range of experiences.
Shout "Bingo!": The first student to complete a line calls out “Bingo!” and shares the names and details from their winning row, sparking more discussion.
Celebrate and Continue: Recognize the winner(s) and keep the game going for more rounds if desired!
Key Benefits of Postsecondary Pathways Bingo
Developing Social and Networking Skills for Postsecondary Success
This activity encourages students to interact with peers they might not typically engage with, promoting inclusion and fostering valuable peer connections. As they ask questions and discuss their postsecondary plans, students practice essential networking skills—like starting conversations and building relationships—that are important in both academic and career settings. These social skills are crucial for success in the workplace, where forming connections can open doors to opportunities.
In addition, students gain a broader understanding of various postsecondary pathways—whether it's trade school, college, or military service—by learning from peers with different goals. This helps them practice key life skills like listening, initiating conversations, and asking thoughtful questions, all of which are essential as they move toward adulthood.
Using Bingo to Gauge Student Understanding of Postsecondary Pathways
Pairing Postsecondary Pathways Bingo with formal lessons adds an element of fun and competition, boosting motivation and participation. It’s also a great way to assess students’ knowledge of postsecondary pathways and track their interests for future planning. As students sign each other’s cards, I observe their plans, interests, and any misconceptions, offering clarifications when needed. I often join the game myself, signing more obscure boxes to keep the game moving and provide guidance.
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 let students know 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 boxes 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 a mentorship and broader community-building element.
A Fun, Effective Way to Explore Postsecondary Options
Incorporating activities like Postsecondary Pathways Bingo into your curriculum can spark meaningful conversations about your students' futures. Not only does it encourage social interaction and build a sense of community, but it also gives students a fun, low-pressure way to explore education and career options. As they share their goals and learn from each other, they’re practicing valuable communication and networking skills that will help them thrive as adults.
If you're looking for an effective, interactive way to introduce postsecondary pathways in your classroom, download Postsecondary Pathways Bingo for free 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.
Get your free copy of Postsecondary Pathways Bingo!
