THE PROJECT DISCOVERY CAREER DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM is a hands-on comprehensive curriculum which provides middle through high school special needs students the skills necessary for entrance into the general curricula, workforce and independent life. Designed with the diverse needs of special education students in mind, this system consists of three components — Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced.

Students learn hundreds of real world job skills in many diverse career cluster areas as well as the academic skills needed to perform those tasks. Students also gain important life skills and employability skills. Students exit the program with a better understanding of the job world and the careers that interest them and that they have abilities for. The curricula is ideal for addressing transition services and IDEA requirements.

Highlights

Academic integration
Relevant instruction – real tools & tasks
Knowledge/Performance-based assessment
Work performance benchmarks
Comprehensive curriculum
Customizable lesson plans
On-site training
Certificate of accomplishment
Ready-made IEP documentation
Engaging and motivating

The Intermediate System is designed for those students working below grade level. Ideal for a peer-assisted group approach whereby students work in small groups to perform the activities with teacher support.

Ideal For:

Sub-average general intellectual functioning
Students on a 4th-6th grade reading level (with supports for a 2nd-4th grade level)
Audio components for slow and non-readers and auditory learners
Learning Disabilities
Emotionally Disturbed
Developmental Delays
Hearing Impaired
Speech/Language Impairments
Autism

Job Skill Tasks and Academics:

Students experience slightly higher levels of academic skills in an applied, hands-on concept. Examples include:

Students perform basic math functions with units of measure as they determine nutrition and feeding requirements in the Animal Care kit; compute percents as they determine shipping and pricing in the Retailing kit; and use common fractions as they plan for quantity cooking in the Food Service kit.
Students read basic instructions for assembling wood projects in the Carpentry kit.
Students apply reasoning to follow written instructions as they learn to take blood pressure in the Care Giver kit.

Instructor's Notes contain manipulative and cognitive skill requirements/skills to be attained; math, language, and reasoning skill levels; ten day lesson implementation plan; Pre/Post Tests; Work Performance Benchmarks; reproducible Student Worksheets; and Job Qualifications Profiles.

Community/Parent Involvement Involve parents and the community in the classroom with hands-on activities!

Materials and Tools needed to perform the kit activities, such as 4-cycle engine, rebar box, barometer, sphygmomanometer, screen printing kit, soldering board, wall section, food models, galvanized pipe, wallpaper kit, videos, and software programs.

Internet Sites Unique Internet sites provided to research careers.

Student Instructions lead step-by-step through the activities.

Special Education Editions for Special Needs Students are available for all kits - They contain "First Look" Books that break the concepts and terms down to a 2nd-4th grade reading level and audio support.

Training Nationally-certified trainers will come to your site to provide in-service training on system implementation.

Project Discovery Intermediate Level

Advertising & Editorial Design
1. PD0200
Animal Care
1. PD0300
Auto Body Repair
1. PD0500
Drafting
1. PD1200
Trucking
1. PD3900
Medical Emergency Service
1. PD2400
Medical Patient Care
1. PD2500
Public Health Nutrition
1. PD3100
Retailing
1. PD3300
Caregiver
1. PD4700
Sewing
1. PD3000
Skin and Nail Care
1. PD3700
Upholstery
1. PD4100
Wall Covering
1. PD4200
Consumer Services
1. PD1000
Food Service
1. PD1500
Carpentry
1. PD4600
Graphic Artist
1. PD0400