This curriculum guide contains materials for use in implementing a nine-week introductory unit designed to help eighth grade students in Frederick Courts Middle School understand career choices. Addressed in the course are the following topics: resources typically found in a career center, assessing individual interests, career clusters, the decision-making process, the Coordinated Occupational Information Network (COIN) Survey, nontraditional job roles, microcomputers and career exploration, interest surveys and career exploration, student hands-on experience with career center resource materials, individual research and integrated activities, orientation to high school educational plans, post-high school training, time management, appropriate school and work behaviors, qualities employers look for, and local employer and job opportunities. A course calendar, student career plan criteria, course objectives, and a parent letter are provided in the first section. The major portion of the guide consists of detailed lesson plans for each of the 45 days of the course that include lists of objectives, activities, and resources as well as all the sample forms, student worksheets, information sheets, and handouts necessary to present the lesson. (MN)