Home›Lesson Plans›Social-Emotional Learning›Relationship Skills · Grade 12

Networking & Professional Relationships

Twelfth graders build relationship skills for the professional world — networking (building genuine relationships over time), finding mentors, and offering value, not just asking for favors. Strong professional relationships open doors. They check the ideas, then plan a first networking step.

Grade 12Networking & Professional Relationships45 minutes1 class periodCASELExplicit teaching4 StandardsCASEL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Define networking.
  • ✓Build genuine relationships.
  • ✓Find a mentor.
  • ✓Take a first step.
Essential Question

How do you build professional relationships that help you (and others)?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Check It · Interactive

Networking Check

Project each item and have students answer about networking and professional relationships.

🤝 Understand networking and mentorshipTry it
Answer each question about networking.
The Lesson · SEL Flow (Check-In · Learn · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Check-In — Who You Know

5 min

Have you ever gotten an opportunity through someone you knew?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Share an example.
  • Invite a few.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Learn — Networking

11 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Networking Check.
  • Note genuine relationships.
  • Note what a mentor is.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Note it.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

13 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a way to offer value.
  • Draft a thank-you message.
  • Name a possible mentor.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name.
  • Draft.
  • Name.
4

Apply — Apply

11 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • List 3 people to connect with.
  • Plan a genuine first message.
  • Set a follow-up reminder.

🎒 Student Actions

  • List.
  • Plan.
  • Set.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Define networking.
  • Say what a mentor is.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CASEL Framework for Social and Emotional Learning across its five core competencies.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Build and maintain professional relationships.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Seek mentorship and support.

CASEL
Social Awareness

Offer value and show genuine interest.

CASEL
Responsible Decision-Making

Build relationships ethically.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Networking sentence frames.
  • Frame: "I could help by ___."
  • Role-play an intro.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Name one person to connect with.
  • Use a message template.
  • Role-play with support.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Write a LinkedIn-style intro.
  • Request an informational chat.
  • Map your network.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🤝Scenario cards
  • 💻Networking Check
  • 📝Message templates
  • 📓Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

networkingbuilding professional relationshipsmentoran experienced guidegenuinereal and sincerevaluesomething helpful you offerconnectiona professional relationshipfollow-upstaying in touchreferencesomeone who vouches for youreciprocitygive and take
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is networking?
Building genuine professional relationships over time.
QUESTION 2
Name a good networking habit.
Show genuine interest, offer value, and stay in touch.
QUESTION 3
What is a mentor?
A more experienced person who guides and supports you.

Reflect: networking.

Have students list 3 people to connect with and plan a genuine first message. A printable networking sheet is in the SEL library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Relationship Skills: NetworkingFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Relationship Skills: NetworkingQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Relationship Skills: NetworkingPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: connection, follow-up, genuine, mentor, networking, reciprocity, reference, value
  1. something helpful you offer
  2. building professional relationships
  3. give and take
  4. staying in touch
  5. a professional relationship
  6. an experienced guide
  7. someone who vouches for you
  8. real and sincere

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is networking?
  2. Name a good networking habit.
  3. What is a mentor?
Answer key — Part A: 1) value · 2) networking · 3) reciprocity · 4) follow-up · 5) connection · 6) mentor · 7) reference · 8) genuine
Part B: 1) Building genuine professional relationships over time. 2) Show genuine interest, offer value, and stay in touch. 3) A more experienced person who guides and supports you.