Lesson Plan
A Smart Plan for a Strong Finish
Students will be able to create a short, realistic plan to finish the quarter strong, incorporating elements of SMART goals.
This lesson empowers students to take ownership of their academic progress, fostering self-management and goal-setting skills that are crucial for long-term success both in and out of the classroom.
Audience
3rd Grade Students
Time
20 minutes
Approach
Through guided discussion and a structured activity, students will brainstorm strategies and set personal SMART goals.
Materials
Smart Plan Slide Deck, Finish Strong Slide Deck, My 'Finish Strong' Commitment Worksheet, and Peer Feedback Practice Activity
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Smart Plan Slide Deck and associated notes.
- Print enough copies of the My 'Finish Strong' Commitment Worksheet for each student.
- Prepare for the Peer Feedback Practice Activity by understanding the instructions and pairing students if necessary.
- Ensure access to a projector or interactive whiteboard for the slide deck.
Step 1
Welcome & Goal Setting Intro
5 minutes
- Begin with a brief welcome and an engaging question to activate prior knowledge about goals. (e.g., "Who here has ever set a goal for themselves? What was it?")
- Introduce the concept of finishing the quarter strong using the Finish Strong Slide Deck (Slides 1-2).
- Briefly explain what a SMART goal is (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) in an age-appropriate way (Slide 3).
Step 2
Brainstorming Solutions
5 minutes
- Lead a short class discussion on common challenges students face towards the end of a quarter (e.g., getting homework in on time, studying for tests, staying focused).
- Guide students to brainstorm possible solutions and strategies for these challenges. Record ideas on the board or chart paper (Slide 4).
Step 3
Creating a SMART Goal
7 minutes
- Distribute the My 'Finish Strong' Commitment Worksheet.
- Explain that students will use the worksheet to create their own 'finish strong' SMART goal.
- Provide examples of SMART goals relevant to 3rd graders (e.g., "I will turn in all my math homework on time for the next three weeks" or "I will read for 15 minutes every night to improve my reading fluency").
- Circulate and provide individual support as students work on their goals.
- Facilitate the Peer Feedback Practice Activity where students briefly share their goals with a partner and offer constructive feedback (Slide 5).
Step 4
Sharing Our Commitment
3 minutes
- Ask a few volunteers to share their 'Finish Strong' commitment with the class.
- Emphasize the importance of perseverance and believing in themselves.
- Collect the My 'Finish Strong' Commitment Worksheet or have students keep them in a visible place to remind them of their goals.
- Conclude by reiterating the power of a smart plan and a strong finish (Slide 6).
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Finish Strong!
What does it mean to "finish strong" in school?
- Giving your best effort until the very end
- Setting goals and working to achieve them
- Feeling proud of your hard work!
Greet students warmly. Ask them to share what comes to mind when they hear “finish strong.” Discuss how that feeling can apply to school.
Our Goal Today
I can create a short, realistic plan to finish the quarter strong.
Clearly state the lesson's objective for students. Emphasize that this is about creating their plan, for their success.
What's a SMART Goal?
Specific: Exactly what will you do?
Measurable: How will you know you did it?
Achievable: Is it possible for you to do?
Relevant: Is it important to you right now?
Time-bound: When will you finish it by?
Introduce SMART goals. Keep it simple and use kid-friendly language. Briefly explain each letter with a quick example.
Brainstorming Solutions
What are some things that can be tricky at the end of the quarter?
- Getting all homework done?
- Remembering to study?
- Staying focused in class?
What are some ideas to help with these challenges?
Facilitate a short discussion. Ask students what challenges they face and what they could do to overcome them. Encourage sharing a variety of ideas.
Create Your SMART Plan!
Now it's your turn!
Use your My 'Finish Strong' Commitment Worksheet to write your own SMART goal to finish the quarter strong.
Then, you'll share your plan with a partner for some helpful feedback!
Explain that students will now create their own SMART goal using the worksheet. Circulate to offer help and guidance. Explain the peer feedback activity next.
You Can Do It!
Every step you take, no matter how small, gets you closer to your goal.
Believe in yourself and your amazing ability to finish strong!
Conclude the lesson. Reiterate the importance of their hard work and commitment. Collect worksheets or instruct students to keep them visible.
Worksheet
My 'Finish Strong' Commitment
Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________
What is one thing you want to improve or achieve by the end of this quarter?
Let's make it a SMART goal!
Use the questions below to help you write your goal. Remember, a SMART goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievale, Relevant, and Time-bound.
My SMART Goal:
Specific: What exactly will I do? (Be very clear!)
Measurable: How will I know if I achieved it? (How can you count it or see it?)
Achievable: Is this goal realistic and possible for me to do? (Yes or No, and why?)
Relevant: Why is this goal important to me right now? (How will it help you finish strong?)
Time-bound: When will I finish this goal by? (Set a date!)
My Commitment:
I commit to working on my SMART goal and finishing this quarter strong!
Student Signature: _________________________ Date: _________________________
Activity
Peer Feedback Practice Activity
Now that you've written your 'Finish Strong' commitment, you'll share it with a partner. Remember to be kind and helpful! The goal is to make sure your partner's SMART goal is super clear and achievable.
Instructions:
- Find a Partner: Pair up with someone near you.
- Share Your Goal: One partner reads their 'Finish Strong' commitment aloud to the other.
- Give Feedback: The listener will provide feedback using these questions:
- Is the goal Specific? Can you picture exactly what your partner will do?
- If not, suggest: "Could you add more details about...?"
- Is the goal Measurable? How will your partner know if they reached it?
- If not, suggest: "How will you keep track of your progress?"
- Is the goal Achievable? Does it sound like something your partner can really do?
- If not, suggest: "Is there a way to make it a little smaller or easier to start?"
- Is the goal Relevant? Why is this goal important for your partner?
- If not, suggest: "How will this goal help you finish strong this quarter?"
- Is the goal Time-bound? Does it have a clear end date?
- If not, suggest: "By what date do you want to achieve this goal?"
- Is the goal Specific? Can you picture exactly what your partner will do?
- Switch Roles: Once both partners have given and received feedback, switch roles so the other partner can share their goal and receive feedback.
- Revise (Optional): After receiving feedback, you can make any changes to your goal on your worksheet if you think it will make your plan stronger!