Lesson Plan
Blueprint Your Goals Lesson Plan
Students will learn the power of goal setting by defining SMART goals, refining a personal academic or life goal, and drafting an actionable plan to achieve it.
Goal setting builds self-management and motivation, helping 10th graders stay focused on academic and personal success by breaking big ambitions into clear, achievable steps.
Audience
10th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, guided examples, and individual practice.
Materials
- SMART Goals Poster, - Personal Goal-Setting Worksheet, - Projector and Computer, - Whiteboard and Markers, - Sticky Notes, and - Pens or Pencils
Prep
Prepare Materials and Standards
5 minutes
- Print enough copies of Personal Goal-Setting Worksheet for each student.
- Display SMART Goals Poster via projector or on the classroom wall.
- Ensure projector and computer are set up for any slides or digital examples.
- Review district SEL standard: Self-Management – Students will set, monitor, and adjust personal and academic goals.
Step 1
Introduction to Goal Setting
3 minutes
- Pose the question: “What is a goal? Why do people set goals?”
- Record student responses on the whiteboard.
- Highlight the importance of clear goals for academic and personal growth.
Step 2
Explore SMART Goals
7 minutes
- Reveal the SMART Goals acronym using the SMART Goals Poster.
- Define each component (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound).
- Provide one example and one non-example for each letter.
Step 3
Individual Goal Drafting
8 minutes
- Distribute the Personal Goal-Setting Worksheet.
- Instruct students to write one academic or personal goal.
- Guide them to apply the SMART criteria to refine their goal.
- Circulate and support students with suggestions.
Step 4
Peer Feedback
5 minutes
- Pair students up and have them exchange worksheets.
- Ask partners to use sticky notes to leave one positive comment and one suggestion for improvement.
- Students revise their goals based on peer feedback.
Step 5
Action Plan Development & Assessment
7 minutes
- Students complete Part 2 of the worksheet: action steps, timeline, and resources needed.
- Collect worksheets to assess understanding of SMART criteria and action planning.
- Invite a few volunteers to share their SMART goal and next step with the class if time permits.
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Slide Deck
Blueprint Your Goals
Lesson Objective:
- Understand the power of goal setting
- Define SMART goals
- Draft a personal action plan
Welcome students. Introduce today’s lesson topic and objective. Explain that they will learn how to set SMART goals and create an action plan.
What Is a Goal?
Discussion Prompt:
- What is a goal?
- Why do people set goals?
Think–Pair–Share with a partner
Hook the class: ask students what a goal is and why people set goals. Invite volunteers to share and record responses on the board.
Why Set Goals?
- Provide direction and focus
- Boost motivation and confidence
- Measure progress and stay on track
- Achieve academic and personal success
Explain how setting clear goals supports motivation, focus, and achievement. Use a few student examples to illustrate.
Introducing SMART Goals
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-Bound
(See SMART Goals Poster)
Reveal the SMART Goals Poster. Define each component one by one, checking for understanding.
SMART Goals in Action
- Specific:
• Example: “Read 20 pages of history each day.”
• Non-example: “Read more.” - Measurable:
• Example: “Increase my math score from 75% to 85%.”
• Non-example: “Do better in math.” - Achievable:
• Example: “Practice piano 4 times per week.”
• Non-example: “Master piano overnight.” - Relevant:
• Example: “Study biology to prepare for the health sciences club.”
• Non-example: “Study random subjects.” - Time-Bound:
• Example: “Complete lab report by Friday.”
• Non-example: “Finish report soon.”
For each SMART component, show one clear example and one non-example. Encourage students to spot the differences.
Draft Your Own SMART Goal
Instructions:
- Take out the Personal Goal-Setting Worksheet
- Write one academic or personal goal
- Apply SMART criteria to refine your goal
- Ask for help if needed
Distribute the Personal Goal-Setting Worksheet. Circulate to support students as they draft their goal and refine it using SMART criteria.
Peer Feedback
- Pair up and exchange worksheets
- Use sticky notes to leave:
• One positive comment
• One suggestion for improvement - Revise your goal based on peer feedback
Have students pair up and exchange worksheets. Provide sticky notes for feedback. Prompt them to leave one positive comment and one suggestion.
Action Plan & Next Steps
- Complete Part 2: action steps, timeline, resources
- Add at least three next steps
- Submit your worksheet
- Volunteers share their SMART goal if time allows
Students complete Part 2 of the worksheet: action steps, timeline, and resources. Collect worksheets to assess understanding. Invite a few volunteers to share if time allows.
Wrap-Up
- Reflect on what you learned about goal setting
- Keep your SMART goal visible
- Review and adjust your plan regularly
- Success is a series of small steps
Summarize key takeaways. Encourage students to keep their goals visible and regularly review progress.
Worksheet
Personal Goal-Setting Worksheet
Part 1: Draft Your SMART Goal
- Write one academic or personal goal you want to achieve:
- Apply the SMART criteria to refine your goal. For each element, answer the questions and revise your goal as needed.
- Specific: Does your goal clearly state what you will accomplish? If it’s not specific, rewrite it below.
- Measurable: How will you know when you’ve achieved this goal? Describe your metric.
- Achievable: Is this goal realistic for you right now? If not, how can you adjust it?
- Relevant: How does this goal align with your academic or personal priorities?
- Time-Bound: What is your deadline for completing this goal? Be specific.
Final SMART Goal Statement:
Part 2: Action Plan
- List at least three action steps you will take to achieve your SMART goal.
- Step 1:
- Step 2:
- Step 3:
- (Optional) Step 4:
- For each action step, indicate a timeline (date or time frame).
- Step 1 deadline:
- Step 2 deadline:
- Step 3 deadline:
- Identify at least two resources or supports you will use (people, tools, materials).
Part 3: Reflection & Monitoring
- What challenges or obstacles might you encounter?
- How will you overcome these challenges? (Strategies, adjustments, support)
- How will you track and review your progress? (Journals, check-ins, reminders)
Use this worksheet in conjunction with the SMART Goals Poster to guide your thinking.
Warm Up
Goal Brainstorm
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: Sticky notes, pens or pencils, whiteboard or chart paper
Purpose: Activate students’ thinking about goals and set the stage for SMART goal setting.
Instructions
- Prompt the Class (1 minute)
- Ask: “What is one academic or personal goal you’d like to achieve this week or this month?”
- Clarify: A goal can be small (finish a homework assignment early) or big (improve your grade by the end of the term).
- Individual Brainstorm (2 minutes)
- Hand out one sticky note to each student.
- Instruct students to write their goal in one clear sentence.
- Provide space for student writing:
- Pair & Share (1 minute)
- Have students quickly pair up with a neighbor and read their goal aloud.
- Each partner says one positive comment or question: “How will you know you’ve met this goal?”
- Gallery Post & Quick Debrief (1 minute)
- Invite volunteers to come up and stick their goal on the whiteboard or chart paper.
- Scan the board, highlight a few interesting goals, and say: “Tomorrow we’ll learn how to make these goals SMART so you can reach them!”
Next: Use the SMART Goals Poster to refine these brainstormed ideas into actionable SMART goals.
Cool Down
Exit Ticket: Next Steps
Time: 3 minutes
Materials: Paper or exit ticket handout, pens or pencils
- My Final SMART Goal:
Restate your refined SMART goal in one sentence.
- Next Action Steps:
List two concrete steps you will take first to move toward your goal.
• Step 1:
• Step 2: - Tracking Progress:
How will you measure or check your progress along the way?
- Lesson Takeaway:
What is one thing you learned today about setting and planning for goals?
Turn in your exit ticket on your way out!
Reading
SMART Goals Poster
Use this poster to guide and check your goals. A SMART goal is:
S: Specific
Clearly state what you want to accomplish.
- Definition: The goal answers the who, what, where, when, and why.
- Example: “Read 20 pages of history each school day after lunch.”
- Non-example: “Read more.”
M: Measurable
Include criteria to track your progress.
- Definition: You can quantify or describe evidence of completion.
- Example: “Increase my math test average from 75% to 85%.”
- Non-example: “Get better at math.”
A: Achievable
Set a goal that’s realistic and within your reach.
- Definition: You have the skills, time, and resources to succeed.
- Example: “Practice piano for 30 minutes, four times a week.”
- Non-example: “Master piano in one night.”
R: Relevant
Ensure the goal matters to you and aligns with your priorities.
- Definition: Your goal connects to broader academic or personal objectives.
- Example: “Study biology chapters to prepare for the health sciences club interview.”
- Non-example: “Study random subjects unrelated to my interests.”
T: Time-Bound
Give yourself a clear deadline or schedule.
- Definition: A specific date or time frame creates urgency and focus.
- Example: “Complete and submit my lab report by Friday at 3 PM.”
- Non-example: “Finish the report soon.”
Keep this poster visible as you draft and review your goals. Use it to refine each part of your SMART goal and stay on track to success!