Lesson Plan
Dream Big, Plan Small
Students will be able to write one short-term academic or personal SMART goal.
This lesson is important because it equips students with the essential skill of goal-setting, helping them break down big dreams into achievable steps and fostering self-management and motivation.
Audience
7th Grade
Time
20 minutes
Approach
Direct instruction, guided practice, and independent application.
Materials
Whiteboard or Projector, Slide Deck: Dream Big, Plan Small, Markers or Pens, and SMART Goal Planner Worksheet
Prep
Preparation
5 minutes
- Review the Slide Deck: Dream Big, Plan Small and familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print enough copies of the SMART Goal Planner Worksheet for each student.
- Ensure whiteboard or projector is ready for use.
- Gather markers or pens for students.
Step 1
"One Month From Now..." Visualization
5 minutes
- Begin by dimming the lights slightly or asking students to close their eyes for a moment.
2. Say: "Imagine it's one month from today. Think about something specific you've accomplished that makes you feel really proud. It could be academic, like improving your grade in a subject, or personal, like mastering a new skill. What does it feel like? What did you do to get there?"
3. After about 1-2 minutes, ask students to open their eyes.
4. Facilitate a brief class discussion: "Who would like to share what they visualized? What was that accomplishment? How did it feel?" (2-3 students share).
5. Transition: "Today, we're going to learn a powerful tool to help us turn those 'one month from now' dreams into reality: SMART goals!"
Step 2
Introduce SMART Goals
5 minutes
- Project Slide Deck: Dream Big, Plan Small to the "What are SMART Goals?" slide.
2. Explain each component of the SMART acronym using the slides:
- Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve? Who is involved? Where will it happen? Why is it important?
- Measurable: How will you know when you've reached your goal? What metrics will you use?
- Achievable: Is this goal realistic and attainable given your resources and time?
- Relevant: Is this goal important to you? Does it align with your larger values or aspirations?
- Time-bound: When will you achieve this goal? What is your deadline?
3. Provide one or two clear examples of a non-SMART goal and then how to make it SMART, checking for student understanding throughout.
Step 3
Goal-Setting Workshop
8 minutes
- Distribute the SMART Goal Planner Worksheet to each student.
2. Instruct students to think back to their visualization at the beginning of class or to a new short-term academic or personal goal they'd like to achieve in the next month.
3. Guide students through the worksheet, prompting them to fill in each section of their SMART goal. Circulate around the room to offer individual support and feedback.
4. Emphasize that the goal should be short-term (achievable within roughly one month).
Step 4
Accountability Partner Check-in
2 minutes
- Ask students to partner with a classmate sitting near them.
2. Instruct partners to share their SMART goal with each other.
3. Encourage them to offer constructive feedback: "Is your partner's goal truly SMART? Does it meet all the criteria?"
4. Conclude by reiterating the power of SMART goals and how this tool can help them achieve their dreams.
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Slide Deck
Dream Big, Plan Small: Mastering Your Goals
Turning Aspirations into Achievements
- The power of setting clear goals
- Making your goals SMART
- Achieving what you set out to do!
Welcome students to the lesson. Introduce the topic of goal setting and today's focus on turning dreams into reality.
One Month From Now...
Close your eyes or look down.
Imagine it's one month from today...
What specific accomplishment makes you feel proud?
How did you achieve it? How does it feel?
Guide students through the visualization exercise outlined in the lesson plan. Encourage them to think deeply about a future accomplishment.
What are SMART Goals?
A powerful tool to help you achieve your dreams!
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound
Transition from the visualization to introducing SMART goals as a framework. Explain what the acronym stands for.
S is for Specific
What exactly do you want to achieve?
- Who is involved?
- What do I want to accomplish?
- Where will it take place?
- When will this happen?
- Why is this goal important?
Example: Instead of "Get better at math," try "Improve my grade in Algebra to a B by studying for 30 minutes each night."
Explain the 'Specific' component. Provide clear examples of vague vs. specific goals. Ask students to think of a specific goal.
M is for Measurable
How will you know when you've reached your goal?
- How much? How many?
- How will I track my progress?
- What data will show I've succeeded?
Example: "Read 3 chapters of my science textbook every evening." (Measurable by chapters completed)
Explain the 'Measurable' component. Discuss how progress is tracked and how success is defined.
A is for Achievable
Is this goal realistic and attainable for you?
- Do I have the resources and skills needed?
- Is it possible to achieve this in the given timeframe?
- What steps do I need to take?
Example: "Run a marathon next week" might not be achievable, but "Run for 15 minutes without stopping by the end of the month" could be.
Explain the 'Achievable' component. Emphasize setting realistic yet challenging goals.
R is for Relevant
Is this goal important and meaningful to you?
- Does it align with my other goals or values?
- Is this the right time for this goal?
- Will achieving this goal truly make a difference for me?
Example: If you want to be a writer, a goal to "read a new book every week" is very relevant.
Explain the 'Relevant' component. Connect goals to personal interests, values, and larger aspirations.
T is for Time-bound
When will you achieve this goal?
- What is the deadline?
- When will I start?
- What are the smaller checkpoints along the way?
Example: "Complete my history project by Friday at 3 PM." (Clear deadline)
Explain the 'Time-bound' component. Stress the importance of setting deadlines to create urgency and focus.
Your Turn! Set a SMART Goal
Think about your "One Month From Now..." accomplishment.
Use the SMART Goal Planner Worksheet to create your own short-term SMART goal!
Remember: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
Introduce the worksheet and explain that students will now apply what they've learned to set their own SMART goal.
Share and Reflect
Partner up and share your SMART goal!
- Is your partner's goal truly SMART?
- What feedback can you offer?
Remember: Setting SMART goals is a skill that will help you achieve anything!
Explain the accountability partner step and encourage constructive feedback. Conclude by reinforcing the importance of SMART goals.
Worksheet
SMART Goal Planner
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
My Short-Term Goal (What do I want to achieve in the next month?)
Let's Make It SMART!
Use the questions below to make your goal Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
S - Specific
What exactly do you want to achieve? Who is involved? Where will it happen? Why is it important?
M - Measurable
How will you know when you've reached your goal? What metrics or evidence will you use to track progress?
A - Achievable
Is this goal realistic and attainable given your resources and time? What steps do you need to take?
R - Relevant
Is this goal important to you? Does it align with your values or other aspirations? Why does it matter?
T - Time-bound
When will you achieve this goal? What is your deadline? Are there any smaller deadlines along the way?
My Final SMART Goal Statement:
Write your refined SMART goal here, incorporating all the elements.