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Goal Getter

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Lesson Plan

My Goal Plan

Students will learn to identify and articulate a simple personal goal, plan steps to achieve it, and track their progress using a goal tracker worksheet.

Setting and tracking small goals helps 1st graders build responsibility, self-regulation, and a growth mindset. It empowers them to see progress and stay motivated.

Audience

1st Grade Students

Time

25 minutes

Approach

Interactive modeling, hands-on practice, and group reflection

Materials

Steps to Success, - My Goal Tracker, - How I Feel Today Journal, and - Daily High-Five

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Circle

3 minutes

  • Greet students in a circle and ask: “What’s something you want to get better at?”
  • Invite 2–3 volunteers to share simple ideas (e.g., tying shoes, reading a story).
  • Explain today they’ll learn how to set and track a goal to help them succeed.
  • Assessment: Note who participates; encourage quieter students with prompts.

Step 2

Introduce Goal-Setting

5 minutes

  • Display Steps to Success.
  • Define a goal as “something I want to do or get better at.”
  • Model a simple goal (e.g., “I can read one new word each day”).
  • Ask guided questions: “How will I know I’ve reached my goal?”
  • Differentiation: Provide sentence starters on the slide for support.

Step 3

Create a Goal Plan

7 minutes

  • Hand out My Goal Tracker.
  • Model filling in:
    • My Goal: _____
    • Step 1, Step 2, Step 3
  • Students choose one personal goal and write or draw it.
  • Circulate to assist emerging writers; pair students as needed.
  • Assessment: Check each tracker for a clear goal and at least one step.

Step 4

Reflect in Journal

5 minutes

  • Give each student a page from How I Feel Today Journal.
  • Prompt: “Draw or write how you feel about working on your goal so far.”
  • Encourage use of color or words.
  • Differentiation: Provide emotion face stickers for non-writers.
  • Assessment: Observe drawings or words to gauge confidence and emotions.

Step 5

Daily High-Five Cool-Down

5 minutes

  • Gather back in a circle with Daily High-Five.
  • Invite each student to share one thing they’re excited to work on.
  • Give a group high-five and cheer.
  • Teacher summarizes: “Great job setting goals! Tomorrow we’ll check our progress.”
  • Assessment: Note each student’s participation and enthusiasm.
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Slide Deck

Steps to Success

Today we’re learning how to set and reach our own goals!

Welcome the class and introduce today’s learning goal. Say: “Today we’re going to learn how to set a goal and reach it. Goals help us get better at things we care about!”

What is a Goal?

A goal is something I want to do or get better at.

Read the definition aloud. Ask: “Can anyone tell me something they’d like to get better at?” Use student answers to reinforce the meaning of a goal.

Examples of Goals

  • Tie my shoes by myself
  • Read one new word every day
  • Clean up my toys before snack

Point to each example and ask volunteers if they’ve ever tried a goal like these. Encourage students to share other simple goals they have.

How to Make a Goal

Step 1: Think of something you want to do or get better at.
Step 2: Plan 2–3 steps to help you reach your goal.
Step 3: Track your progress each day.

Model creating a goal step by step. For example: “My goal: I will read one book page each day. Step 1: Choose a book. Step 2: Read one page. Step 3: Practice every day.”

Sentence Starters

  • I want to...
  • I will practice by...
  • By the end of the week, I will...

Read each sentence starter and invite students to repeat. Explain they can use these starters to write or draw their goal on their tracker.

Your Turn!

Draw or write one goal you want to reach!
Use the sentence starters to help you.

Transition into the Create a Goal Plan activity. Hand out the Goal Tracker worksheet and remind students to use what they’ve learned.

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Worksheet

My Goal Tracker

Name: _______________________ Date: _______________________

1. My Goal

Write or draw your goal here!











2. Steps to Reach My Goal

  • Step 1: ___________________________



  • Step 2: ___________________________



  • Step 3: ___________________________



3. Check Your Progress

Each time you work on your goal, put a ✔ under the day.

DayMonTueWedThuFri
I practiced!☐☐☐☐☐

4. Teacher Check & Sticker

Teacher Signature: _______________________


Sticker Here: ____________________________

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Journal

How I Feel Today Journal

Name: _______________________ Date: _______________________

Draw or color a face to show how you feel today:









Write about why you feel this way:

I feel __________ because __________.





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Cool Down

Daily High-Five Cool-Down

Time: 5 minutes

  1. Gather in a circle with our Daily High-Five prop or music cue.
  2. Going around the circle, each student says one thing they’re excited to work on for their goal (“I’m excited to practice tying my shoes!”).
  3. After each share, students give a big group high-five or cheer (“We can do it!”).
  4. Teacher closes: “Great job setting your goals today! Tomorrow we’ll check our progress and celebrate our successes.”

Assessment: Note each student’s participation and enthusiasm. Encourage quieter students with a friendly prompt before their turn.

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Goal Getter • Lenny Learning