Lesson Plan
The SMART Goal Quest
Students will be able to define, identify, and create SMART goals, understanding how to make their goals Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, and develop initial strategies for maintaining perseverance.
Learning to set SMART goals empowers students to take ownership of their aspirations, build resilience when facing challenges, and experience the satisfaction of achieving personal objectives, which are vital life skills.
Audience
5th Grade Students
Time
55 minutes
Approach
Direct instruction, guided practice, and project-based application.
Materials
Smart Goal Quest Slide Deck, My Future Vision Board, My Personal Goal Map, Goal Achievement Tracker Rubric, Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, and Art supplies (magazines, glue, scissors, drawing materials)
Prep
Teacher Preparation
20 minutes
- Review the Smart Goal Quest Slide Deck and lesson plan content.
* Gather art supplies for vision boards: old magazines, newspapers, glue sticks, scissors, construction paper, and drawing materials.
* Print copies of the My Personal Goal Map and Goal Achievement Tracker Rubric for each student.
* Ensure a whiteboard or projector is available.
Step 1
Introduction: What's Your Superpower?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "What's a goal you have, big or small?" (e.g., learning a new skill, getting better at a game, reading more).
* Introduce the idea that setting goals is like having a superpower that helps us achieve amazing things.
* Explain that today, they will learn how to make their goals super powerful using a secret formula: SMART goals. Smart Goal Quest Slide Deck (Slide 1-2)
Step 2
Understanding SMART Goals
20 minutes
- Present the concept of SMART goals using the Smart Goal Quest Slide Deck (Slides 3-8).
* Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve?
* Measurable: How will you know when you've reached it?
* Achievable: Is it possible to do?
* Relevant: Why is this goal important to you?
* Time-bound: When will you achieve it?
* Go through examples and non-examples of SMART goals, engaging students in discussion and asking them to identify the missing SMART elements.
* Provide a simple goal (e.g., "I want to get better at math") and collectively turn it into a SMART goal as a class.
Step 3
My Future Vision Board Activity
15 minutes
- Introduce the My Future Vision Board activity. Explain that they will create a visual representation of a personal SMART goal they want to achieve.
* Distribute construction paper, magazines, scissors, and glue.
* Instruct students to think about a personal goal and try to make it SMART. They can write their SMART goal at the top of their vision board.
* Students will cut out pictures and words from magazines that represent their goal and glue them onto their paper. If they can't find appropriate images, they can draw.
* Circulate and provide support, prompting students to think about the SMART aspects of their chosen goals.
Step 4
Introducing the Goal Map Project
10 minutes
- Explain that the vision board is a start, but they will further develop their goal in the My Personal Goal Map project.
* Distribute the My Personal Goal Map and briefly go over each section, highlighting how it connects to SMART goals and planning for perseverance.
* Introduce the Goal Achievement Tracker Rubric which will be used to assess their project.
* Assign the My Personal Goal Map as homework or a multi-day in-class project.
* Briefly discuss strategies for perseverance (e.g., breaking goals into smaller steps, asking for help, not giving up after a setback).
Step 5
Cool Down: One Big Takeaway
5 minutes
- Ask students to share one important thing they learned about goal setting today.
* Emphasize that everyone can be a "Goal Setting Genius" with practice.
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Slide Deck
Goal Setting Genius: The SMART Goal Quest
What's a goal you have, big or small?
Welcome students and get them thinking about their aspirations. This slide is meant to be a question to kick off discussion.
Unlock Your Superpower: SMART Goals!
Imagine having a superpower that helps you achieve anything you set your mind to! Today, we'll unlock that power with SMART Goals.
Explain that today we're going to learn a 'secret formula' to make our goals powerful. Introduce the acronym SMART.
S: Specific - Be Crystal Clear!
Your goal should be clear and well-defined, not vague. Ask yourself:
- What exactly do I want to achieve?
- Who is involved?
- Where will it happen?
- Why is this important?
Example: Instead of 'I want to be a better reader,' try 'I want to read one chapter of a new book every day.'
Introduce the 'S' in SMART. Provide clear examples of specific vs. vague goals. Engage students by asking them to make a vague goal more specific.
M: Measurable - Track Your Progress!
You need to be able to track your progress and know when you've reached your goal. Ask yourself:
- How much?
- How many?
- How will I know when it is accomplished?
Example: If your goal is to 'read one chapter,' you can measure it by counting the chapters.
Introduce the 'M' in SMART. Discuss how tracking progress helps motivation. Ask students for ideas on how to measure different types of goals.
A: Achievable - Reach for It!
Your goal should be realistic and attainable, not impossible. Ask yourself:
- Can I really do this?
- Do I have the skills or resources?
Example: Running a marathon tomorrow might not be achievable, but training to run a mile by the end of the semester could be!
Introduce the 'A' in SMART. Emphasize the importance of challenging but realistic goals. Discuss the difference between a dream and an achievable goal.
R: Relevant - Why Does it Matter?
Your goal should be important to you and align with what you want to achieve in your life. Ask yourself:
- Is this goal worthwhile?
- Does it align with my values?
- Is it the right time?
Example: If you love animals, volunteering at a shelter is a relevant goal.
Introduce the 'R' in SMART. Connect goals to personal values and interests. Ask students why certain goals might be important to them.
T: Time-bound - Set a Deadline!
Your goal needs a target date for completion. This creates urgency and helps you stay focused. Ask yourself:
- When will I achieve this goal?
- What can I do today, this week, or this month?
Example: 'I will finish my science project by Friday' is time-bound. 'I will finish my science project someday' is not!
Introduce the 'T' in SMART. Explain the motivation that comes from deadlines. Discuss the difference between a vague 'someday' and a concrete 'by when'.
Remember: Be SMART!
A SMART goal is:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
Use this superpower to reach your dreams!
Quick recap of all SMART elements. Reinforce the acronym. This is a good opportunity for a quick Q&A.
My Future Vision Board
Now it's your turn to visualize a SMART goal! Create a vision board to show what your goal looks like when you achieve it.
Think about:
- What specific goal do you want to work towards?
- How will you know when you've achieved it?
Introduce the vision board activity. Explain its purpose and get students excited about visualizing their goals. Remind them to think about SMART principles.
Your Next Adventure: My Personal Goal Map
Your vision board is a great start! Next, you'll create a My Personal Goal Map to plan out how you will achieve your SMART goal. This will help you break down your goal into smaller steps and stay on track!
Explain the next steps and the Project Guide. This slide transitions into the project, which can be started in class and finished as homework.
Project Guide
My Personal Goal Map: Charting Your Course to Success!
Project Goal
To create a detailed plan for achieving a personal SMART goal, breaking it down into manageable steps and preparing for challenges along the way.
What You Will Do
- Choose Your SMART Goal: Reflect on your My Future Vision Board and select one personal goal you want to work on. Make sure it is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
- Map Your Journey: Use the sections below to plan out your steps, resources, and strategies for success.
- Prepare for Adventure: Think about what might make reaching your goal tricky and how you can overcome those challenges.
Project Sections
Section 1: My SMART Goal Statement
Write your complete SMART goal statement here. Remember all five parts!
Section 2: Why This Goal? (Relevance)
Why is this goal important to you? What will you gain by achieving it?
Section 3: Breaking Down My Goal (Specific & Achievable Steps)
Break your big goal into 3-5 smaller, mini-goals or steps. What do you need to do first? What comes next?
- Step 1:
- Step 2:
- Step 3:
- Step 4 (Optional):
- Step 5 (Optional):
Section 4: Measuring My Progress (Measurable)
How will you know if you are on track to achieve your goal? What milestones or check-ins will you use for each step?
- For Step 1, I will measure progress by:
- For Step 2, I will measure progress by:
- For Step 3, I will measure progress by:
Section 5: Timeline (Time-bound)
Set a target date for each step and for your overall goal.
- Target Date for Step 1:
- Target Date for Step 2:
- Target Date for Step 3:
- Overall Goal Completion Date:
Section 6: Resources and Support
What tools, people, or information might help you reach your goal?
Section 7: Overcoming Obstacles (Perseverance Plan)
What challenges might you face while working on your goal? How will you overcome them? Who can help you if you get stuck?
Section 8: Celebrating Success!
How will you celebrate once you achieve your amazing SMART goal?
Rubric
Goal Achievement Tracker Rubric
This rubric will be used to assess your My Personal Goal Map project. It evaluates how well you have applied the SMART goal-setting principles and planned for success and perseverance.
Scoring Guide
- 4 - Exceeds Expectations: Demonstrates exceptional understanding and application; ideas are thoroughly developed and insightful.
- 3 - Meets Expectations: Demonstrates good understanding and application; ideas are clear and well-developed.
- 2 - Partially Meets Expectations: Demonstrates some understanding and application, but areas need more development or clarity.
- 1 - Does Not Meet Expectations: Demonstrates minimal understanding or application; ideas are unclear or missing.
Criteria
1. SMART Goal Statement (Section 1)
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 4 | The goal statement is clearly and thoroughly Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound with excellent detail for each component. |
| 3 | The goal statement is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, with good detail for each component. |
| 2 | The goal statement includes some, but not all, SMART components, or lacks sufficient detail in several areas. |
| 1 | The goal statement is vague and does not clearly address the SMART criteria. |
2. Relevance and Importance (Section 2)
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 4 | Provides a highly insightful and personal explanation of why the goal is important and what will be gained, demonstrating deep reflection. |
| 3 | Provides a clear explanation of why the goal is important and what will be gained, showing good reflection. |
| 2 | Explains why the goal is important but lacks depth or personal connection. |
| 1 | Does not clearly explain the importance of the goal. |
3. Breaking Down the Goal (Section 3)
| Score | Description |
| :---- | :---------- |\n| 4 | Breaks the goal into 4-5 highly specific, logical, and achievable mini-goals/steps, showing excellent foresight and planning. |
| 3 | Breaks the goal into 3-5 specific, logical, and achievable mini-goals/steps. |
| 2 | Breaks the goal into fewer than 3 steps, or the steps are not entirely specific or logical. |
| 1 | Does not break the goal into clear, actionable steps. |
4. Measuring Progress (Section 4)
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 4 | Provides highly clear and practical methods for measuring progress for each step, demonstrating a strong understanding of measurability. |
| 3 | Provides clear and practical methods for measuring progress for each step. |
| 2 | Provides some methods for measuring progress, but they are not always clear or practical for all steps. |
| 1 | Does not provide clear methods for measuring progress. |
5. Timeline (Section 5)
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 4 | Sets realistic and well-defined target dates for each step and the overall goal, showing excellent time management skills. |
| 3 | Sets realistic target dates for each step and the overall goal. |
| 2 | Sets some target dates, but they may be unrealistic or unclear for some steps. |
| 1 | Does not provide clear or realistic target dates. |
6. Perseverance Plan (Section 7)
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 4 | Anticipates potential challenges and provides highly thoughtful, detailed, and proactive strategies for overcoming them, including identifying helpful resources/people. |
| 3 | Anticipates potential challenges and provides clear strategies for overcoming them, including identifying helpful resources/people. |
| 2 | Identifies some challenges but provides limited or vague strategies for overcoming them. |
| 1 | Does not identify challenges or a plan for perseverance. |
Overall Score: