Big Dreams Warm-Up

Time: 5 minutes

Instructions:

1. Teacher: "Good morning, dreamers! Let's start our day by thinking about something super exciting! I want you to close your eyes for a moment (or look at your toes if closing your eyes feels funny) and think about something you really, really want to do or learn. Maybe it's learning to tie your shoes, or building a tall tower, or even helping your family with a chore!"
2. Teacher: "Now, open your eyes! Who wants to share their big dream with us? Raise your hand if you have a dream!"
3. Call on a few students to share their dreams. Encourage short, simple answers.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Teacher: "Wow, those are amazing dreams! Today, we're going to learn how to make those big dreams happen. We're going to learn about 'goals'!"

Teacher's Script: Goals - Big Dreams!

Warm-Up: Big Dreams! (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, dreamers! Let's start our day by thinking about something super exciting! I want you to close your eyes for a moment (or look at your toes if closing your eyes feels funny) and think about something you really, really want to do or learn. Maybe it's learning to tie your shoes, or building a tall tower, or even helping your family with a chore!"

(Pause for students to think. Encourage a calm environment.)

Teacher: "Now, open your eyes! Who wants to share their big dream with us? Raise your hand if you have a dream!"

(Call on a few students, encouraging short, simple answers.)

Teacher: "Wow, those are amazing dreams! Today, we're going to learn how to make those big dreams happen. We're going to learn about 'goals'!"

Introduction to Goals (10 minutes)

(Transition to Big Dreams Slide Deck - Slide 1: Big Dreams!)

Teacher: "Look at our first slide! It says 'Big Dreams!' Just like we talked about, we all have things we want to do, learn, or be. These are like our big dreams!"

(Transition to Big Dreams Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is a GOAL?)

Teacher: "See this word? It's GOAL! Can everyone say 'GOAL'? A goal is a special kind of big dream. It's something you really want to do, and you make a plan to work towards it. Like learning to ride a bike without training wheels, or learning to count to 20, or helping your parents set the table every night! Those are all goals! It's something you aim for."

Teacher: "Think about it like this: if you want to build a super tall block tower, your goal is to build the tower, right? And you need to put one block on top of another to make it happen. That's working towards your goal!"

(Transition to Big Dreams Slide Deck - Slide 3: Why are Goals Important?)

Teacher: "Why do you think it's important to have goals? The slide tells us goals help us learn new things, get better at stuff, and feel proud! When you work hard to learn something new, like writing your name, and then you do it, how do you feel? You feel super proud! That's why goals are awesome!"

Teacher: "Now, I have a special story for you called Reading: The Little Turtle Who Could. It's about a little turtle who had a big dream!"

(Read the first section of Reading: The Little Turtle Who Could aloud to the class. Pause after the turtle states his big dream.)

Teacher: "What was the little turtle's big dream? (Allow responses) Yes! To reach the sparkly shell! That's his goal! Do you think he can do it? How will he do it?"

Video & Discussion: Setting Simple Goals (15 minutes)

(Transition to Big Dreams Slide Deck - Slide 4: Let's Watch: Working Towards a Goal!)

Teacher: "We just learned about the little turtle's goal. Now, let's watch a video about someone else working towards their goal! Pay attention to what they do to make their dream come true."

(Play the embedded video. After the video, facilitate a short discussion.)

Teacher: "What did our friend in the video want to do? What small things did they do to reach their goal? (Guide answers to focus on the small steps.)"

(Transition to Big Dreams Slide Deck - Slide 5: What's YOUR Big Dream Goal?)

Teacher: "Now it's your turn to think! What is one thing you want to do or learn? This doesn't have to be super big, maybe it's something simple like learning a new letter, or sharing your toys, or putting your shoes on the right feet! Let's have a Discussion: My Own Big Dream. Who has a simple goal they can share?"

(Allow a few students to share their simple goals. Prompt them to think about a small first step.)

Teacher: "That's a great goal! And what is one small step you can take today to get closer to that goal? If your goal is to share toys more, maybe a small step is to ask a friend, 'Can we play with this together?' If your goal is to learn a new letter, maybe a small step is to practice drawing that letter one time!"

(Transition to Big Dreams Slide Deck - Slide 6: Small Steps to Big Dreams!)

Teacher: "See? To reach our goals, we take small steps, like climbing stairs, one step at a time! Each small step helps us get closer to our big dream."

Activity: Goal Scavenger Hunt (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Alright, superstar goal setters! It's time for a Goal Scavenger Hunt Activity! I have some pictures hidden around the room. Each picture shows someone doing something. Some show a goal, and some show a small step towards a goal. Your job is to find a picture, and tell me if it's a 'goal' or a 'small step'!"

(Explain the rules clearly. Guide students in groups or individually to find pictures and discuss. Example pictures: a child reading a book (goal: read a book), a child holding a crayon (small step: practice writing).)

Worksheet: My First Goal (10 minutes)

Teacher: "You've all done a fantastic job understanding goals! Now, you get to create your very own goal on your My First Goal Worksheet!"

(Distribute the worksheet.)

Teacher: "On this paper, I want you to draw a picture of your goal – your big dream! And then, draw or tell me one small step you can take to make that dream come true. I will come around and help you write down your small step if you tell me what it is."

(Circulate, provide support, and encourage students to articulate their goals and steps. Assist with writing for pre-writers.)

Game: Goal Path (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Time for a fun game! We're going to play the Goal Path Game! This game shows us how taking one step at a time helps us reach our goal. We'll all stand up and pretend to walk on a path. Every time I say a 'small step,' we take a step forward. When we reach the end, we've achieved our 'goal'!"

(Lead the game. Example: "Small step: practice counting to 5." take a step "Small step: practice counting to 10." take a step "Goal: count to 20!" big cheer!)

Wrap-Up & Cool Down (5 minutes)

(Transition to Big Dreams Slide Deck - Slide 7: You Are A Goal Setter!)

Teacher: "Wow, what amazing goal setters you all are! What did we learn about today? (Goals!)

Teacher: "Remember, a goal is like a big dream you want to make happen, and you get there by taking small steps. You are all capable of setting and achieving wonderful things!"

Teacher: "For our My Goal Reflection Cool Down, I want everyone to think: What is one new thing you learned about goals today? Turn to a partner and share your thought, or raise your hand to tell the class."

(Call on a few students. Collect My First Goal Worksheet.)

Teacher: "Excellent job today, everyone! Keep thinking about those big dreams and those small steps!"

The Little Turtle Who Could

Once upon a time, in a shimmering blue pond, lived a tiny turtle named Timmy. Timmy loved to play and splash, but more than anything, he loved sparkly things. One sunny morning, Timmy saw the most beautiful, shimmering shell on the tippy-top of a big, smooth rock. It sparkled like a hundred tiny stars!

"Wow!" whispered Timmy. "I want that sparkly shell! It will be my most special treasure!"

Timmy knew it wouldn't be easy. The rock was tall, and Timmy was small. He tried to scuttle up, but he slipped and slid. Plop! He landed back in the water.

His friend, a wise old fish named Finny, swam by. "What's wrong, Timmy?" asked Finny.

"I want that sparkly shell, but the rock is too big! It's my big dream, my goal, but I can't reach it," sighed Timmy.

"You can do it, Timmy!" chirped Finny. "But maybe you need to take small steps. Don't try to get all the way up at once. Try just one tiny climb, then rest. Then another tiny climb."

Timmy thought about Finny's words. Instead of trying to leap to the top, he decided to try a small step. He found a little bump on the rock and pulled himself up. It was hard, but he did it! He rested for a moment, feeling proud.

Then, he looked for another small bump. Pull, pull, pull! Another small step. He kept going, one tiny climb after another. Sometimes he slipped a little, but he remembered his goal and kept trying.

Slowly but surely, Timmy moved higher and higher. Each small step brought him closer to the shimmering shell. His little legs were tired, but his heart was full of determination.

Finally, with one last pull, Timmy reached the top! He gently nudged the sparkly shell. It was even more beautiful up close! He felt so happy and proud. He had achieved his big dream, his goal, by taking many small steps, one after another.

Discussion: My Own Big Dream

Time: 5 minutes (integrated into the lesson)

Objective: To help students verbalize a simple personal goal and consider initial steps.

Instructions for Teacher:

After showing the video and transitioning to Slide 5 of the Big Dreams Slide Deck:

Teacher: "Now it's your turn to think! What is one thing you want to do or learn? This doesn't have to be super big, maybe it's something simple like learning a new letter, or sharing your toys, or putting your shoes on the right feet! Who has a simple goal they can share?"

• Prompt 1: "Who can tell us one thing they really want to learn or do?" (Give students time to think and share.)
  
  
  
  

• Prompt 2: "That's a fantastic goal! Now, think about the little turtle. He took small steps. What is one small step you could take to start working towards your goal?"

  • Example follow-up: If a student says, "I want to learn to draw a star," you might ask, "What's the first small step? Maybe practicing drawing one line?"
  • Example follow-up: If a student says, "I want to help my mom," you might ask, "What's one small way you can help? Maybe putting your shoes away?"
    
    
    
    

• Prompt 3: "Why do you think it's important to think about these small steps?" (Guide answers towards making big goals feel easier and achievable.)
  
  
  
  

Teacher: "Great job sharing your big dreams and thinking about your small steps! Remember, every big journey starts with one small step!"

Goal Scavenger Hunt Activity

Time: 10 minutes (integrated into the lesson)

Objective: Students will identify pictures representing simple goals and the small steps needed to achieve them.

Materials:

• Pre-printed pictures (approx. 5-7) showing various simple goals and small steps. Examples:
  • Goal: A child proudly holding up a drawing/painting. (Small steps: practicing drawing shapes, coloring, holding a crayon.)
  • Goal: A child tying their shoelaces. (Small steps: practicing making a loop, holding the laces.)
  • Goal: A clean playroom/bedroom. (Small steps: putting away one toy, putting books on a shelf.)
  • Goal: A child reaching for a high toy. (Small steps: stretching, standing on tiptoes, asking for help.)
  • Small Step: A child brushing their teeth. (Goal: having clean teeth/good hygiene.)
  • Small Step: A child putting on one sock. (Goal: getting dressed by myself.)
  • Small Step: A child pouring water carefully into a cup. (Goal: drinking water independently without spills.)
• Tape or blue tack to hide pictures around the classroom.

Instructions for Teacher:

1. Preparation: Before class, print and hide the pictures around the classroom at child-friendly heights.
2. Introduction (Teacher): "Alright, superstar goal setters! It's time for a Goal Scavenger Hunt Activity! I have hidden some pictures around our room. Each picture shows someone doing something. Your job is to find a picture, and tell me if it's a 'goal' (a big dream) or a 'small step' (one little thing you do to reach a big dream)!"
3. Explain Rules: "When you find a picture, bring it to me or your small group. Then we will talk about it! Remember to be gentle with the pictures and with each other while searching."
4. Guided Search: Divide students into small groups or allow them to search individually, depending on class dynamics and space. Encourage them to look carefully, not just grab.
5. Discussion & Classification: As students find pictures:
   • Ask: "What do you see in this picture?"
   • Ask: "Do you think this is a goal or a small step? Why?"
   • Guide them to explain their reasoning. For example, if they pick a child holding a broom, ask: "What is the goal?" (A clean room!) "What is the small step?" (Sweeping!) If they pick a child with a finished painting, ask: "What was the goal?" (To make a painting!) "What were some small steps?" (Holding a brush, mixing colors.)
6. Reinforcement: Celebrate their discoveries and understanding. Reiterate that goals are big dreams and small steps help us get there.

My First Goal Worksheet

Name: _____________________________

My Big Dream Goal!

What is something you really, really want to do or learn? Draw a picture of your goal in the box below!

One Small Step!

What is ONE tiny thing you can do to start working towards your goal? Draw or ask your teacher to write it here!

Goal Path Game

Time: 5 minutes (integrated into the lesson)

Objective: To physically demonstrate and reinforce the concept of taking small steps to reach a goal.

Materials:

• Optional: Masking tape on the floor to create a "path" (about 5-7 steps long) or simply use an imaginary path.
• Picture of a "goal" at the end of the path (e.g., a trophy, a happy face, a finished drawing).

Instructions for Teacher:

1. Preparation: If using tape, create a simple path on the floor with clearly marked steps. Place the "goal" picture at the end.

2. Introduction (Teacher): "Time for a fun game! We're going to play the Goal Path Game! Remember how we talked about taking small steps to reach our big dreams? This game will show us just how that works!"

3. Explain Rules: "We're all going to stand at the beginning of our goal path. I will say a 'small step' related to a goal, and when I do, you take ONE step forward. We keep taking small steps until we reach our big 'goal' at the end of the path!"

4. Play the Game: Choose a simple, relatable goal for the class to achieve together. Announce small steps clearly.

   • Teacher: "Our goal is to learn to sing our ABCs! Let's start!"
   • Teacher: "Small step: Listen to the ABC song!" (Students take one step.)
   • Teacher: "Small step: Sing the first three letters (A, B, C)!" (Students take one step.)
   • Teacher: "Small step: Sing the next three letters (D, E, F)!" (Students take one step.)
   • Teacher: "Small step: Practice singing the whole song!" (Students take one step.)
   • Teacher: "Small step: Sing it with our friends!" (Students take one step.)
   • Teacher: "Small step: Sing it clearly and proudly!" (Students take one step.)
   • Teacher: "GOAL: We can all sing our ABCs!" (Students reach the end of the path and cheer!)

5. Variations (if time allows):

   • Choose another simple goal (e.g., cleaning up the classroom, learning to count to 10).
   • Let students suggest a goal and brainstorm the small steps together.

Teacher: "Great job everyone! See how taking one small step after another helped us reach our goal? You are all super goal path walkers!"

Quiz Answer Key: My Goal Check!

This answer key provides guidance for assessing pre-primary students' understanding of goal setting. Look for concepts that align with the lesson's objectives rather than perfect phrasing for open-response questions.

Question 1: What is a goal?

Correct Answer: A big dream you want to make happen.

Reasoning: The lesson defines a goal as a "big dream you want to make happen" and something "you work towards." Students should demonstrate an understanding that a goal is an aspiration or desired outcome.

Question 2: If your goal is to build a tall tower, what is a small step you can take?

Correct Answer: Put one block on another.

Reasoning: This question assesses the understanding of taking incremental steps towards a larger goal. The correct answer highlights a concrete, achievable action.

Question 3: Tell me one thing you want to do or learn. That's your goal!

Correct Answer: (Varies by student. Look for a clear desire or aspiration.)

Reasoning: This open-response question allows students to personalize the concept of a goal. Accept any age-appropriate response that indicates a personal desire or learning objective (e.g., "learn to tie my shoes," "read a book," "be a helper," "draw a cat"). The focus is on their ability to articulate a goal, not necessarily a SMART goal at this age.

My Dream Project Guide: Show and Tell Your Goal!

Objective: Students will create a visual representation of a personal goal and a small step they can take to achieve it.

Time: This project can be introduced in class and completed at home with family, or done over several shorter sessions in class.

Materials:

• Large piece of paper or cardboard
• Drawing supplies (crayons, markers, colored pencils)
• Optional: Craft materials (glitter, stickers, glue, construction paper, magazine cutouts)

Project Steps:

1. Choose Your Dream Goal!

   • Think about something you really, really want to do, learn, or be! (Like learning to hop on one foot, helping with chores, or building a big fort.)
   • This is your BIG DREAM GOAL!

2. Draw Your Goal!

   • On your paper, draw a big picture of what it looks like when you achieve your goal. Make it colorful and exciting!
   • Example: If your goal is to learn to tie your shoes, you might draw yourself happily tying your shoes.

3. Draw Your Small Step!

   • Now, think about one small thing you can do to start working towards that big goal.
   • Next to your big goal picture, draw a smaller picture of this first small step.
   • Example: If your goal is to tie your shoes, your small step might be practicing making a loop with a string.

4. Tell Your Story (Optional, with adult help):

   • An adult can help you write a sentence or two about your big dream goal and your small step.
   • Example: "My goal is to tie my shoes! My small step is to practice making bunny ears."

Show and Tell!

• When your project is finished, you will get to show and tell your project to your classmates!
• You will share:
  • What your big dream goal is.
  • What your small step is.
  • Why this goal is important to you.

Remember: There are no wrong answers for your dreams! Have fun with your project!

My Dream Project Rubric

Student Name: ________________________

Date: __________________________

This rubric is designed for pre-primary students and focuses on effort, participation, and basic understanding rather than complex execution. Teachers can use a simple checkmark system or a 1-2 point scale.

Project Goal: Show and Tell Your Goal!

Teacher Comments:

Overall Feedback:

• Fantastic Goal Setter! (Shows great understanding and effort)
• Keep Practicing! (Developing understanding and effort)
• Let's Work Together! (Needs more support to understand goals)

My Goal Reflection Cool Down

Time: 3 minutes

Objective: Students will reflect on one key learning about goal setting from the lesson.

Instructions for Teacher:

1. Teacher: "You were all fantastic goal setters today! Before we finish, I want you to think about all the amazing things we learned about goals."
2. Prompt: "What is one new thing you learned about goals today? It could be what a goal is, why it's important, or how taking small steps helps."
3. Think-Pair-Share (Optional):
   • "First, think quietly in your head for a moment." (Pause for reflection).
   • "Now, turn to your partner next to you and whisper one thing you learned." (Allow 30 seconds for sharing).
   • "Who would like to share their learning with the whole class?" (Call on a few students to share).
4. Quick Share: Alternatively, ask for hands up for a quick share from the whole class.
   
   
   
   
5. Teacher: "Wonderful sharing, everyone! Remember, you all have big dreams, and now you know how to start taking those small steps to make them happen! Give yourselves a pat on the back for being such great learners!"