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Goals & Habits: Your Future Starts Now!

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Lesson Plan

Goals & Habits: Your Future Starts Now!

Students will be able to define what a goal is, identify personal habits, and understand how positive habits contribute to achieving goals.

Understanding goal setting and habit formation empowers students to take ownership of their learning and personal growth, building a foundation for future success.

Audience

6th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, visual aids, and a hands-on activity.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Spark Your Start!

5 minutes

  • Begin with the Spark Your Start! Warm Up to get students thinking about future aspirations.
    - Ask students to quickly jot down one thing they hope to achieve in the next month.
    - Facilitate a brief discussion, asking a few students to share their responses (optional).

Step 2

Introduction to Goals & Habits (Slides)

10 minutes

  • Use the Goal Getters & Habit Heroes Slide Deck to introduce the concepts of goals and habits.
    - Define what a goal is (a desired outcome) and what a habit is (a regular tendency or practice).
    - Discuss the difference between short-term and long-term goals.
    - Engage students with questions about examples of good and bad habits.

Step 3

Activity: My Goal, My Map

10 minutes

  • Distribute the My Goal, My Map Activity worksheet.
    - Guide students through the activity, where they will set a personal short-term goal and identify 2-3 small habits that will help them achieve it.
    - Encourage them to think realistically and specifically.
    - Circulate around the room to offer support and answer questions.

Step 4

Cool-Down: Habit Tracker Huddle

5 minutes

  • Conclude the lesson with the Habit Tracker Huddle Cool Down.
    - Ask students to share one habit they identified for their goal with a partner or the class.
    - Emphasize that even small, consistent habits can lead to big achievements.
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Slide Deck

Welcome, Goal Getters!

Today, we're unlocking the secrets to achieving your dreams!

Welcome students and introduce the exciting topic of goals and habits! Ask a few students to share their responses from the warm-up to build anticipation.

What's a Goal?

It's a target!

  • Something you want to achieve or get.
  • A destination you're aiming for.
  • Your personal 'mission impossible' (that's actually possible!).

Think: What's a goal you've had before?

Introduce the idea that everyone has things they want to achieve, big or small. Explain that a 'goal' is simply something you want to do or achieve.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term

Goals come in all shapes and sizes!

  • Short-Term Goals: Things you can achieve relatively quickly (days, weeks, a few months).
    • Example: Finish reading a book this week.
  • Long-Term Goals: Big aspirations that take more time and effort (months, years).
    • Example: Learn to play a musical instrument proficiently.

Explain the difference between short-term (e.g., finish homework tonight) and long-term (e.g., become a doctor) goals. Ask students for examples of each.

What's a Habit?

Your daily superpower (or kryptonite)!

  • A behavior you do often, sometimes without thinking.
  • Like brushing your teeth, or playing video games every day.

Think: What are some habits you already have?

Transition to habits. Define a habit as something you do regularly, often without even thinking about it. Emphasize that habits can be good or bad for achieving goals.

Good Habits vs. Bad Habits

Your choices shape your destiny!

  • Good Habits: Help you reach your goals!
    • Examples: Doing homework right after school, exercising, reading.
  • Bad Habits: Can make it harder to reach your goals.
    • Examples: Procrastinating, staying up too late, forgetting to study.

Discuss examples of positive habits (e.g., studying, exercising) and negative habits (e.g., procrastinating, excessive screen time). Connect them to how they help or hinder goals.

Habits Help You Hit Your Goals!

The secret ingredient!

  • Imagine your goal is a treasure map.
  • Your habits are the steps you take to find the treasure!

Small, consistent actions lead to big achievements.

Briefly introduce the idea that we can intentionally choose and build habits that support our goals. This sets up the upcoming activity.

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Warm Up

Spark Your Start!

Welcome, future achievers! To get our brains buzzing, let's do a quick warm-up.

Your Future, Now!

Think about the next month. It could be school, a hobby, or something personal. What is ONE thing you hope to achieve or get better at in the next month?

It doesn't have to be huge, just something that matters to you!










Share (optional): Be ready to share your goal with the class or a partner!

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Activity

My Goal, My Map: Charting Your Path to Success!

It's time to put what we've learned into practice! You're going to choose one short-term goal and then figure out the small, powerful habits that will help you reach it.

Step 1: Choose Your Destination (Your Goal!)

Think about a short-term goal you want to achieve in the next few weeks or months. It could be:

  • Improving a grade in a subject.
  • Learning a new skill (like juggling or a new dance move).
  • Finishing a personal project.
  • Being more organized.
  • Something else entirely! Make it something you truly want to accomplish.

My Short-Term Goal:







Step 2: Plot Your Course (Your Habits!)

Now, brainstorm 2-3 small, consistent habits you can start doing regularly that will help you achieve your goal. Remember, habits are daily actions!

  • If your goal is to improve your math grade: A habit could be "Spend 15 minutes reviewing math notes every evening." or "Ask one question in math class each day."
  • If your goal is to learn a new skill: A habit could be "Practice for 10 minutes after dinner." or "Watch one tutorial video before bed."

My Habits to Reach My Goal:










Step 3: Why These Habits?

Briefly explain why you chose these specific habits. How will they directly help you achieve your goal?












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Cool Down

Habit Tracker Huddle

Before you head out, let's quickly reflect on your amazing goal-setting work!

Your One Powerful Habit

From the activity we just completed, write down just ONE of the habits you identified that you think will be most helpful in reaching your goal.







Bonus: Share this habit with a partner or quietly think about when you will start practicing it!

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