Lesson Plan
Goals That Guide You Lesson Plan
Students will write one SMART goal that is aligned with one of their core values.
This lesson is important because it equips students with a practical framework for setting achievable goals and connecting them to what truly matters in their lives. By aligning goals with values, students develop intrinsic motivation and a clearer sense of purpose, enhancing their ability to plan for and achieve future success.
Audience
8th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Direct instruction, guided practice, independent work, and peer feedback.
Materials
Goals That Guide You: Your North Star? Slide Deck, SMART Goal Builder Worksheet, and Goal Feedback Rubric
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Goals That Guide You: Your North Star? Slide Deck and teacher notes.
- Print copies of the SMART Goal Builder Worksheet (one per student).
- Print copies of the Goal Feedback Rubric (one per student or one per pair).
- Ensure projector/smartboard is set up for the slide deck.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Your Big Goal
5 minutes
Do Now (5 minutes)
- Prompt: "What is one big goal you have for yourself, either for this school year or in your personal life? Write it down on a piece of scratch paper or in your notebook."
- Share (Optional): Invite a few students to briefly share their goals with the class. Acknowledge the variety of goals and introduce the idea that this lesson will help them make these goals even more powerful.
Step 2
Teach: SMART Goals & Values
10 minutes
Introduction to SMART Goals (5 minutes)
- Use the Goals That Guide You: Your North Star? Slide Deck to introduce the SMART goal criteria:
- Specific: What exactly do I want to achieve?
- Measurable: How will I know when I've achieved it?
- Achievable: Is this goal realistic given my resources?
- Relevant: Why is this goal important to me? Does it align with my values?
- Time-bound: When do I want to achieve this goal?
- Discuss: Briefly discuss how each component strengthens a goal.
### Connecting to Values (5 minutes)
- On the Goals That Guide You: Your North Star? Slide Deck, introduce the concept of core values (e.g., honesty, creativity, kindness, success, learning, community).
- Activity: Ask students to quietly reflect on 1-2 core values that are important to them.
- Explain: Emphasize that aligning goals with values makes them more meaningful and motivating.
Step 3
Draft: Your SMART Goal
8 minutes
Guided Practice: Drafting a SMART Goal (8 minutes)
- Distribute the SMART Goal Builder Worksheet.
- Instructions: Guide students through the worksheet, prompting them to:
1. Identify one core value.
2. Brainstorm a goal related to that value.
3. Refine their goal using each SMART criterion, filling out the corresponding sections of the worksheet.
- Circulate: Provide individual support and answer questions as students work on their drafts. Encourage them to be specific and realistic.
Step 4
Peer Feedback & Refinement
7 minutes
Peer Feedback (5 minutes)
- Partner students up (or assign small groups).
- Distribute the Goal Feedback Rubric.
- Instructions: "Using the Goal Feedback Rubric, take turns reviewing your partner's SMART goal. Provide constructive feedback on whether it meets all the SMART criteria and clearly connects to a core value."
- Teacher Role: Monitor discussions, ensuring feedback is constructive and focused on the rubric.
### Wrap-up (2 minutes)
- Ask students to identify one area where they will refine their goal based on feedback.
- Prompt: "How does having a SMART goal connected to your values change how you feel about achieving it?"
- Collect worksheets and rubrics.
Slide Deck
Goals That Guide You: Your North Star?
What's a big dream or goal you have?
Welcome students and introduce the day's topic: goal setting. Start with an engaging question to activate prior knowledge.
What's a SMART Goal?
A way to make your goals super clear and achievable!
Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve?
Measurable: How will you know when you've reached it?
Achievable: Is this goal realistic for you?
Relevant: Does it matter to you? Does it align with your values?
Time-bound: When do you want to achieve it by?
Explain what SMART goals are and why they're important. Emphasize that these criteria make goals clearer and more attainable.
S is for Specific
Vague Goal: I want to be good at sports.
Specific Goal: I want to be able to run a mile in under 8 minutes.
Ask yourself: Who, What, Where, When, Why?
Go through each letter of SMART with a brief explanation and example. Encourage student input for examples if appropriate.
M is for Measurable
Vague Goal: I want to read more.
Measurable Goal: I want to read 10 new books this year.
Ask yourself: How much? How many? How will I know when it is accomplished?
Continue with 'M' for Measurable. Discuss how progress is tracked.
A is for Achievable
Unachievable Goal: I want to fly to the moon by myself this summer.
Achievable Goal: I want to learn 10 new coding commands by the end of the month.
Ask yourself: Is this realistic? Do I have the resources/skills?
Explain 'A' for Achievable. It's about being realistic, not easy.
R is for Relevant
Irrelevant Goal: I want to learn to play the tuba even though I hate music.
Relevant Goal: I want to improve my public speaking skills to feel more confident in class presentations.
Ask yourself: Does this goal matter to me? Is it worthwhile? Does it align with my values?
Focus on 'R' for Relevant. This is where values connection comes in strongly.
T is for Time-Bound
Vague Goal: I want to clean my room.
Time-Bound Goal: I want to clean my room by Saturday afternoon.
Ask yourself: When will I achieve this goal? What is the deadline?
Conclude with 'T' for Time-bound. Stress the importance of a deadline.
Your Core Values: What Matters Most?
What are the most important things in life to you?
- Examples: Honesty, creativity, kindness, success, learning, family, community, adventure, personal growth.
When your goals connect to your values, they become more meaningful and motivating!
Introduce the concept of core values and why they are important for goal setting.
Your Turn: Build Your SMART Goal!
You'll now draft your own SMART goal that connects to one of your core values.
Use your SMART Goal Builder Worksheet to guide you.
Transition to the activity, explaining that students will now draft their own SMART goal.
Share & Refine: Peer Feedback
Work with a partner to review each other's SMART goals.
Use the Goal Feedback Rubric to give constructive feedback. Remember to be kind, helpful, and specific!
What's one thing you'll refine after feedback?
Explain the peer feedback process and the use of the rubric.
You've Got This!
Setting SMART goals aligned with your values gives you a clear path forward. Keep aiming for your North Star!
Wrap up the lesson, reiterating the main takeaway.
Worksheet
SMART Goal Builder Worksheet
Name: _____________________________
Date: _____________________________
Part 1: Discovering Your Values
Before we set goals, let's think about what's important to you.
-
List 2-3 core values that guide your life. (Examples: honesty, creativity, kindness, success, learning, family, community, adventure, personal growth)
-
Choose one core value that you want your goal to connect with today.
My chosen core value: _____________________________
Part 2: Building Your SMART Goal
Now, let's draft a goal connected to your chosen value and make it SMART!
My Initial Goal Idea:
Let's Make It SMART!
S - Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve? (Who, What, Where, When, Why?)
M - Measurable: How will you know when you've achieved it? How will you track progress? (How much? How many?)
A - Achievable: Is this goal realistic given your current resources and skills? What steps can you take?
R - Relevant: Why is this goal important to you? How does it connect to your chosen core value?
T - Time-Bound: When exactly do you want to achieve this goal? What is your deadline?
My Final SMART Goal:
(Write your complete SMART goal here, combining all the elements above.)
____________________________________________________________________________________
## Part 3: Action Plan
What are the first 1-2 steps you will take to start working towards your goal?
Rubric
Goal Feedback Rubric
Reviewer Name: _____________________________
Goal Creator: _____________________________
Read your partner's SMART Goal and use this rubric to provide constructive feedback. For each criterion, circle the score that best describes their goal and write a brief comment.
| Criteria | 4 - Excellent | 3 - Good | 2 - Developing | 1 - Needs Improvement | Comments/Suggestions for Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specific | Goal is crystal clear, answers all W-questions. | Goal is clear, but could be more detailed. | Goal is somewhat vague; more details needed. | Goal is very vague and unclear. | |
| Measurable | Clear metrics for progress and achievement. | Metrics are present but could be more precise. | Metrics are unclear or missing; hard to track. | No clear way to measure progress. | |
| Achievable | Goal is realistic and clearly within reach. | Goal is mostly realistic with minor adjustments. | Goal might be too challenging without more support. | Goal is unrealistic or impossible to achieve. | |
| Relevant | Goal strongly aligns with a stated core value. | Goal generally aligns with a core value. | Connection to core value is weak or unclear. | Goal does not connect to any stated core value. | |
| Time-Bound | A clear and realistic deadline is provided. | A deadline is provided, but could be clearer. | The deadline is vague or missing. | No deadline is given. |
Overall Feedback & Next Steps:
-
What is the strongest aspect of your partner's SMART Goal?
-
What is one specific suggestion you have to make their goal even stronger?
-
Does the action plan include clear first steps? (Yes/No) If not, what would you suggest?