Warm Up: Goal Brainstorm

Take a few minutes to think about your hopes and dreams! What are some things you would like to achieve or do?

It could be anything! Big or small. For school, for fun, for yourself, for others.

Jot down at least 3 ideas below.

My SMART Goal Worksheet

Now it's your turn to create a SMART goal! Think about something you want to achieve. Use the steps below to make your goal super effective!

1. What is your GOAL idea?

• Start with a general idea. What do you want to accomplish?

2. Make it SMART!

Let's refine your goal using the SMART framework.

Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve? Who is involved? Where will it happen? Why is it important?

Measurable: How will you know when you've reached your goal? How much? How many?

Achievable: Is this goal realistic and something you can actually do? Do you have the resources?

Relevant: Is this goal important to you? Does it align with your values or other goals?

Time-bound: When do you want to achieve this goal? Set a deadline!

My Final SMART Goal:

Write your complete SMART goal here, using all the details you planned above.

Cool Down: My Goal Reflection

Before you go, take a moment to reflect on the SMART goal you created today.

1. What is one thing you are excited about regarding your SMART goal?
   
   
   
2. What is the very first step you will take to start working towards your goal?
   
   
   
3. What is one challenge you might face, and how could you try to overcome it?
   
   
   
   
   

Goal Setting: Your Future Starts Now! Script

Warm Up: Goal Brainstorm (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important for your future: goals! Let's start with a quick brainstorm."

"Look at the Warm Up: Goal Brainstorm on the screen. I want you to take a few minutes to think about any hopes or dreams you have. What are some things you would like to achieve or do? It could be anything at all – big or small, related to school, sports, a hobby, helping others, or just something for yourself."

"Jot down at least three ideas on your paper or in your notebook. Don't worry about how you'll do it yet, just brainstorm!"

(Allow 2-3 minutes for students to write.)

Teacher: "Alright, who would like to share one of their goals? Remember, no goal is too big or too small!"

(Facilitate a brief share-out, calling on a few students. Acknowledge and affirm their ideas.)

Teacher: "Fantastic ideas, everyone! It's great to think about what you want to achieve. Today, we're going to learn how to make those dreams and ideas into actual, achievable goals."

Introduction to Goals & Why They Matter (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Let's dive into our Smart Goals Slide Deck."

(Advance to Slide 2: What's a Goal?)

Teacher: "So, what exactly is a goal? As you can see, a goal is simply something you want to achieve or do in the future. It's like a target you're aiming for."

"Can anyone give me another example of a goal? Maybe something they've heard someone say or a goal they've had in the past?" (Allow 1-2 student responses.)

(Advance to Slide 3: Why Are Goals Important?)

Teacher: "Why do you think setting goals is important? What's the point?"

(Listen to student responses and affirm key ideas.)

Teacher: "Exactly! As the slide shows, goals help us know what we're working towards, keep us focused and motivated, let us track our progress, and give us that amazing feeling of pride when we achieve something! Think about learning a new skill in a video game – you have a goal, you practice, you get better, and then you achieve it! That's a great feeling."

Understanding SMART Goals (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Now, how do we make our goals really effective? How do we make sure they're not just wishes, but actual plans? That's where the SMART method comes in!"

(Advance to Slide 4: Make Your Goals SMART!)

Teacher: "SMART is an acronym, which means each letter stands for a different word. These words are like superpowers for your goals. They make your goals clear, focused, and much easier to achieve. Let's break down each letter."

(Advance to Slide 5: S is for Specific)

Teacher: "The 'S' in SMART stands for Specific. This means your goal should be clear and well-defined. Don't just say, 'I want to get better at math.' That's vague. Instead, be specific: 'I want to correctly solve 10 multiplication problems in 5 minutes by the end of the month.' It's much clearer what you're aiming for."

"Think about your warm-up goals. How could you make one of your general goals more specific? Anyone want to share an example?"

(Allow 1-2 students to share ideas.)

(Advance to Slide 6: M is for Measurable)

Teacher: "Next, 'M' is for Measurable. You need a way to track your progress and know when you've reached your goal. How much? How many? How will you know it's done? If you say, 'I will read more this week,' how will you know if you did it? But if you say, 'I will read 3 chapters of my book this week,' then you can measure your progress!"

"What makes a goal measurable? What kind of words or ideas help us measure?" (Guide them to think about numbers, quantities, completion.)

(Advance to Slide 7: A is for Achievable)

Teacher: "The 'A' is for Achievable. Your goal should be realistic and something you can actually accomplish. It's great to dream big, but a goal needs to be something you have the power to do. Learning to fly by tomorrow isn't achievable for us! But practicing shooting hoops for 20 minutes every day to improve your basketball skills is. It's challenging, but possible."

"Why is it important for a goal to be achievable? What happens if a goal is not achievable?" (Discuss frustration, giving up.)

(Advance to Slide 8: R is for Relevant)

Teacher: "'R' is for Relevant. Your goal should be important and meaningful to you. Does it really matter to you? Is it worth your time and effort? If a goal isn't relevant to you, you're less likely to stick with it. Completing your science project on time is relevant if you want to learn more about science or get a good grade."

"What makes a goal relevant to you personally?"

(Advance to Slide 9: T is for Time-Bound)

Teacher: "Finally, 'T' is for Time-bound. Your goal needs a deadline! When will you achieve this goal? Without a deadline, it's easy to keep putting it off. 'I will finish my book report by Friday' is time-bound. 'I will finish my book report someday' is not."

"Why does having a deadline make a goal easier to achieve?"

(Advance to Slide 10: You've Got This!)

Teacher: "You've learned the secret to setting super effective goals! The SMART method helps us make our dreams a reality."

Your SMART Goal Worksheet (7 minutes)

Teacher: "Now it's your turn to put this into practice. I'm going to hand out the Smart Goal Worksheet. On this worksheet, I want you to choose one of your brainstormed ideas or come up with a new one, and then make it SMART. Use the questions on the worksheet to guide you through making your goal Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound."

(Distribute the worksheets. Circulate around the room, providing individual support and answering questions.)

Teacher: "Remember, this is about your goals. Take your time to think it through."

Cool Down: My Goal Reflection (3 minutes)

Teacher: "Alright everyone, let's wrap up our lesson on goals. Please put your SMART Goal Worksheets aside for a moment."

"I'm handing out a quick exit ticket called Cool Down: My Goal Reflection. On this sheet, I want you to answer three short questions about your SMART goal and what you'll do next."

(Distribute the cool-down slips.)

Teacher: "When you're finished, please hand me your reflection sheet as you leave class. Great work today, everyone! Keep thinking about those amazing goals!"