Lesson Plan
Mission Possible Plan
Students will identify and frame one short-term and one long-term personal goal as an exciting “mission,” create a Mission Card, develop action steps in their Field Notes Journal, and use a clear rubric to track and evaluate progress.
Teaching goal setting as a themed “mission” boosts motivation, builds planning skills, and fosters self-regulation by showing students how to break dreams into manageable steps.
Audience
3rd Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Hands-on mission-themed activities guiding goal creation and tracking.
Prep
Review Materials
5 minutes
- Print or prepare enough My Goal Mission Cards and Field Notes Journal for each student
- Queue up the Mission Briefing Slides on your screen
- Read through the Mission Completion Rubric to ensure clarity on criteria
- Arrange desks/workspace for one-on-one planning session
Step 1
Mission Briefing
5 minutes
- Welcome the student and set the space as a “Mission Control” station
- Present the Mission Briefing Slides
- Explain what a mission is and introduce short-term vs. long-term goals with simple examples
- Guide the student to think of one personal goal they want to achieve
Step 2
Create Your Mission Card
10 minutes
- Hand out a My Goal Mission Card
- Prompt the student to write/draw their mission name (goal), deadline, and why it matters
- Help them distinguish between the short-term mission (e.g., finish chapter book) and long-term mission (e.g., learn to swim)
- Encourage colorful visuals and clear mission statements
Step 3
Set Up Field Notes Journal
5 minutes
- Introduce the Field Notes Journal
- Have the student record their two missions on the first page
- Explain how to log daily or weekly progress entries (date, action taken, reflection)
- Demonstrate a sample entry based on a simple task
Step 4
Plan Mission Steps
5 minutes
- Guide the student to list the first three action steps under each mission in the journal
- Teach how to assign simple dates or checkpoints to each step
- Model tracking by filling in one step together as an example
Step 5
Wrap-Up & Rubric
5 minutes
- Review the Mission Completion Rubric
- Discuss what success looks like at each performance level
- Reflect on which step the student will tackle first and set a date for their next journal entry
- Cheer on their upcoming mission start!
use Lenny to create lessons.
Slide Deck
Mission Possible: Your Adventure Begins
Welcome, Agent! Today you’ll plan and launch your very own missions. Think of a mission as a goal you want to achieve on your personal adventure.
Welcome the student and set an enthusiastic tone. Remind them this is a one-on-one mission briefing in Mission Control.
What Is a Mission?
• A mission is like a quest or adventure.
• It’s something you choose to accomplish.
• Missions can be big or small—short trips or long journeys!
Define mission in simple terms. Use examples the student can relate to (e.g., finish a book, learn to ride a bike).
Short-Term Missions
• Quick wins you can finish soon (a few days to a few weeks).
• Examples: finish a chapter book, practice multiplication facts.
Explain short-term missions: goals achievable in days or weeks. Offer one example and ask for another.
Long-Term Missions
• Bigger adventures that take longer (months or a school year).
• Examples: learn to swim, write your own short story.
Explain long-term missions: goals taking more time. Provide an example and ask for an idea.
Choose Your Missions
- Short-Term Mission: ______________________
- Long-Term Mission: ______________________
Why does each mission matter to you?
Guide the student to pick one short-term and one long-term goal. Encourage them to speak aloud.
Next Steps in Mission Control
- Create your Mission Card (name, deadline, why).
- Record missions in your Field Notes Journal.
- Plan 3 action steps for each mission.
- Use the Mission Completion Rubric to track success.
Explain the next steps and materials. Show the physical Mission Card, Field Notes Journal, and Rubric.
Project Guide
My Goal Mission Card Template
Use this card to plan your personal mission. Fill in each section and make it colorful!
Mission Name: ______________________________________________
Deadline: ______________________________________________
Why This Mission Matters:
Draw or Illustrate Your Mission Below:
Rubric
Mission Completion Rubric
Use this rubric to evaluate each part of your mission plan and track your progress through the adventure!
| Criteria | Beginning (1) | Developing (2) | Mastery (3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mission Card Completeness | Only 1–2 sections filled; mission name, deadline, or why is missing; illustration not attempted. | Most sections filled (mission name, deadline, why); illustration is simple or incomplete. | All sections clearly filled (mission name, deadline, why) with a detailed, colorful illustration linked to the mission. |
| Field Notes Journal Entries | 0–1 journal entries; missing date, action taken, or reflection; entries lack detail. | 2–3 journal entries with date and action; reflections are brief or generic. | 4+ detailed entries with date, action taken, and thoughtful reflections showing growth and learning. |
| Action Step Planning | Fewer than 3 steps listed; no dates or checkpoints assigned. | Exactly 3 steps listed but dates/checkpoints are vague or missing. | 3+ clear, specific steps listed for each mission, each with a realistic date or checkpoint. |
| Reflection & Progress Tracking | No connection between reflections and mission steps; little evidence of progress. | Reflections relate to mission steps but lack depth or specific examples of progress. | Reflections clearly link to each action step, highlight challenges and successes, and show evidence of progress. |
How to Use:
- After you complete your Mission Card and begin logging in your Field Notes Journal, circle the level you think best matches your work.
- Use this rubric during the Wrap-Up & Rubric step to reflect on where you are in your mission and what you can do to reach Mastery!
Journal
Field Notes Journal
Use this journal to track each step of your mission. For every entry, fill out the date, choose which mission you worked on, record the action step you completed, reflect on how it went, and plan your next step. Complete one entry each time you make progress!
Entry 1
Date: ______________________________________________
Mission (Short-Term / Long-Term): ____________________
Action Step Completed:
What I Did:
How I Felt:
Next Step:
Entry 2
Date: ______________________________________________
Mission (Short-Term / Long-Term): ____________________
Action Step Completed:
What I Did:
How I Felt:
Next Step:
Entry 3
Date: ______________________________________________
Mission (Short-Term / Long-Term): ____________________
Action Step Completed:
What I Did:
How I Felt:
Next Step:
Entry 4
Date: ______________________________________________
Mission (Short-Term / Long-Term): ____________________
Action Step Completed:
What I Did:
How I Felt:
Next Step:
(Copy additional pages as needed for more entries.)