Next-Stop Success Lesson Plan
Students will reflect on their 3rd-grade journey by identifying proud moments, celebrate their growth, and set clear, actionable goals for 4th grade.
This lesson builds self-awareness, confidence, and goal-setting skills. Celebrating successes fosters motivation, while planning next steps empowers students for a smooth transition to 4th grade.
Guided reflection, sharing, and goal-setting with individual worksheets
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
Step 1
Welcome and Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Greet students in a circle and lead a 1-minute mindful breathing exercise
- Explain: “Today we’ll look back on our year, celebrate what we’ve learned, and plan for 4th grade!”
- Point to the “My 3rd Grade Journey” chart paper and introduce the timeline
Step 2
Individual Reflection
7 minutes
- Distribute the Reflection and Goal-Setting Worksheet
- Instruct students to complete Part 1: “My Favorite 3rd Grade Memory” and “Something I’m Proud Of”
- Circulate to support and encourage detail in their responses
Step 3
Partner Share
5 minutes
- Pair students up and have them take turns sharing one thing from their reflection
- Encourage active listening: partners should ask one question or give a compliment
- After 3 minutes, invite pairs to quickly share highlights with the whole group
Step 4
Goal Setting
7 minutes
- Guide students to complete Part 2 of the worksheet: “My Goal for 4th Grade” and “Steps to Achieve My Goal”
- Prompt with examples (e.g., reading more, making new friends, staying organized)
- Remind them to write at least two concrete steps toward their goal
Step 5
Group Celebration and Closing
6 minutes
- Invite a few volunteers to share their 4th grade goal and steps
- Use Sticky Notes for students to write one word about how they feel (e.g., “Excited,” “Ready”) and post around the chart
- Close by celebrating each student’s work and reminding them they’re prepared for their next adventure
