Lesson Plan
Pathfinder Adventure Plan
Students will embark on a forest adventure to practice setting and mapping short- and long-term goals by making decisions and planning steps to reach their chosen destinations.
Building early goal-setting skills helps kindergarteners learn planning, decision-making, and following through—essential for future academic and life success.
Audience
Kindergarten
Time
25 minutes
Approach
Narrative adventure with interactive activities
Materials
Prep
Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Forest Path Slides to familiarize yourself with the story flow and images.
- Print enough copies of the Map Your Path Sheet for each student.
- Gather materials for the Choose-Your-Path Game (path cards, tokens, spinner or dice).
- Arrange seating in a semi-circle for the Path Reflection Circle activity.
Step 1
Warm-Up Discussion
3 minutes
- Invite students to share times they had a goal (like building a block tower).
- Ask: “What steps did you take to reach your goal?”
- Highlight words: short-term goal (today), long-term goal (in the future).
Step 2
Launch the Adventure
7 minutes
- Display the first slides of the Forest Path Slides.
- Narrate: “You’re in a magical forest with three paths—each leads to a goal.”
- Ask students to predict what goals might be at the end of each path.
- Emphasize planning: “To reach a path’s end, we need steps.”
Step 3
Choose-Your-Path Game
7 minutes
- Introduce the Choose-Your-Path Game.
- In small groups, students draw a path card and decide on a short-term step to move forward (roll dice or spin to advance).
- Encourage them to state their step: e.g., “I will take three careful steps.”
- Continue until groups reach their goal card.
Step 4
Map Your Path Worksheet
5 minutes
- Hand out the Map Your Path Sheet.
- Students draw their chosen path from the game and write or illustrate two steps they took (short-term) and one future step (long-term).
- Circulate and prompt: “What’s your next step after today?”
Step 5
Path Reflection Circle
3 minutes
- Gather in a circle for the Path Reflection Circle.
- Invite volunteers to share one short-term step and one long-term step.
- Praise planning and encourage “I will…” language.
- Close: “Every big goal starts with small steps—keep mapping your path!”
Slide Deck
Pathfinder Adventure
Welcome, explorers!
Today we journey through a magical forest to learn how to set goals and plan steps.
Welcome the students enthusiastically. Say: “Hello, Pathfinders! Today we begin an exciting journey to learn how to set goals and plan steps to reach them.”
Welcome to the Forest
Imagine you’re standing at the edge of a magical forest.
Sunlight filters through tall trees, and three paths lie before you.
Show or imagine a forest background. Narrate: “You’re standing at the edge of a magical forest. Tall trees sway, birds sing, and sunlight dances on the leaves.”
Three Paths Ahead
• Path of Sunbeams: a bright, sunny path
• Path of Waterdrops: leads to a sparkling waterfall
• Path of Rainbows: arches under a rainbow bridge
Point to each path on the visual. Describe briefly. Ask: “Which path would you like to explore?”
What Goal Awaits?
What do you think is at the end of each path?
Raise your hand and share your ideas!
Invite students to share predictions. Record their ideas on chart paper or board.
Planning Our Steps
• Short-term step: something we do right now (e.g., take three careful steps)
• Long-term step: something we will do later (e.g., pack a picnic when we arrive)
Explain: “To reach any goal, we need steps.” Use a simple example (e.g., building a tower).
Next Up: Choose Your Path
In small groups, draw a path card, decide on your next short-term step, and move forward toward your goal using the Choose-Your-Path Game.
Transition to the game: “Now it’s your turn to plan steps and explore!”
Activity
Choose-Your-Path Game Instructions
Objective: Students will practice making decisions and verbalizing short-term steps by moving their group token along a chosen forest path toward a goal.
Materials:
- A set of Path Cards (one per path: Sunbeams, Waterdrops, Rainbows)
- Goal Cards (images or icons showing each path’s goal)
- Spinner or dice (to determine movement amount)
- Tokens or markers (one per small group)
- A simple Path Track (printed or drawn board showing 6 spaces per path)
Preparation (2 minutes):
- Lay out the Path Track so all groups can see their path and spaces.
- Shuffle the Path Cards face down. Place Goal Cards face down at end of each path track.
- Give each group one token and invite them to sit by the Path Tracks.
How to Play (7 minutes):
- Each group draws one Path Card—this determines which path they will explore.
- The group places their token at the start of that path.
- On their turn, a student spins the spinner (or rolls the dice) and announces a short-term step to move forward that many spaces.
- Prompt them: “I will take __ steps carefully,” or “I will __ big hops to the waterfall.”
- Move the token forward the number of spaces shown. If a group lands on a “Rest Spot” (every third space), they pause and name another small step before the next turn.
- Continue taking turns until a group reaches the end of their path and picks up the Goal Card.
- When they reveal the Goal Card, ask: “What’s one long-term step you will do later to enjoy this goal?”
- e.g., “I will pack a picnic to share when we reach the waterfall.”
Teacher Tips:
- Encourage clear “I will…” statements for each move.
- If a group gets stuck, prompt with step ideas (e.g., “take two soft steps,” “hop three times”).
- Praise teamwork and decision-making.
Extension:
- Swap Path Cards and play again—compare different short-term steps on each path.
Next: Hand out the Map Your Path Sheet so students can record two short-term steps they used and one long-term step they planned.
Worksheet
Map Your Path Sheet
Use this sheet to show the path you took in the Choose-Your-Path Game and to record your short- and long-term steps.
1. Draw Your Path
Draw the path you explored with your group. Show any turns, spaces, or fun details you remember.
2. Short-Term Steps
Write or draw TWO short-term steps you took today to move along your path. Start each with “I will…”
Step 1: I will ______________________________________
Step 2: I will ______________________________________
3. Long-Term Step
Think about something you will do later to enjoy the goal at the end of your path. Write or draw one long-term step starting with “I will…”
I will _____________________________________________
When you’re finished, get ready to share your steps in the Path Reflection Circle! Remember: every big goal starts with small steps. Good job, Pathfinder!
Cool Down
Path Reflection Circle
Gather in a circle with your Map Your Path Sheet ready to share. Use a special “talking stick” or soft object to pass around—only the person holding it speaks.
- Share a Short-Term Step (1 minute)
- When it’s your turn, say: “I will …” and finish with one short-term step you took today to move along your path.
- When it’s your turn, say: “I will …” and finish with one short-term step you took today to move along your path.
- Share a Long-Term Step (1 minute)
- After you share your short-term step, add: “I will …” to describe one long-term step you’ll do later to enjoy your goal.
- After you share your short-term step, add: “I will …” to describe one long-term step you’ll do later to enjoy your goal.
- Teacher Wrap-Up (1 minute)
- Celebrate each student’s planning: “Great job taking small steps!”
- Reinforce: “Every big goal starts with small steps—keep mapping your path!”