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Ready for the Season?

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Lesson Plan

Autumn Goal-Getter Blueprint

Students will engage in autumn-themed activities to build classroom community, reflect on past successes, and set SMART goals for the school year through collaborative icebreakers, journaling, and an exit ticket.

Starting the year with connection and purposeful goal-setting boosts student engagement, self-awareness, and a growth mindset—setting the tone for a successful 10th-grade experience.

Audience

10th Grade

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Hands-on, seasonal activities and guided reflections

Materials

Prep

Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Pumpkin-Patch Icebreaker

5 minutes

  • Have students pair up and share their favorite fall memory or tradition
  • Each student draws a simple pumpkin and writes that memory inside it (on the icebreaker handout)
  • Pairs introduce each other’s pumpkin memory to the class to spark community energy
  • Materials: Pumpkin-Patch Icebreaker

Step 2

Community Goals Discussion

10 minutes

  • Display two large posters: "Classroom Community" and "Personal Strengths"
  • In small groups (4–5), students list attributes they value in a positive class environment
  • Rotate groups to add ideas to the second poster about personal strengths they bring
  • Facilitate a whole-group debrief highlighting common themes

Step 3

Goal-Setting Workshop

15 minutes

  • Introduce SMART goals framework on the Seasonal Classroom Welcome
  • Students individually draft one academic and one personal SMART goal for the semester
  • Circulate to support clarity and alignment with SMART criteria
  • Invite volunteers to share goal drafts with the class

Step 4

Fall Reflection Journaling

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Fall Reflection Prompts
  • Students journal in response to questions like:
    • What was one challenge you overcame last year?
    • How did it shape your aspirations?
  • Encourage thoughtful, honest responses to foster self-awareness

Step 5

Leaf-Wish Exit Ticket

5 minutes

  • Hand out the Leaf-Wish Exit Ticket
  • Students write one wish for themselves this year and one way classmates can support them
  • Collect tickets as students leave to inform future community-building efforts

Step 6

Differentiation Strategies

Ongoing

  • Provide sentence starters or graphic organizers for students who need writing support
  • Offer verbal goal-setting conferences for learners who struggle with written tasks
  • Allow extra time or one-on-one check-ins for students with processing needs
  • Encourage peer buddies for ELLs or students requiring additional language support
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Warm Up

Understood! We’ll skip a separate warm-up resource—your Seasonal Classroom Welcome slide deck will serve as the warm-up for the lesson.

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Activity

Pumpkin-Patch Icebreaker

Objective: Students connect by sharing fall memories and practicing attentive listening.

Materials: Printed handout (or digital copy), pencils or markers.

Instructions:

  1. Pair up with a classmate.
  2. Take turns sharing your favorite fall memory or tradition (1 minute each).
  3. On your worksheet, draw a simple pumpkin outline. Inside it, illustrate the memory you just shared.










  4. Below your drawing, write a 1–2 sentence caption explaining why this memory is special to you.










  5. Return to the whole group. Each partner will introduce the other by describing their pumpkin memory and caption (approx. 30 seconds each).

Time: 5 minutes total

Teacher Tips:

  • Model a quick example: draw a pumpkin, write a caption (e.g., “Playing in a huge leaf pile at my grandma’s house”).
  • Encourage clear, loud sharing when partners introduce each other.
  • Circulate to prompt quieter pairs and keep timing on track.
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Journal

Fall Reflection Prompts

Instructions: Answer the following prompts thoughtfully. Take your time to reflect and write in complete sentences.

  1. Think about a challenge you overcame last year. Describe the challenge, how you faced it, and what you learned from the experience.














  2. Reflect on a moment from this past summer when you felt a sense of accomplishment or pride. What did you do, and why does this memory stand out?











  3. As you begin this school year, what is one personal strength you bring to our classroom community? How can you use this strength to support your goals and classmates?










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Cool Down

Leaf-Wish Exit Ticket 🍂

On your leaf, take a moment to reflect and respond:

  1. One wish I have for myself this year:










  2. One way my classmates can support me:










Please hand in your leaf as you leave. Thank you for sharing your hopes and supports!

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