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Ready, Set, Grow?

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Lesson Plan

Growing Our Goals Lesson Plan

Students will identify and articulate a personal learning goal, share it with a peer, and craft a visual Goal Garden to build classroom community and confidence.

This lesson empowers first graders to set personal learning goals, fostering self-confidence and a growth mindset. By sharing and crafting together, students build connections and feel invested in their learning journey from day one.

Audience

1st Grade

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Interactive sharing and creative visuals reinforce goal setting.

Materials

Prep

Preview and Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Discussion

3 minutes

Step 2

Pair Share Goals

4 minutes

  • Ask students to turn to a partner
  • On slide 2, prompt them to take turns sharing their learning goal
  • Encourage active listening: thumbs up if they like their partner’s goal

Step 3

Introduce Goal Garden

3 minutes

  • Show slide 3 depicting a blank garden plot
  • Explain: “Each of you will make a flower that shows your goal.”
  • Demonstrate: draw a flower, write your goal in the center or on a petal

Step 4

Create Goal Garden Craft

4 minutes

  • Distribute Goal Garden Craft sheets and art supplies
  • Students draw their flower and write their goal clearly
  • Encourage creativity: decorate petals, add leaves
  • Circulate to support writing and spelling

Step 5

Gallery Walk & Affirm

1 minute

  • Invite students to place their Goal Gardens on the display wall
  • Give positive feedback: celebrate effort and unique goals
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Slide Deck

Ready, Set, Grow!

What is one thing you want to learn this year?

Welcome everyone! Today we’re going to think about one thing you want to learn this year. Read the prompt slowly and encourage students to raise their hand if they’re ready to share. Model by saying your own goal: “I want to learn how to draw butterflies!”

Pair Share

• Turn to a friend
• Take turns telling your learning goal
• Give a thumbs-up when you hear something you like

Prompt students to turn and face a partner. Remind them to listen carefully, look at their partner, and say “thank you” after they share. Circulate to coach active listening and give a thumbs-up when groups do it well.

Our Goal Garden

Draw a flower and write your goal here:

[ ]

Decorate your petals and leaves!

Explain that we’re going to make a classroom Goal Garden. Show how to draw a flower, label the center with the goal, and decorate petals. Emphasize neat writing and creativity.

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Script

Teacher’s Goal-Setting Script

Warm-Up Discussion (3 minutes)

Teacher: “Good morning, everyone! I’m so happy to see you today. We’re going to start with a fun question: What is one thing you want to learn this year?”
(Pause and smile as students think.)

Teacher: “I have a special paper for you called the All About Me Goal Warm-Up. Please take it out and set it on your desk.”
(Wait for students to find their sheet.)

Teacher: “On your warm-up paper, you’ll see a question: ‘One thing I want to learn this year is ___.’ Think quietly in your head and finish that sentence. I’ll give you a moment.”
(Count to five slowly.)

Teacher: “Now, I’ll show you my own answer first. My goal is: ‘I want to learn how to draw butterflies!’”
(Point to your paper or say the sentence with excitement.)

Teacher: “Great thinking, friends! Hold onto your idea—you’ll share it in just a minute.”

Pair Share Goals (4 minutes)

Teacher: “Let’s practice telling our goal to a friend. First, look at Slide 2 on our Ready, Set, Grow Slides. It says:
• Turn to a friend
• Take turns telling your learning goal
• Give a thumbs-up when you hear something you like”

Teacher: “Okay, turn to a friend now.”
(Pause as students turn.)

Teacher: “Friend A, please share your learning goal first. Friend B, listen carefully.”
(Wait about 30 seconds.)

Teacher: “Now switch—Friend B, share your goal. Friend A, give a thumbs-up if you like it!”
(Observe and offer praise: “Nice listening!”)

Introduce Goal Garden (3 minutes)

Teacher: “Look at Slide 3 on our Ready, Set, Grow Slides. Everyone, what do you see?”
(Call on 2–3 students: “A garden! Flowers!”)

Teacher: “That’s right—a garden full of flowers! Today, we will make our very own Goal Garden. Each flower will show one of your goals.”

Teacher: “Watch me draw a flower on the board.”
(Draw a simple flower with a circle and petals.)

Teacher: “In the middle of my flower, I’ll write my goal: ‘Learn to draw butterflies.’”
(Write neatly in the center.)

Teacher: “Now the petals are for decorating—you can add stripes, dots, or leaves.”

Create Goal Garden Craft (4 minutes)

Teacher: “I’m passing out your Goal Garden Craft sheets and some crayons, markers, scissors, and glue.”
(Distribute materials.)

Teacher: “Step 1: Draw a big flower in the middle of your paper.”
(Give 30 seconds.)

Teacher: “Step 2: Write your learning goal in the center of the flower or on one of the petals.”
(Circulate to help with spelling.)

Teacher: “Step 3: Decorate your petals, stem, and leaves any way you like—be creative!”
(Encourage quietly: “Great color choice!” “I love your dots!”)

Gallery Walk & Affirm (1 minute)

Teacher: “Time’s up—please stop and put down your crayons.”
(Give a gentle reminder.)

Teacher: “Let’s walk around our classroom garden. One at a time, gently walk and look at your friends’ flowers. If you see something you like, give a thumbs-up or say, ‘Beautiful!’”
(Lead students in a brief walk.)

Teacher (closing): “I’m so proud of each of you. Our garden is full of wonderful goals and bright ideas. Way to go!”
(Clap and encourage a final round of applause.)

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Warm Up

All About Me Goal Warm-Up

Name: ____________________________

One thing I want to learn this year is: ____________________________



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Activity

Goal Garden Craft

Name: ____________________________

Instructions:

  • Draw a big flower in the space below.
  • Write your learning goal in the center of your flower.
  • Decorate the petals, stem, and leaves any way you like.













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