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Senior Year Sneak Peek

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Lesson Plan

Senior Year Sneak Peek

Students will identify academic, social, and college/career expectations for 12th grade and set initial goals to address challenges and opportunities, promoting confidence and preparedness for their senior year.

This lesson helps students understand and anticipate the multifaceted demands of their final high school year, fostering proactive goal-setting, time-management awareness, and peer collaboration to ease the transition and boost senior-year success.

Audience

12th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Guided reflection, peer collaboration, and goal-setting.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Quick Think

5 minutes

  • Ask students: “What comes to mind when you think about senior year?”
  • Distribute Post-It Notes; students write 2–3 keywords or phrases
  • Invite volunteers to stick notes under the T-chart headings on the board
  • Briefly highlight emerging themes in each category

Step 2

Interactive Activity: Exploring Expectations

10 minutes

Step 3

Discussion: Share and Strategize

10 minutes

  • Reconvene whole class; invite 3–4 pairs to share one challenge and their SMART goal
  • Facilitate discussion:
    • How can you overcome this challenge?
    • What resources or strategies will help?
    • Who can support you?
  • Teacher adds key strategies and campus resources to the whiteboard under each heading

Step 4

Cool-Down: Exit Ticket

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Senior Year Exit Ticket
  • Students complete prompts:
    1. One goal I will commit to this year is ________.
    2. One strategy I will use to stay on track is ________.
  • Collect exit tickets to review and provide feedback
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Slide Deck

Senior Year Sneak Peek

What to Expect in 12th Grade

• 30-minute interactive session
• Explore Academics, Social life, and College/Career
• Set your own SMART goal

Welcome students and introduce the lesson. Explain that today’s session, “Senior Year Sneak Peek,” will help them understand academic, social, and college/career expectations and set goals for success.

Warm-Up: Quick Think

• Take a Post-It and write 2–3 words or phrases
• What comes to mind when you think of senior year?
• Stick your note under one of three headings:
– Academics
– Social
– College/Career

Prompt students to grab Post-Its and markers. Ask: “What comes to mind when you think about senior year?” Invite them to write 2–3 keywords and stick them under the headings on the board T-chart.

Key Areas of Senior Year

Academics
• Coursework rigor
• Time management

Social
• Peer relationships
• Extracurricular balance

College/Career
• Applications & deadlines
• Career exploration

Distribute the Senior Year Expectations Handout. Explain the three key domains. Students will pair up and review expectations.

Setting SMART Goals

Specific: What exactly will you do?
Measurable: How will you track progress?
Achievable: Is it realistic?
Relevant: Does it support your senior-year success?
Time-Bound: What is the deadline?

Introduce SMART goals. Define each element with examples relevant to seniors: e.g., specific study hours, measurable GPA target, relevant to graduation, etc.

Activity: Explore & Plan

In pairs:

  1. Review each domain on the Expectations Handout
  2. List one challenge and one exciting aspect per domain
  3. Use the Goal-Setting Worksheet to draft a SMART goal for one domain

Have pairs use both the Expectations Handout and the Senior Year Goal-Setting Worksheet. Circulate to offer support and keep them on task.

Discussion: Share & Strategize

• Which challenge did you choose?
• What is your SMART goal?
• How will you overcome the challenge?
• What resources or people can help?

Invite 3–4 pairs to share their challenge and SMART goal. Use prompts to guide discussion. Record key strategies and resources on the board.

Cool-Down: Exit Ticket

  1. One goal I will commit to this year is ________
  2. One strategy I will use to stay on track is ________

Hand in your exit ticket before you leave.

Distribute the Senior Year Exit Ticket. Explain that students should complete and hand in these as they leave. Collect to review later.

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Worksheet

Senior Year Expectations Handout

Academics

  • Coursework Difficulty: Advanced-level content and electives requiring critical thinking.
  • Time Management: Balancing classes, homework, projects, and study hours.
  • Graduation Requirements: Completing required credits, exams, and senior capstone if applicable.

Notes:







Social

  • Peer Relationships: Navigating changing dynamics with classmates and friends.
  • Extracurricular Balance: Holding leadership roles, sports, clubs, and community service.
  • Senior Traditions: Planning and participating in events like prom, yearbook, and graduation ceremonies.

Notes:







College/Career

  • College Applications: Researching schools, writing essays, and meeting application deadlines.
  • Financial Aid & Scholarships: Completing FAFSA, applying for scholarships, and budgeting.
  • Career Exploration: Job shadows, internships, resume-building, and networking.

Notes:







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Worksheet

Senior Year Goal-Setting Worksheet

Team Members: ________________________     ________________________


1. Choose Your Domain

Which area will you focus on? (Circle one)

  • Academics Social College/Career


2. Identify Your Challenge

What is one challenge you anticipate in this domain?
__________________________________________





3. Note an Exciting Aspect

What is one thing you’re looking forward to in this domain?
__________________________________________





4. Draft a SMART Goal

Use the prompts below to build your goal.

Specific: What exactly will you do?
__________________________________________





Measurable: How will you track your progress?
__________________________________________





Achievable: Why is this realistic for you?
__________________________________________





Relevant: How does this goal support your senior-year success?
__________________________________________





Time-Bound: What is your deadline?
__________________________________________





Your SMART Goal:
__________________________________________________________________________



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Cool Down

Senior Year Exit Ticket

  1. One goal I will commit to this year is:
    __________________________________________


  2. One strategy I will use to stay on track is:
    __________________________________________


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