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SMART Goals: Your Success Map

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Erica Loiben

Tier 2
For Schools

Lesson Plan

SMART Goals Lesson Plan

Students will be able to define the components of SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) and apply this framework to create personal academic or life goals.

Understanding SMART goals empowers students to set clear, actionable objectives, increasing their likelihood of success in academic and personal pursuits, and developing crucial life-planning skills.

Audience

9th and 10th Grade

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Direct instruction combined with interactive examples, a guided activity, and group discussion to facilitate understanding and application.

Materials

Smart Goals Slide Deck, Smart Goals Worksheet, Smart Goals Discussion Prompts, and Smart Goals Activity

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review all generated materials: SMART Goals Slide Deck, SMART Goals Worksheet, SMART Goals Discussion Prompts, and SMART Goals Activity.
    - Prepare whiteboard or projection for the slide deck.
    - Print enough copies of the SMART Goals Worksheet for each student.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Goal Getter

2 minutes

Ask students to quickly write down one goal they have for the current week or month. Instruct them not to share it yet.

Step 2

Introduction to Goal Setting

2 minutes

Begin by discussing the general concept of goals. Ask students why setting goals is important. Introduce the idea that 'smart' goals are more effective. Use SMART Goals Slide Deck (Slides 1-2).

Step 3

What are SMART Goals?

8 minutes

Explain each component of the SMART acronym (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) using the SMART Goals Slide Deck (Slides 3-8).
- For each letter, provide clear examples and non-examples.
- Engage students with quick questions to check for understanding after each component.

Step 4

Guided Practice / Activity: Crafting SMART Goals

5 minutes

Distribute the SMART Goals Worksheet.
- Guide students through the first section, 'Refine a Goal,' by working through an example together.
- Then, have students work individually or in pairs on the 'Create Your Own SMART Goal' section. This is the core of the SMART Goals Activity.
- Circulate around the room to provide support and answer any questions students may have.

Step 5

Group Discussion: Sharing Insights

3 minutes

Facilitate a brief discussion using the SMART Goals Discussion Prompts.
- Encourage students to share one key insight they gained or a challenge they encountered while trying to make their goal SMART.
- Highlight common themes and reinforce the benefits of the SMART framework.

Step 6

Cool-Down: Reflect and Apply

Optional

If time permits, ask students to write or share one way they will use the SMART framework to approach a goal in the near future.

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Slide Deck

SMART Goals: Your Success Map

Setting Yourself Up for Achievement!

Welcome students. Briefly introduce the topic of goals and why it's important to set them effectively. This is a foundational skill for success.

What is a Goal?

A goal is an idea of the future or desired result that a person or a group of people envisions, plans, and commits to achieve.

Ask students for quick examples of goals they might have for the day, week, or future. Explain that not all goals are created equal; some are more likely to be achieved than others.

Introducing SMART Goals

An effective framework for setting clear and achievable objectives:

Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound

Introduce the SMART acronym as a powerful tool to make goals better and more attainable. Ask if anyone has heard of SMART goals before.

S is for Specific

What exactly do you want to achieve?

  • Who is involved?
  • Where will it take place?
  • Why is this goal important?

Emphasize clarity. A vague goal is hard to hit. Give an example: "I want to get better grades" (not specific) vs. "I want to improve my math grade from a C to a B by the end of the semester" (specific).

M is for Measurable

How will you know when you've achieved your goal?

  • What metrics will you use?
  • How much? How many? How often?

Explain the importance of tracking progress. If you can't measure it, you can't manage it. Example: "I want to read more" (not measurable) vs. "I want to read one book per month" (measurable).

A is for Achievable

Is your goal realistic and attainable?

  • Do you have the resources and skills needed?
  • Is it challenging, but not impossible?

Goals should stretch you, but not break you. Discuss the difference between a dream and an achievable goal. Example: "I want to fly to the moon next week" (not achievable) vs. "I want to learn the basics of coding by taking an online course" (achievable).

R is for Relevant

Does this goal align with your values and long-term objectives?

  • Is it worthwhile?
  • Is it the right time for this goal?

Why does this goal matter to you? If it's not relevant, you're less likely to be motivated. Connect it to their personal aspirations. Example: "I want to learn to juggle if I have no interest in performing" (not relevant) vs. "I want to get a part-time job to save for college" (relevant).

T is for Time-bound

When will you achieve this goal?

  • Set a clear deadline.
  • What are the key milestones or steps along the way?

Deadlines create urgency and focus. Without a deadline, a goal is just a wish. Emphasize that a time-bound goal has a start and an end date. Example: "I want to finish my project" (not time-bound) vs. "I want to finish my science fair project by Friday at 3 PM" (time-bound).

Put It All Together!

Example SMART Goal:
"I want to improve my math grade from a C to a B by the end of the semester by studying for 30 minutes every day and attending one tutoring session per week."

Is this goal SMART? Let's check!

Review the example goal together. Ask students to identify which part of the goal corresponds to S, M, A, R, and T. This will help them apply the framework to their own goals on the worksheet.

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Worksheet

SMART Goals Worksheet: Your Path to Success!

Goals are powerful! They help us focus our energy and achieve what we want. But not all goals are created equal. Use this worksheet to learn how to make your goals SMART!

Part 1: Refine a Goal

Read the goal below. Then, use the SMART framework to make it better.

Original Goal: "I want to get better at basketball."

Let's make it SMART!

S - Specific: What exactly about basketball do you want to get better at? (e.g., shooting, dribbling, defense)



How will you make it more specific?


M - Measurable: How will you track your progress? How will you know when you've achieved it?



How will you make it measurable?


A - Achievable: Is this goal realistic given your current skills and time?



How will you ensure it's achievable?


R - Relevant: Why is this goal important to you? Does it align with your interests or future plans?



How will you make it more relevant to you?


T - Time-bound: When will you achieve this improved goal? Set a deadline!



How will you make it time-bound?


Your Refined SMART Goal:

Write your improved SMART goal here:










Part 2: Create Your Own SMART Goal

Think of a personal or academic goal you have. It could be for school, a hobby, or something you want to improve about yourself. Now, use the SMART framework to craft your own powerful goal!

My Original Idea for a Goal:


My New SMART Goal:

S - Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve? (Be clear and detailed!)






M - Measurable: How will you track your progress? What will tell you that you've reached it?






A - Achievable: Is this goal realistic and possible for you to reach? Do you have what you need?






R - Relevant: Why is this goal important to you right now? Does it truly matter?






T - Time-bound: When will you complete this goal? Set a target date!






My Final SMART Goal Statement:

(Write your complete SMART goal here, combining all the elements)











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Discussion

SMART Goals Discussion Prompts

Use these prompts to facilitate a group discussion after students have completed the SMART Goals Worksheet or SMART Goals Activity. Encourage open sharing and respectful listening.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What was one challenge you faced when trying to make your goal SMART? (e.g., making it specific, setting a deadline)



  2. What was the most helpful part of the SMART framework for you, and why?



  3. Can you share one insight or "aha!" moment you had while working on your SMART goal?



  4. How might setting SMART goals change the way you approach your studies or personal projects in the future?



  5. Think about a time you tried to achieve a goal that wasn't SMART. What was different about that experience compared to now? (Optional)



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Activity

SMART Goals Creation Activity: Craft Your Success!

This activity guides you through the process of creating your own SMART goal, helping you turn your aspirations into actionable plans. You will use the SMART Goals Worksheet to complete this activity.

Your Task:

  1. Choose a Goal Idea: Think about an academic, personal, or skill-based goal you want to achieve in the next few weeks or months. This could be anything from improving a grade in a specific subject, learning a new skill, completing a personal project, or developing a positive habit.

    • Example Ideas:
      • Improve my grade in science.
      • Read more books.
      • Get better at playing the guitar.
      • Organize my study space.

  2. Use the Worksheet: Turn to Part 2 of your SMART Goals Worksheet: "Create Your Own SMART Goal."

  3. Break It Down: For your chosen goal idea, go through each letter of the SMART acronym (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) and fill in the sections on the worksheet.

    • S (Specific): What exactly do you want to achieve? Be precise!
    • M (Measurable): How will you know if you've reached your goal? What evidence will you look for?
    • A (Achievable): Is this goal realistic for you? Do you have the skills and resources?
    • R (Relevant): Is this goal important to you right now? Does it fit with your other priorities?
    • T (Time-bound): What is your deadline for achieving this goal?

  4. Write Your Final SMART Goal: After breaking down each component, combine them into one clear and concise SMART goal statement in the designated section of the worksheet.

Be Ready to Share!

Once you've crafted your SMART goal, be prepared to share one aspect of your goal or your experience creating it during our group discussion.

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