Lesson Plan
Goal-Setting Guide
Students will reflect on their SEL strengths and challenges, then set two actionable summer goals to foster self-awareness and growth.
Maintains and builds social-emotional skills over the break, promotes a growth mindset, and encourages community engagement as students transition into summer.
Audience
11th Grade Small Group
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Guided reflection, collaborative sharing, and goal-setting activities.
Materials
Prep
Review and Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print one copy of Summer SEL Goal Tracker for each student
- Ensure the Map Your Mindset slide deck is queued on the projector or available to student devices
- Distribute or gather My Growth Journal for each participant
- Review facilitation notes in Goal-Setting Guide to familiarize yourself with reflection prompts and pacing
Step 1
Welcome & Icebreaker
5 minutes
- Greet students and briefly explain the session’s purpose: reflecting on strengths/challenges and planning summer goals
- Quick icebreaker: in one word, share how you feel about summer break
- Transition: today we’ll map our mindset and set goals to keep growing over summer
Step 2
Mindset Mapping
10 minutes
- Project or share Map Your Mindset
- Lead students through 3 self-assessment prompts: identify one SEL strength, one area to improve, and one community interest
- Ask students to jot notes on slide-provided reflection spaces or on paper
- Encourage honest, growth-oriented responses
Step 3
Goal-Setting Activity
10 minutes
- Hand out Summer SEL Goal Tracker
- Guide students to choose two goals—one personal SEL goal and one community-engagement goal
- For each goal, complete: Specific action steps, timeline, possible challenges, and support needed
- Circulate to provide feedback and prompt deeper thinking
Step 4
Share & Support
3 minutes
- Invite volunteers (up to 3) to share one of their goals and action steps
- Class offers one supportive suggestion or resource for each shared goal
- Reinforce positive, growth-focused feedback
Step 5
Journal Commitment
2 minutes
- Ask students to write a brief entry in My Growth Journal summarizing their biggest takeaway and one step they’ll take tomorrow to start their goal
- Collect journals or remind students to keep them safe over the break
Slide Deck
Map Your Mindset
Reflect on your social-emotional profile as you head into summer.
• Identify one SEL strength you’re proud of.
• Recognize one area you’d like to grow.
• Explore a community interest you want to pursue.
Use the next slides to guide your thinking.
Welcome students and explain that this activity will help them identify their social-emotional strengths, areas for growth, and community interests as they plan for summer. Encourage honesty and a growth mindset.
Step 1: SEL Strengths
What is one social-emotional strength you bring to the table?
• Examples: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making.
Write your strength here: ________________________
Describe a moment you demonstrated this strength:
Guide students to think about the five core SEL competencies. Invite a few to share examples of when they’ve used this strength.
Step 2: Area for Growth
What is one SEL skill you’d like to improve this summer?
• Describe a challenge you’ve faced in this area.
• What might help you grow? (strategies, people, resources)
My growth area: ________________________
Encourage students to be vulnerable and frame challenges as opportunities. If they struggle to identify an area, offer examples like stress management or active listening.
Step 3: Community Interest
Where in your community could you apply your strengths or build new skills?
• Local clubs or teams
• Volunteer opportunities
• School or neighborhood projects
My community interest: ________________________
Prompt students to think beyond their immediate circle—local clubs, volunteer work, campus organizations. Share quick examples if needed.
Next Steps
Based on your reflections, think of:
- One personal SEL goal for summer
- One community or service goal
You’ll transfer these to your Summer SEL Goal Tracker and map out action steps.
Explain that these reflections will feed into their goal-setting worksheet. Encourage concise, specific goals moving forward.
Worksheet
Summer SEL Goal Tracker
Use this worksheet to plan two summer goals: one focused on your social-emotional growth and one on community engagement. Fill in each section thoughtfully.
1. Personal SEL Goal
My SEL Goal: Describe a specific social-emotional skill you want to develop this summer.
Why this goal matters: Explain how improving this skill will benefit you.
Action Steps: List 3–4 steps you will take to reach this goal.
- Step 1: _______________________________
- Step 2: _______________________________
- Step 3: _______________________________
- Step 4 (optional): _______________________
Timeline: When will you complete each step? Be as specific as possible.
Possible Challenges & Solutions:
- Challenge 1: ___________________________
- How I’ll overcome it: ___________________
- How I’ll overcome it: ___________________
- Challenge 2 (optional): ___________________
- How I’ll overcome it: ___________________
- How I’ll overcome it: ___________________
Support/Resources Needed: Who or what can help you succeed?
2. Community-Engagement Goal
My Community Goal: Identify a way you’ll apply or build new SEL skills through community involvement.
Why this goal matters: Describe how this experience will help you grow and benefit others.
Action Steps: List 3–4 steps to achieve this community goal.
- Step 1: _______________________________
- Step 2: _______________________________
- Step 3: _______________________________
- Step 4 (optional): _______________________
Timeline: When will you complete these steps?
Possible Challenges & Solutions:
- Challenge 1: ___________________________
- How I’ll overcome it: ___________________
- How I’ll overcome it: ___________________
- Challenge 2 (optional): ___________________
- How I’ll overcome it: ___________________
- How I’ll overcome it: ___________________
Support/Resources Needed: Who or what can support your community efforts?
3. Next Steps & Reflection
First Step Tomorrow: What specific action will you take first to get started?
Journal Your Commitment: Write a summary of today’s plan in My Growth Journal and note one check-in date to monitor your progress.
Journal
My Growth Journal
Use this journal to track your summer goals, reflect on your progress, and plan your next steps. Complete at least one Weekly Reflection entry and one Monthly Check-In.
Weekly Reflection
Date: _______________________
-
What action steps did I complete this week toward my SEL goal?
-
What challenges or setbacks did I encounter?
-
How did I respond to these challenges? What strategies or resources did I use?
-
How did I engage with my community goal this week?
-
What progress or successes am I most proud of?
-
My focus for next week:
Monthly Check-In
Date: _______________________
-
Review your current goals. Are they still meaningful? Do you want to adjust them?
-
Summarize your biggest learning or growth this month:
-
New action steps or changes to your plan:
-
Additional support or resources I need:
Keep this journal handy, revisit it regularly, and celebrate every step of your growth. Don’t forget to record your next check-in date: _______________________