Lesson Plan
The Goal-Getter's Guide to Success
Students will be able to write a personal or academic goal that meets the SMART criteria.
Learning to set SMART goals helps students develop essential life skills in planning, self-management, and achieving aspirations, both in school and beyond.
Audience
7th Grade Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive activities, direct instruction, and guided practice.
Materials
Smart Goals Slide Deck, My SMART Goal Planner, and Vision Board Supplies Activity
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Smart Goals Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print copies of the My SMART Goal Planner for each student.
- Gather vision board supplies such as old magazines, newspapers, scissors, glue sticks, and large paper for the Vision Board Supplies Activity. Alternatively, prepare for a digital vision board if preferred.
- Ensure projector/screen is working for the slide deck presentation.
Step 1
Warm-Up: "Dream Big" Vision Board Activity
10 minutes
- Introduction (2 min): Greet students. Introduce the idea of dreaming big and visualizing success. Explain that today's lesson is about turning those big dreams into achievable goals.
- Activity (8 min): Distribute vision board supplies. Instruct students to create a quick vision board by cutting out images and words that represent their dreams and aspirations. Play some upbeat, inspiring music during this time. Circulate and engage with students about their dreams.
Step 2
Introduce SMART Goals Framework
10 minutes
- Transition (1 min): Bring the class back together. Acknowledge their amazing dreams. Explain that while dreams are powerful, goals are the steps we take to make those dreams a reality. Introduce the term "SMART Goals."
- Direct Instruction (9 min): Use the Smart Goals Slide Deck to explain each component of the SMART acronym (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). Provide clear examples for each, engaging students with questions about how a generic dream could be made SMARTer.
Step 3
Workshop: Turn a Dream into a SMART Goal
15 minutes
- Guided Practice (15 min): Distribute the My SMART Goal Planner. Instruct students to choose one dream from their vision board or a new personal/academic aspiration. Guide them through the worksheet, helping them apply the SMART criteria to their chosen dream. Model an example on the board if helpful. Circulate and provide individualized support and feedback as students work.
Step 4
Peer Feedback Session
5 minutes
- Pair Share (5 min): Have students pair up. Instruct them to share their drafted SMART goal with their partner. Partners should use the SMART criteria to provide constructive feedback, asking questions like, "Is your goal specific enough? How will you measure it?" Encourage positive and helpful feedback.
Step 5
Cool-Down: Commitment & Accountability Pledge
5 minutes
- Wrap-up (3 min): Bring the class back together. Ask a few students to share a key takeaway about SMART goals. Emphasize the importance of commitment and accountability.
- Pledge (2 min): Have students write their SMART goal on an index card or a dedicated space in their planner. Lead a class "pledge" to work towards their goals, encouraging them to keep their goal visible and to check in on their progress regularly.
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Slide Deck
Dream Big, Goal Smart!
What's the difference between a dream and a goal?
- Dreams are big ideas, hopes, and aspirations.
- Goals are the steps we take to make those dreams come true!
Welcome students and get them excited about setting goals. Connect to the warm-up activity.
What Are SMART Goals?
A powerful way to set goals that you can actually achieve!
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound
Introduce the SMART acronym as a tool to make goals effective. Briefly explain what SMART stands for before diving into each letter.
S is for SPECIFIC
Your goal should be clear and well-defined.
- Vague: "I want to get better grades."
- Specific: "I want to improve my math grade from a B to an A by the end of the semester."
Ask yourself: What exactly do I want to achieve? Who is involved? Where will this happen? Why is this important?
Explain 'Specific.' Provide examples of vague vs. specific goals. Ask students for ideas on how to make a vague goal more specific.
M is for MEASURABLE
You need to be able to track your progress and know when you've reached your goal.
- Not measurable: "I want to read more."
- Measurable: "I want to read one new book per month."
Ask yourself: How will I know when I've achieved my goal? How much? How many?
Explain 'Measurable.' Discuss how to quantify progress and know when a goal is met. Ask students how they would measure their example goals.
A is for ACHIEVABLE
Your goal should be realistic and attainable, but still a challenge!
- Not achievable (for most): "I want to fly to the moon next week."
- Achievable: "I want to run a 5K race in 3 months (after training regularly)."
Ask yourself: Is this goal possible for me to achieve? Do I have the resources and skills, or can I get them?
Explain 'Achievable.' Emphasize setting realistic yet challenging goals. Discuss the difference between 'easy' and 'achievable.'
R is for RELEVANT
Your goal should matter to you and align with your values and bigger dreams.
- Not relevant (if you hate sports): "I want to join the basketball team."
- Relevant (if you love reading): "I want to finish reading the entire fantasy series I started."
Ask yourself: Is this goal worthwhile? Does it fit with my other goals? Is it the right time for this goal?
Explain 'Relevant.' Connect goals to students' interests, values, and larger life ambitions. Ask why a particular goal might be relevant to them.
T is for TIME-BOUND
Your goal needs a clear deadline or target date.
- Not time-bound: "I want to learn guitar."
- Time-bound: "I want to learn to play three chords on the guitar by the end of next month."
Ask yourself: When will I achieve this goal? What is the deadline? What can I do today, this week, this month?
Explain 'Time-bound.' Highlight the importance of deadlines for motivation and focus. Discuss short-term vs. long-term timeframes.
Putting it all together: Make Your Goal SMART!
Now it's your turn to turn your dream into a SMART Goal!
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
Let's get planning!
Summarize the SMART goal framework and prepare students for the worksheet activity.
Worksheet
My SMART Goal Planner
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
Step 1: My Big Dream/Aspiration
What is something you really want to achieve, learn, or improve? This can be personal or academic.
My Dream:
Step 2: Make it SMART!
Let's break down your dream into a SMART Goal.
S - Specific
What exactly do you want to achieve? Who is involved? Where will this happen? Why is this important to you?
My Specific Goal:
M - Measurable
How will you know when you have achieved your goal? What evidence will show your progress? (How much? How many?)
How I will Measure It:
A - Achievable
Is this goal realistic and possible for you to achieve? Do you have the resources or can you get them? (It should be a challenge, but not impossible!)
Why it's Achievable for me:
R - Relevant
Does this goal truly matter to you? Does it align with your values, interests, or other important aspirations?
Why it's Relevant to me:
T - Time-bound
When will you achieve this goal? What is your deadline? (Having a deadline helps keep you focused!)
My Deadline:
Step 3: My Final SMART Goal Statement
Combine all the SMART elements into one clear goal statement:
My SMART Goal Is:
Step 4: Action Plan (Optional)
What are the first 1-3 steps you need to take to start working towards your goal?
Activity
Dream Big! Vision Board Activity
Goal: To visually represent your personal and academic dreams and aspirations.
Instructions:
- Gather Your Materials: You will be given magazines, newspapers, scissors, glue sticks, and a large sheet of paper.
- Think Big! Close your eyes for a moment and imagine your ideal future. What do you want to achieve? What do you want to learn? Who do you want to become? Think about your personal life, your school life, hobbies, and even future careers.
- Find Inspiration: Look through the magazines and newspapers for images, words, and phrases that represent your dreams and aspirations. Don't censor yourself – if something sparks joy or inspiration, cut it out!
- Create Your Vision: Arrange your cut-outs on your large paper. You can overlap them, create collages, or organize them in any way that makes sense to you. Use the glue sticks to secure them.
- Reflect (Optional): As you create, think about why these images and words resonate with you. What do they truly represent?
- Share (Optional): Be prepared to briefly share one or two elements from your vision board with a partner or the class.
This is a chance to let your imagination soar! There are no wrong answers.