Lesson Plan
Vision Planning
Students will identify and articulate three academic and personal goals for the year, craft a decorative paper lantern to visualize those goals, share their visions with a partner, and commit to an actionable Goal Pledge.
This lesson builds self-awareness, goal‐setting skills, creative expression, and peer support at the start of the school year, fostering a classroom community focused on growth.
Audience
4th Grade Class
Time
50 minutes
Approach
Creative craft, peer sharing, reflective pledge.
Materials
- Quest Guide Slide Deck, - Three Wishes Icebreaker Activity Sheet, - Paper Lantern Craft Template, - Pair & Share Paths Discussion Cards, - Goal Pledge Certificate, and - Colored paper, scissors, tape, markers
Prep
Prepare Materials
15 minutes
- Print and load Quest Guide Slide Deck for projector or interactive board
- Copy one Three Wishes Icebreaker Activity Sheet per student
- Copy one Paper Lantern Craft Template per student
- Print and cut Pair & Share Paths Discussion Cards
- Copy one Goal Pledge Certificate per student
- Gather colored paper, scissors, tape, markers for each workspace
- Arrange desks in pairs for discussion
Step 1
Warm-up: Three Wishes Icebreaker
5 minutes
- Display slide 1–2 of Quest Guide Slide Deck to introduce vision planning
- Distribute Three Wishes Icebreaker Activity Sheet
- Ask students to write three “wishes” for their school year (academic, personal, social)
- Invite volunteers to share one wish with the class or an elbow partner
Step 2
Main Activity: Paper Lantern Vision Craft
20 minutes
- Show slide 3–4 of Quest Guide Slide Deck explaining the lantern project
- Hand out Paper Lantern Craft Template and art supplies
- In each lantern panel, students draw or write one goal (academic, personal, community)
- Cut, fold, and tape the lantern into shape; decorate as desired
- Encourage creativity and clarity in each goal statement
Step 3
Discussion: Pair & Share Paths
15 minutes
- Transition to pairs and distribute Pair & Share Paths Discussion Cards
- In each pair, students take turns presenting their lantern and explaining one goal
- Partners use prompt cards to ask clarifying/supportive questions (e.g., “How will you track progress?”)
- Circulate to support conversations and highlight strong goal‐setting language
Step 4
Cool-down: Goal Pledge
5 minutes
- Display slide 5 of Quest Guide Slide Deck with pledge instructions
- Give each student a Goal Pledge Certificate
- Students write one specific action they pledge to take this week toward a goal
- Invite a few students to read their pledges aloud
- Collect certificates for display on a “Vision Wall” or bulletin board
Slide Deck
Vision Quest: Our Year Ahead
• Discover and set three goals for the year
• Create a decorative paper lantern to showcase your goals
• Share your vision with a partner
• Commit to one actionable pledge
Introduce the workshop: explain that today we’ll set and visualize our goals for the year. Refer to the objective of identifying three academic and personal goals, crafting a lantern, sharing with a partner, and making a pledge. Emphasize a supportive, creative environment.
Warm-up: Three Wishes Icebreaker
- Receive your Three Wishes Icebreaker Activity Sheet.
- Write three “wishes” for your school year (academic, personal, social).
- Share one wish with a partner or the whole class.
Explain the icebreaker: hand out the Three Wishes Icebreaker Activity Sheet (#three-wishes-icebreaker-sheet). Give students 3 minutes to write. Invite volunteers to share one wish aloud, then transition to next activity.
Main Activity: Paper Lantern Vision Craft
• Hand out the Paper Lantern Craft Template and art supplies.
• In each lantern panel, draw or write one goal:
– Academic
– Personal
– Community
• Cut, fold, and tape the lantern into shape.
• Decorate creatively to reflect your vision.
Show sample lanterns or a quick demo. Emphasize the three goal categories: academic, personal, community. Model drawing or writing one goal. Allow 20 minutes for students to complete their lanterns.
Discussion: Pair & Share Paths
- Partner up and show your lantern.
- Take turns explaining one goal.
- Use discussion cards to ask questions, e.g.:
– “How will you track progress?”
– “What challenges might you face?” - Offer supportive feedback.
Transition into pairs. Distribute Pair & Share Paths Discussion Cards (#pair-share-paths-cards). Circulate and listen for strong goal language. Prompt deeper thinking when needed.
Cool-down: Goal Pledge
• Receive your Goal Pledge Certificate.
• Write one specific action you pledge to take this week toward a goal.
• Read your pledge aloud (volunteers).
• Turn in certificates to display on our Vision Wall.
Wrap up the lesson: stress the importance of taking the first step. Collect certificates for the Vision Wall. Encourage students to refer back to their pledge throughout the week.
Warm Up
Three Wishes Icebreaker
Think about what you hope for this school year. Write one wish for each category below. Then share one wish with a partner.
Academic Wish:
Personal Wish:
Social Wish:
Activity
Paper Lantern Vision Craft
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
Instructions:
- Write or draw your goals in each panel below.
- Carefully cut along the solid outer lines.
- Fold along the dashed lines.
- Tape your lantern into a cylinder shape and decorate.
Panel 1: Academic Goal
In this box, write or draw one academic goal you have for this year:
Panel 2: Personal Goal
In this box, write or draw one personal goal you have for this year:
Panel 3: Community Goal
In this box, write or draw one community or social goal you have for this year:
Cut & Fold Details:
- Solid lines indicate where to cut.
- Dashed lines indicate where to fold.
- After folding, align the panels and secure with tape.
- Add extra decorations (markers, stickers) to personalize your lantern!
Discussion
Pair & Share Paths Discussion Cards
Cut these cards apart and place them in the center of each pair. Take turns drawing a card and asking your partner the question. Use the lines to jot down any notes.
Card 1: What excites you most about one of your goals?
Card 2: How will you track your progress toward this goal?
Card 3: What is the first small step you will take this week?
Card 4: What challenges might you face, and how could you overcome them?
Card 5: Who can support you as you work on this goal?
Card 6: When will you check in on your progress?
Card 7: What tools or resources do you need to succeed?
Card 8: How will you celebrate when you reach your goal?
Card 9: If you get off track, what will you do to get back on path?
Card 10: How can you apply what you learn from this goal to other areas of your life?
Cool Down
Goal Pledge Certificate
Name: ____________________________ Date: ____________________________
My Goal:
This week, I pledge to:
To keep on track, I will:
I will check in on my progress on: ____________________________
Student Signature: ____________________ Teacher Signature: ____________________