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What’s Your Path?

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Lesson Plan

Values-to-Goals Framework

Students will identify their personal values and apply the Values-to-Goals Framework to set one meaningful, actionable treatment goal.

Helping students clarify what matters most builds self-awareness and motivation, paving the way for realistic and meaningful goal setting in treatment planning.

Audience

6th Grade Class

Time

40 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and hands-on poster activity

Materials

What’s Your Path? Visual Guide, Values Carousel Discussion Cards, Pathway Poster Creation Worksheet, and Whiteboard and markers

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Hook

5 minutes

  • Greet students and share the session goal: linking values to treatment goals
  • Display the first slide of the What’s Your Path? Visual Guide
  • Ask: “What is a value? Why might it matter when we set goals?” Collect quick responses on the whiteboard

Step 2

Define & Brainstorm Values

10 minutes

  • Show slide defining personal values from the What’s Your Path? Visual Guide
  • Distribute sticky notes; students write one value per note
  • Invite volunteers to place notes on the board and explain their choice
  • Group similar values into themes (e.g., kindness, creativity, fairness)

Step 3

Values Carousel Discussion

10 minutes

  • Divide class into small groups of 3–4
  • Give each group a set of Values Carousel Discussion Cards
  • In rounds, students draw a card, discuss prompts (e.g., “Describe a time you acted on this value.”)
  • Rotate cards so all students discuss multiple values

Step 4

Link Values to Goals

8 minutes

  • Revisit the Values-to-Goals Framework slide in the What’s Your Path? Visual Guide
  • Model turning one value (e.g., ‘responsibility’) into a SMART goal
  • Ask students to pick one personal value and draft a goal statement verbally

Step 5

Pathway Poster Creation

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Pathway Poster Creation Worksheet
  • Students illustrate their chosen value and write their goal below
  • Encourage creativity: drawings, color coding, key action steps

Step 6

Wrap-Up & Share

2 minutes

  • Invite 2–3 volunteers to briefly share their posters and goals
  • Reinforce how identifying values can drive meaningful goals
  • Collect posters for display or student reflection journals
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Slide Deck

What’s Your Path?

Linking Your Values to Meaningful Goals

40-Minute Interactive Session for 6th Graders

Counseling & Therapy • Treatment Planning & Goal Setting

Welcome everyone! Today, we’ll explore how our personal values can guide the goals we set – kind of like choosing the right path on a map. Engage students by sharing a time they felt proud about a choice they made.

Hook: What Is a Value?

• A value is something important to you, like kindness or creativity.
• Values guide our choices and actions.

Question: Why does knowing your values matter when setting goals?

Prompt students to brainstorm aloud: What do we mean by “value”? Why might knowing our values help us set goals? Capture responses on the board.

Defining Personal Values

• Personal values are the beliefs and qualities you care about most.
• Examples: honesty, responsibility, friendship, courage

Think-Pair-Share: Write down one value you admire and why.

Define “personal values” clearly. Encourage students to think of 2–3 values that matter to them.

Values-to-Goals Framework

  1. Identify Your Value
  2. List Actions That Show It
  3. Turn Actions into a SMART Goal

Value → Actions → SMART Goal

Display the graphic of the Values-to-Goals journey. Walk through each step slowly, using an arrow diagram.

Example: Responsibility → Goal

Value: Responsibility
Actions: • Complete homework on time • Ask for help when stuck
SMART Goal: “I will spend 30 minutes on homework each night and ask my teacher one question per week.”

Use a concrete example. Model turning “responsibility” into a SMART goal (e.g., homework habit).

Activity 1: Values Carousel

• Groups of 3–4 students
• Each round: Draw a card, discuss prompts (e.g., “Tell a time you acted on this value.”)
• Rotate cards so everyone explores multiple values

Time: 10 minutes

Explain the small-group carousel. Emphasize respectful listening and sharing.

Activity 2: Pathway Poster Creation

• Pick one value from the carousel
• On your worksheet:
– Illustrate your value
– Write your SMART goal below
– Highlight key action steps

Time: 5 minutes

Introduce the Pathway Poster worksheet. Show an example sketch. Stress creativity and clarity.

Wrap-Up & Reflection

• Volunteer Share: 2–3 students present their posters
• Discussion: How did your value shape your goal?
• Reminder: Your values can guide your choices every day!

Wrap up by inviting volunteers to share. Reinforce that values keep us motivated and focused.

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Discussion

Values Carousel Discussion

In this small-group activity, students will explore different personal values through guided discussion cards. Each group of 3–4 students takes turns drawing a card and discussing the questions together.

Instructions:

  1. Shuffle the cards and place them face down in the center of your group.
  2. Take turns drawing one card.
  3. Read the value on the card aloud and discuss all three questions with your group members.
  4. After 2 minutes, return the card, shuffle, and let the next student draw.
  5. Rotate until each student has led a discussion on at least two values.

Cards:

  1. Value: Honesty
    • Describe a time you acted honestly, even when it was hard.
    • Why is honesty important to you?
    • How can you practice honesty this week?



  1. Value: Responsibility
    • Share an example of when you took responsibility for something.
    • How did being responsible make you feel?
    • What’s one way you can show responsibility at home or school?



  1. Value: Kindness
    • Tell about a time you did something kind for someone else.
    • Why does kindness matter in your friendships?
    • Brainstorm one act of kindness you can do today.



  1. Value: Fairness
    • Recall a situation where you made sure things were fair.
    • Why is fairness important in a group setting?
    • How can you help make things fair in your class?



  1. Value: Creativity
    • Describe a creative project you’re proud of.
    • How does creativity help you solve problems?
    • What is one creative way you can approach your homework?



  1. Value: Perseverance
    • Share a time when you kept going, even when something was tough.
    • How did pushing through the challenge help you learn?
    • What is one goal you can keep working on this month?



  1. Value: Respect
    • Tell about a moment you showed respect to someone.
    • Why is respect important in friendships and teams?
    • How will you show respect during our next group activity?



  1. Value: Courage
    • Describe a time you tried something new or scary.
    • How did being brave change the outcome?
    • What is one small act of courage you can practice this week?



After the carousel, each group will share one insight they found most meaningful. Discuss how these values can guide the goals you’ll set in the next activity.

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Activity

Pathway Poster Creation Worksheet

Use this worksheet to create your own “pathway poster” that links a personal value to a clear, SMART goal. Be creative—drawings, colors, and neat writing will help you share your path!

1. Illustrate Your Value

In the box below, draw a picture that represents the personal value you chose during the Values Carousel (e.g., kindness, honesty, perseverance).













2. My Chosen Value

Write the value you illustrated.




3. Action Steps

List three specific actions that show or build this value in your daily life.
• _____________________________


• _____________________________


• _____________________________



4. Build Your SMART Goal

Use the prompts below to turn your value into a SMART goal.

  • Specific: What exactly will you do?

  • Measurable: How will you track your progress?

  • Achievable: Is this goal realistic? What helps you succeed?

  • Relevant: How does this goal connect to your value?

  • Time-Bound: When will you complete it?


5. My SMART Goal Statement

Combine the parts above into one clear sentence. For example: “I will spend 30 minutes on my homework each night (specific & time-bound), record my progress in a checklist (measurable), and ask one question in class each week (achievable & relevant to responsibility).”







Be ready to share: We’ll display these posters in class and reflect on how our values guide our goals.

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