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Your Goals, Your Game!

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lkoppisch

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Your Goals, Your Game!

Students will be able to define what a SMART goal is and apply the SMART criteria to create at least one personal or professional goal, along with an initial action step.

Understanding how to set effective goals is crucial for personal growth and achieving aspirations. This lesson provides a practical framework to turn vague desires into actionable plans, boosting confidence and success in all areas of life.

Audience

Adults

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and guided practice.

Materials

Smart Goals Slide Deck (#smart-goals-slide-deck), Smart Goals Script (#smart-goals-script), and My SMART Goal Worksheet (#my-smart-goal-worksheet)

Prep

Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review the Smart Goals Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
  • Print copies of the My SMART Goal Worksheet for each student.
  • Review the Smart Goals Script to prepare for leading the discussion and activities.
  • Ensure projector/screen and computer are set up for the slide deck.

Step 1

Warm-Up: What's Your Dream?

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students to think about something they wish to achieve, either personally or professionally. Emphasize that there are no right or wrong answers at this stage.
  • Facilitate a brief, open discussion where a few volunteers share their aspirations. Keep it light and encouraging.
  • Transition by explaining that while dreams are exciting, turning them into reality requires a plan, which starts with setting effective goals. (Refer to Smart Goals Slide Deck - Slide 1-2)

Step 2

Introducing SMART Goals

10 minutes

  • Present the concept of SMART goals using the Smart Goals Slide Deck (Slides 3-8).
  • Explain each letter of SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound, providing clear examples for each.
  • Encourage students to ask questions and clarify any misunderstandings about the criteria.
  • Use the Smart Goals Script to guide your explanations and examples.

Step 3

Your SMART Goal Activity

10 minutes

  • Distribute the My SMART Goal Worksheet to each student.
  • Instruct students to select one aspiration and apply the SMART criteria to define it on their worksheet. (Refer to Smart Goals Slide Deck - Slide 9).
  • Circulate around the room, offering guidance and answering questions as students work. Remind them it's about practice.
  • Encourage them to be as detailed as possible for each SMART component.

Step 4

Next Steps: Take Action!

5 minutes

  • After students have drafted their SMART goals, ask them to identify the very first, smallest step they can take towards their goal. (Refer to Smart Goals Slide Deck - Slide 10).
  • Have students write this initial action step on their worksheet.
  • Conclude the lesson by emphasizing the importance of taking that first step and the power of well-defined goals.
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Slide Deck

Your Goals, Your Game!

Turning Dreams into Reality

What do you want to achieve?

Welcome students and introduce the topic of goal setting. Ask them to think about something they want to achieve.

Why Goals Matter

  • Provide Direction
  • Boost Motivation
  • Measure Progress
  • Increase Success

Explain that goals provide direction and motivation. Without goals, it's hard to know where you're going or if you're making progress.

What are SMART Goals?

A powerful framework to help you achieve your dreams!

Introduce the SMART acronym as a framework for effective goal setting.

S is for SPECIFIC

What exactly do you want to achieve?

Example: Instead of 'I want to get fit,' say 'I want to run a 5K race.'

Explain 'Specific' - goals should be clear and well-defined, not vague. Use the example provided on the slide.

M is for MEASURABLE

How will you know when you've achieved it?

Example: 'I want to run a 5K race in under 30 minutes.'

Explain 'Measurable' - how will you track your progress and know when you've reached your goal?

A is for ACHIEVABLE

Is this goal realistic and attainable?

Example: 'Running a 5K is achievable with consistent training.'

Explain 'Achievable' - is the goal realistic and within your capabilities? Encourage students to challenge themselves but stay grounded.

R is for RELEVANT

Does this goal matter to you? Does it align with your values?

Example: 'I want to run a 5K to improve my cardiovascular health and challenge myself.'

Explain 'Relevant' - does the goal align with your values and other objectives? Why is this goal important to you?

T is for TIME-BOUND

When do you want to achieve this goal by?

Example: 'I want to run a 5K race on October 26th.'

Explain 'Time-bound' - set a deadline. This creates urgency and helps with planning.

Putting it All Together: Your SMART Goal

Now it's YOUR turn to create a SMART Goal!

Think about:

  • What you want to achieve
  • Why it's important to you
  • How you'll make it happen

Review the SMART criteria and prepare students for the worksheet activity. Emphasize that breaking down goals into smaller steps is key.

Next Steps: Take Action!

What's the very first step you can take TODAY towards your SMART Goal?

Encourage students to share their goals if they feel comfortable. Conclude by reiterating the power of SMART goals.

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Script

Smart Goals Script

Introduction (Warm-up: What's Your Dream? - 5 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon everyone! I'm really excited to talk about something that can help us all achieve more in our lives, both personally and professionally: goal setting.

To kick things off, I want you to take a moment and think about something you've always wanted to achieve. It could be big, it could be small. Maybe it's a personal goal, like learning a new skill or improving your health, or perhaps it's a professional aspiration, like a career milestone. Just hold that idea in your mind for a moment.

(Pause for 30 seconds)

Does anyone feel comfortable sharing one of their aspirations with the group? There are no wrong answers here, just what's on your mind.

(Facilitate brief discussion, acknowledge responses positively. If no one volunteers, share a general example like 'travel more' or 'learn to cook a new dish'. Refer to Smart Goals Slide Deck - Slide 1-2)

"Those are wonderful aspirations! It's great to have dreams and desires. But how do we turn those dreams into reality? Often, it starts with setting effective goals. Today, we're going to learn a powerful framework called SMART goals that can help us do just that."

Introducing SMART Goals (10 minutes)

"Let's dive into what SMART goals are all about. SMART is an acronym, where each letter stands for a key component of an effective goal. (Refer to Smart Goals Slide Deck - Slide 3)

First up, 'S' for Specific. (Refer to Smart Goals Slide Deck - Slide 4)

Your goal needs to be clear and well-defined. Instead of saying 'I want to get fit,' a specific goal would be 'I want to run a 5K race.' See how one is much clearer than the other? It tells you exactly what you're aiming for.

Next, 'M' for Measurable. (Refer to Smart Goals Slide Deck - Slide 5)

How will you track your progress? How will you know when you've achieved your goal? If our specific goal is 'I want to run a 5K race,' a measurable component would be 'I want to run a 5K race in under 30 minutes.' Now we have a benchmark!

Then, 'A' for Achievable. (Refer to Smart Goals Slide Deck - Slide 6)

Is your goal realistic and attainable given your resources and time? While it's great to challenge yourself, your goal should be something you can realistically achieve. For our running example, 'Running a 5K is achievable with consistent training.' It's not about being easy, but about being possible.

Fourth, 'R' for Relevant. (Refer to Smart Goals Slide Deck - Slide 7)

Does this goal truly matter to you? Does it align with your broader values or other objectives? Why is it important to you? For example, 'I want to run a 5K to improve my cardiovascular health and challenge myself.' This explains why the goal is meaningful.

And finally, 'T' for Time-bound. (Refer to Smart Goals Slide Deck - Slide 8)

Every goal needs a deadline. When do you want to achieve this by? Setting a date creates a sense of urgency and helps you plan. So, 'I want to run a 5K race on October 26th.' Now we have a target date.

So, our full SMART goal for the example is: 'I want to run a 5K race on October 26th in under 30 minutes to improve my cardiovascular health and challenge myself, which is achievable with consistent training.' That's a strong goal!

Any questions about the SMART criteria before we move on? It's okay if it feels like a lot at first; we'll practice!"

Your SMART Goal Activity (10 minutes)

"Alright, now it's your turn! I've handed out a worksheet called My SMART Goal Worksheet. (Refer to Smart Goals Slide Deck - Slide 9)

I want you to take the aspiration you thought about earlier, or a new one, and try to transform it into a SMART goal using the framework we just discussed. Take your time and fill out each section on the worksheet: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

If you get stuck, remember the examples we just talked through. Don't worry about it being perfect; the goal is to practice using the framework.

(Allow 7-8 minutes for students to work on their worksheets. Circulate and offer individual support as needed.)

Next Steps: Take Action! (5 minutes)

"Great work, everyone! Now that you have a SMART goal, what's the very first, smallest step you can take towards that goal, perhaps even today or this week? Think about something actionable and immediate. (Refer to Smart Goals Slide Deck - Slide 10)

For example, if your goal is to run a 5K, your first step might be to 'research local 5K races' or 'download a couch-to-5K app.' Write down that first step at the bottom of your worksheet.

(Pause for 1 minute)

"The most important thing is to just start. Even small steps build momentum.

Thank you all for participating today. Remember, by making your goals SMART, you're not just dreaming; you're designing your path to success. Keep those goals in mind, take those first steps, and watch what you can achieve!"

lenny
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Worksheet

My SMART Goal Worksheet

Name: ____________________________

Think about a personal or professional dream you have. What is something you truly want to achieve?





Now, let's turn that dream into a SMART Goal!

Use the prompts below to help you define your goal using the SMART framework.

S - Specific

What exactly do you want to achieve? Be clear and precise. Who, what, where, when, why?







M - Measurable

How will you know when you've achieved your goal? What metrics will you use to track your progress?







A - Achievable

Is this goal realistic and attainable given your resources, skills, and time? How can you make it happen?







R - Relevant

Does this goal truly matter to you? Does it align with your values, other objectives, or long-term plans? Why is it important?







T - Time-bound

When do you want to achieve this goal? Set a specific deadline.







My Complete SMART Goal:

(Write your full SMART goal here, combining all the elements above.)












First Step Forward!

What is the very first, smallest step you can take TODAY or this week towards your SMART Goal?




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