Design

Developed by:Laurie Griffin

Level:3-5

Goal Setting

Standards Learning Expectations	This activity will help students acquire competencies which relate to the following standards: 8. Self-Knowledge Applications The student will: 8.3 create long- and short-term goals
General Approach	The general approach is that children will set their goals for the upcoming grading period. They will also set goals for the entire class that will cover the course of a school year.
Activity Steps	1. Ask the children to define what a goal is. Then ask if they know the difference between a short-term goal and a long-term goal. *What is a goal? Can anyone give me a definition?* *There are two types of goals: long-term and short-term. What is the difference?* *Today we are going to set both long-term goals and short-term goals.* Think about what you want to accomplish this grading period. Are there some areas you want to improve? Are their areas you are doing well or want to continue? is there anything new you want to try or achieve? 2. Give students a moment to ponder his/her goals. 3. Instruct students to write 3 goals they would like to accomplish this grading period. 4. Walk around and look at their goals. 5. Invite students to share a goal. 6. After they proofread their goals, write them on the football pattern, cut out, and attach somewhere they can see it everyday (e.g. agenda, notebook, taped to desk). 7. Now ask each student to come up with a "challenge" or long-term goal for the class to strive for during the year (e.g. at least half of the class on honor roll) 8. Students write it on a sentence strip in crayon or marker. 9. Display somewhere in classroom where they can be seen and can be referred to frequently. 10. Be sure to let them know that as time goes on and goals are met, sometimes goals can be modified to meet the need at the time or once they met, they may be "crossed off the list".
Time Required	This activity may require 30-45 minutes.
Resources Needed	1 football pattern per student 1 sentence strip per student 1 sheet of notebook paper per student (Half-sheets will suffice.)
Performance Indicators	Students will be able to: Understand the purpose of goal setting. Differentiate between long-term and short-term goals. Modify goals as needed over time.