Introduction

Today, we’re talking about setting goals. A goal is something that we want to do, and we work hard to get better at it. A goal is different from a wish. A goal is not something you wish you had, like a bike or toy. A goal is something you want to improve about your life and you practice it. We can have goals for school, home, or activities. Some examples of school goals are: to read more books, to try something myself before asking for help, and to keep my desk clean. Some examples of home goals are: make my own lunch, be patient with my brother, or to play outside more. Some examples of activity goals are to practice the drums, to get better at drawing, or to score a goal in soccer this season. Let’s pause here and think of some of our own goals for school, home and our activities. Write a goal for each one. What do you want to accomplish? We want our goal to be specific. This helps us know exactly what we should work on. What exactly do we want to get better at? Instead of saying “I hope I get better at art,” stop and think of what will help you improve, like watching videos of other artists, asking the art teacher for help, or spending 15 minutes a day after school practicing. Let’s look at these general goals and practice making them more specific. ‘I will improve my writing’ and ‘I will get along with my sister.’ Pause here and discuss how to make these two goals more specific. We want our goals to be possible. This means you can really accomplish them with some work.

No-Prep Activity

Here’s a fun, no-prep activity for teaching goal setting to your elementary students. Begin by asking your students to think of one goal they have for school, home, and an activity. Have them write their goals on a piece of paper. Next, ask them to share their goals with a partner and discuss how they can make their goals more specific and achievable. Encourage them to think about the steps they can take to reach their goals and share their ideas with their partner. After the discussion, have each student rewrite their goals, making them more specific and achievable. Finally, have the students share their refined goals with the class, and invite their classmates to offer suggestions or encouragement.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to set specific and achievable goals?
2. What are some challenges you might face when trying to reach your goals, and how can you overcome them?
3. How can we support each other in reaching our goals?
4. How can setting and working toward goals help us grow and learn?
5. What strategies can you use to stay motivated and focused on your goals?

Related Skills

Goal setting is just one of many essential skills that support students’ social-emotional learning. Other related skills include:

• Self-awareness: Understanding one’s own strengths, weaknesses, and emotions.
• Self-management: Managing emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations.
• Decision-making: Identifying and making choices based on personal values and ethical principles.
• Problem-solving: Finding effective solutions to challenges and conflicts.
• Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to change.

Next Steps

Are you interested in exploring more activities and resources to help teach goal setting and other essential social-emotional learning skills? Sign up for free samples of our skill-focused materials and discover how to effectively support your students’ growth and development.