As the New Year approaches, it’s a wonderful opportunity to teach elementary students about setting goals and fostering a growth mindset. Instilling the importance of aspirations and plans at a young age helps them develop essential skills for the future. In this post, we’ll share a lesson plan with engaging activities centered around a Free Elementary New Year Goal Setting Craft from Everyday Speech, empowering students to articulate and visualize their New Year’s goals.

Related resources: See our full list of social skills lessons.

Setting Goals in the New Year

Lesson Plan:

Objective: Introduce the concept of setting achievable goals for the New Year.

Materials Needed:

• Free printable PDF craft by Everyday Speech
• Colored pencils/markers
• Scissors
• Glue

Discussing Goals (10 mins)

Start the lesson by discussing the meaning of a “goal.” Encourage students to share what they understand about setting goals and why it’s important. Use relatable examples like learning a new skill, achieving good grades, or being kind to others.

Goal Brainstorming (15 mins)

Distribute the free printable craft from Everyday Speech. Ask students to think about what they want to achieve or improve in the upcoming year. They can write or draw their goals on the printable craft. Guide them to make realistic and specific goals.

Sharing Goals (10 mins)

Create a safe space for students to share their goals. Encourage them to discuss their aspirations with their peers. This helps in fostering a supportive and encouraging classroom environment.

Goal Visualization (15 mins)

Once goals are written or drawn on the printable craft, have students decorate it. This visual representation can serve as a reminder of their aspirations. Encourage creativity and personalization.

Reflection and Display (10 mins)

After completion, have students reflect on how they feel about their goals and why achieving them is important. Display the crafts around the classroom to remind students of their aspirations throughout the year.

Conclusion

Teaching elementary students about setting New Year goals is a fantastic way to instill a sense of purpose and ambition. By using engaging activities and a free printable craft from Everyday Speech, educators can make this lesson both educational and fun. Encourage students to revisit their goals periodically, fostering a growth mindset and empowering them to take charge of their aspirations.

By integrating these activities into your classroom, you’ll not only teach goal-setting but also promote creativity, reflection, and a positive classroom culture. Here’s to a new year filled with aspirations and accomplishments!

Sample Video

Students learn best from watching real students their own age model skills. Try out this sample video-modeling lesson below. We offer our entire Social-Emotional Learning platform free for 30 days here!

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