The start of a new year offers the perfect chance to unite your classroom under a shared goal. Everyday Speech’s New Year’s Goal Class Bulletin Board activity encourages students to think collectively while also reflecting on their personal contributions to a greater class aspiration. This activity blends creativity, social-emotional learning (SEL), and teamwork into a memorable project that will serve as a daily source of inspiration throughout the year.

Why Create a Class Bulletin Board?

Collaborative activities like the New Year’s Goal Class Bulletin Board foster a sense of community and shared purpose. By brainstorming and committing to a single class goal, students develop essential SEL skills such as cooperation, empathy, and accountability. This activity empowers students to recognize their individual value while working toward collective success.

How the New Year’s Goal Class Bulletin Board Works

This interactive activity combines individual contributions with class collaboration to create a vibrant bulletin board that represents everyone’s commitment to a common goal.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Brainstorm as a Class
   Start by guiding a group discussion where students suggest meaningful goals the class can work toward together. For example, “Be more considerate towards others” or “Help keep our classroom clean.”
2. Write the Class Goal
   Once the class has decided on their goal, write it on a large central piece, such as a rocket or another decorative template provided in the activity kit.
3. Individual Promises
   Each student reflects on how they can contribute to achieving the class goal. They write or draw their personal promise on individual star templates.
4. Decorate the Stars
   Encourage students to color and personalize their stars to make them unique and vibrant.
5. Assemble the Bulletin Board
   Display the class goal prominently on the board and surround it with the decorated stars. This creates a powerful visual reminder of their shared commitment.

SEL Benefits of the Activity

The New Year’s Goal Class Bulletin Board supports key SEL competencies:

• Self-Awareness: Students identify their strengths and think about how they can contribute to group success.
• Social Awareness: Collaborating on a shared goal fosters empathy and understanding.
• Relationship Skills: Encourages teamwork and communication as students brainstorm and commit to a goal.
• Self-Management: Helps students recognize the importance of staying accountable to their commitments.

This activity is not just about creativity—it’s about building a classroom culture rooted in shared values and collaboration.

Implementation Tips for Success

1. Facilitate the Brainstorming Session
   Offer guiding questions to inspire thoughtful goal suggestions, such as:
   • “What do we want to achieve together as a class this year?”
   • “How can we make our classroom a better place?”
2. Model Reflection and Promises
   Share your own personal promise to the class goal to encourage student engagement.
3. Revisit the Board Regularly
   Use the bulletin board as a checkpoint. Reflect with students on their progress and celebrate successes.
4. Incorporate Reflection Activities
   Periodically, have students journal about how they’ve contributed to the class goal or discuss what the goal means to them.

Why Teachers Love This Activity

The New Year’s Goal Class Bulletin Board is versatile, easy to implement, and effective for building SEL skills. Teachers appreciate how it unites the class around a shared purpose while promoting creativity and self-expression.

Here’s what makes it stand out:

• It’s visually engaging and doubles as a classroom decoration.
• It fosters accountability and teamwork.
• It creates a daily reminder of the class’s shared goals and values.

Unlock more Social Learning materials by signing up for your free trial today – no credit card required!

Access the full Social Communication Curriculum HERE!

Instant access to thousands of no-prep social skills activities, over 1000+ video lessons, and engaging games designed to enhance learning and development.

Everyday Speech: Supporting SEL in the Classroom

The New Year’s Goal Class Bulletin Board is part of Everyday Speech’s robust library of SEL resources. From interactive activities to video modeling lessons, Everyday Speech offers educators tools to teach essential SEL skills in engaging and meaningful ways.

Final Thoughts

Kick off the new year with the New Year’s Goal Class Bulletin Board and inspire your students to work together toward success. This collaborative activity promotes self-awareness, accountability, and teamwork while encouraging creativity and reflection.

With Everyday Speech, teaching SEL becomes fun and impactful. Start this activity today and watch your classroom shine—together!

Sample Video

Students learn best by watching others their same-age model the behavior! Check out a sample video modeling lesson below. We offer our entire Social-Emotional Learning platform free for 14 days here!

Related Blog Posts:

Middle School Goal Setting Worksheet

Teaching Goal Setting to Elementary Students: Activities & Discussion Questions

Goal-Setting for Personal Progress and Happiness in Special Education