Lesson Plan What are smart goals?

Lesson Plan

After completing these activities students will…

1. 
   Understand the difference between a goal and a SMART goal.
   
2. 
   Evaluate goals to see if they meet the SMART criteria.
   
3. 
   Develop SMART goals specific to his/her needs.
   

1. 
   FFA.org – My Journey
   
2. 
   Personal Growth Plan Template
   

1. 
   A copy of the worksheets and activities for each student.
   
2. 
   Smarties candy (2 rolls per student)
   
3. 
   Timer
   

• 
  CS.01 Premier Leadership: Acquire the skills necessary to positively influence others.
  

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  AGC02.01 Use oral and written communication skills in creating, expressing and interpreting information and ideas including technical terminology to communicate technical information within AFNR.
  

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  CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.4 Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task.
  

• 
  WHST.9.10.5 Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
  

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  CCSS.MP3: Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
  

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  Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  
• 
  Initiative and Self-direction
  

1. 
   Interest Approach: Smarties (adapted from an activity by North Carolina REAL Enterprises)
   
   1. 
      Explain the task to students: They will try to stack as many Smarties candies as possible in one vertical column, using only one hand, in one minute.
      
   2. 
      The exercise is about goal setting, so they need to set a goal before they stack.
      
   3. 
      Distribute the handout and tell them only the FIRST rule.
      
      1. 
         Candy stacks must be standing 5 seconds after the buzzer to count.
         
   4. 
      After everyone has set a goal for Round 1, distribute the Smarties (2 rolls per person) and ask everyone to get ready. Remember—one column, one hand, one minute.
      
   5. 
      Say “go” and start the timer. As they stack, remind them of the rules if necessary.
      
   6. 
      After the buzzer sounds, count 5 additional seconds out loud (scoring rule #1).
      
   7. 
      NOW, tell everyone the rest of the rules.
      
      1. 
         If the goal is NOT reached, count 5 points for each candy stacked.
         
      2. 
         If the goal IS reached, count 10 points for each candy stacked, up to the goal. Add 5 bonus points for each additional candy stacked over the goal.
         
   8. 
      With these scoring rules in mind, have students calculate their scores and record them on the record sheet.
      
   9. 
      Determine who stacked the most and who had the highest score (not always the same person). Discuss any unusual approaches you or others observed.
      
   10. 
       Ask participants to set and record a new goal for the second round, using what they learned in Round 1 to make a better estimate.
       
   11. 
       Proceed with Round 2, repeating the process explained above.
       
   12. 
       When it is time for Round 3 have students record their goal. After they have recorded their goals, and just before you start the time, announce that in Round 3, they must stack with their non-dominant hand.
       
       1. 
          Proceed with Round 3, repeating the process explained above.
          
2. 
   Discuss the activity:
   
   1. 
      How did your goals and accuracy change between rounds? Why?
      
   2. 
      What environmental influences came into play? How did you respond to these?
      
   3. 
      Which was your best round?
      
   4. 
      What motivated you?
      
   5. 
      What lessons about goal setting can we draw from this exercise?
      

3. 
   Instruction: Introduce and discuss the goal-setting acronym, SMART.
   
   1. 
      Specific: Decide exactly what it is you want to accomplish, learn, or do, and express it in specific terms.
      
   2. 
      Measurable: How will you know when you’ve accomplished your goal? Figure out a way to measure your success.
      
   3. 
      Attainable: Set yourself up for success; reach high, but not impossibly high.
      
   4. 
      Realistic: State what results can be achieved realistically given available skills, knowledge, and resources.
      
   5. 
      Time-Bound: Set a target completion date. Milestone dates along the way can also be useful.
      
   6. 
      After explaining the acronym show the following video. NOTE: The video says the A is for “agreed upon.” Explain to students that “agreed upon” works more in a business world where many groups are working together but for individual or small groups the R is for realistic.
      
      1. 
         http://youtu.be/0Mi9_XEXQqc
         

4. 
   Practice: Give each student a copy of the handout “Making it a Smart Goal.” Have students work through the two examples given, and then review answers as a class to make sure everyone is clear on what exactly it means to be specific, measureable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound.
   

• 
  Candy stacks must be standing 5 seconds after the buzzer to count.
  

• 
  If the goal is NOT reached, count 5 points for each candy stacked.
  

• 
  If the goal IS reached, count 10 points for each candy stacked, up to the goal. Add 5 bonus points for each additional candy stacked, over the goal.
  

1. 
   Scenario: Jill has a D in her math class. She has not done any homework for the past two weeks and doesn’t like to ask questions in class when she gets behind.
   
   1. 
      Goal: To do well on the next math test.
      
   2. 
      Evaluate the goal and complete the following chart.
      

3. 
   Rewrite the goal so it meets all the SMART standards.
   

2. 
   Scenario: This is David’s second year in FFA. He wasn’t very active in FFA his first year, but he enjoyed all the activities in which he participated. He likes when the FFA does anything relating to animals.
   
   1. 
      Goal: To become more involved in FFA this year.
      
   2. 
      Evaluate the goal and complete the following chart.
      

3. 
   Rewrite the goal so it meets all the SMART standards.