Dreams to Reality: Goal Setting Through Sketchnoting
How can we set goals that will help us grow personally and academically?
How to Use This Lesson
This is a Harmony Student Wellness lesson, a week-long, music-centered social-emotional learning lesson designed to be taught across multiple sessions, culminating in an arts-based project. This lesson can be taught in isolation or as part of the larger Harmony Student Wellness program. For more support on implementation, see the Implementation Guide on the program page.
Essential Question
How can we set goals that will help us grow personally and academically?
Objectives
Mastery Objective:
- Students will be able to set SMART goals, identify the motivation behind a goal, break a goal into smaller steps, and plan for potential obstacles through sketchnoting.
Preparation Day - Students will:
- Explore the basics of sketchnoting, a visual form of note-taking that combines words, drawings, and symbols
- Prepare for creating visual journal entries throughout this lesson and beyond
Day 1 - Students will:
- Listen to “Dreams” by Van Halen
- Construct SMART goals
- Receive and provide feedback, and refine goals
Day 2 - Students will:
- Listen to “High Hopes” by Panic! At The Disco
- Identify their “why”- the deeper motivation and personal reasons behind their goal
- Sketchnote their motivation to create a visual reminder of what drives them toward their goal
Day 3 - Students will:
- Listen to “One Step at a Time” by Jordin Sparks
- Break down their big goal into 3-5 smaller, manageable steps
- Create a sketchnote showing the smaller steps needed to achieve their goal
Day 4 - Students will:
- Listen to “Rise Up“ by Andra Day
- Identify potential obstacles and develop strategies to overcome challenges
- Plan visually for setbacks by sketchnoting 2-3 obstacles and their solutions
Arts-Based Activity:
- Reflect on their goals and the creative process of sketchnoting
- Synthesize their week’s work into one comprehensive Goal Journey Sketchnote
Background
In this lesson, students will be introduced to sketchnoting—visual notes that utilize handwriting, drawing, word art, shapes, and visual elements—and use this creative technique to work through a four-step goal-setting process. Students will use sketchnoting in their journals throughout the lesson to creatively respond to each step: setting SMART goals, identifying their “why,” mapping out smaller steps, and planning for obstacles. At the end of the lesson, students will create a final Goal Journey Sketchnote that combines elements from their daily journal work into one comprehensive visual story. This arts-based approach to goal setting equips students with creative tools they can use for personal and academic growth in school and beyond.
Materials
Required for all lessons:
- Student Journals
- Art Supplies
Preparation
This lesson contains a preparation activity designed to front-load sketchnoting skills so students can confidently create visual notes throughout the week.