SMART Goals: Creating a Road Map to Success

How can SMART goals help us stay focused and motivated on the path to achieving what matters most to us?

Mastery Objective

• Students will be able to create a SMART goal, identify steps toward that goal, anticipate challenges, and plan for success.

Day 1 - Students will:

• Listen to “Hall of Fame” by The Script and will.i.am
• Learn the components of the SMART goal framework
• Revisit their mission statement to practice writing a SMART goal

Day 2 - Students will:

• Listen to “Lose Yourself” by Eminem
• Reflect on past and present challenges they may have when working toward their goals
• Consider the benefits of identifying and overcoming challenges

Day 3 - Students will:

• Listen to “Ready, Set, Go!” by Tokio Hotel
• Recognize that having support can help them achieve their goals
• Consider ways to ask for and to offer support

Day 4 - Students will:

• Listen to “Step by Step” by Whitney Houston
• Consider how breaking a large goal into small steps can help them achieve it
• Practice identifying steps to create an action plan for a goal

Arts-Based Activity - Students will:

• Reflect on their goal and action plan
• Create a roadmap to represent their journey toward their goal

With a broad goal in mind, students learn the components of the SMART goal framework and apply it to make their goal more specific and actionable. They consider the importance of anticipating challenges and having a support system. At the end of the week, students create a roadmap showing their plan to reach their chosen goal.

Note: This lesson builds directly on "Who Do You Want to Be?: Writing a Personal Mission Statement." Students will need their completed personal mission statements to write their SMART goals on Day 1. It is recommended that students complete that lesson before beginning this one.

Required for all lessons:

• Student Journals
• Art Supplies

Arts-Based Activity:

• Handout - SMART Goal Roadmap