Activity

Setting Goals: Knowing Our Why

Grades 3-5, Grades K-2
Subjects: English Language Arts, Explore Your World

Overview

The primary goal of this lesson is to guide learners in the process of setting meaningful and achievable goals while emphasizing the importance of understanding their personal “why”. Through interactive activities and self-reflection, learners will develop the skills necessary to set goals aligned with their values and long-term vision.

NB Curricular Connections

English Language Arts (K-2, 3-5)

  • Strand: Reading – Big Ideas: Reading Comprehension – Skill Descriptor: Construct meaning from oral stories and when being read to.
  • Strand: Interactions – Big Ideas: Expression – Skill Descriptor: Express feelings and opinions, and give simple descriptions of experiences.
  • Strand: Interactions – Big Ideas: Reception – Skill Descriptor: Receive the ideas and opinions of others.

Explore your World (K-2)

  • Strand: Well-Being, Big Idea: Emotional Health and Positive Identities, Skill Descriptor: Identify interests, passions, and strengths.

What You’ll Need

  • Read Aloud: “What Do You Do With a Problem?” By Kobi Yamada (available on Sora)
  • Blank Calendar printable

Instructions

  1. Whether as a K-2 class, individuals, or small groups, have learners think about their problem with a different perspective. Say: Some of the problems that we identified and chose to try to solve, may take a lot of planning, a lot of work, a lot of patience, and a lot of determination not to quit.  Problems can sometimes feel heavy and overwhelming.  We may need to look at them in a different way.  What has changed about this problem?  Show Slide #14 and have students turn their heads upside to read its   Our identified problem is now an opportunity to make a difference, to use our strengths and skills, to help others, and to move an obstacle out of the way.
  2. On the back of the Problem Picker Printable, have learners determine the end goal. Guide: As we look at our chosen problem, we have the opportunity to _______________?  What would our end goal be?  This is why we are doing this project.  This is our why.  Write the goal down.  This will guide decisions needed to be made in the next unit.
  3. Using the calendar printable (below) or one that is already in your classroom, look ahead to the next 2-3 weeks. Review the days of the week, months of the year, and how to read a calendar.  Mark down any important dates or special holidays.

Reflection Activity

Please see the attached PDF for several choices on how you and your learners can reflect upon today’s activity.