Set a Goal, Make a Plan

Personal & Social Development · Self-Regulation & Resilience · ages 9-11

Name ______________________ Date ____________

What makes a goal 'specific'?
- It says exactly what you'll do and by when
- It's something everyone likes
- It's very hard to reach
Which of these is a specific goal with a timeframe?
- Get better at running
- Run around the park twice without stopping by the end of the month
- Running is fun
A plan for reaching a goal should include the steps you'll take.
Circle one: True False
Zoe's goal is to swim 8 laps without stopping. Look at her practice chart. How many more laps does she need after week 4?
Answer: ______________
Sam's goal is to finish a 6-book series by winter break. What's a good first step in his plan?
- Read one book each week
- Wait until the last week and read them all
- Buy the books
Ben's plan was to shoot 20 free throws every day, but after a week his arm was tired and he wasn't improving. What should Ben do?
- Give up on the goal completely
- Change his plan, like fewer throws with more rest days
- Ignore how he feels and keep going the same way
Jamal's plan to save $30 by his birthday isn't working because he keeps spending his allowance. What is the best next step?
- Stop tracking his savings
- Set a brand new goal for something totally different
- Look at what's not working and change the plan, like saving first before spending
Priya says her goal is 'I want to be good at art.' Why is this not a strong personal goal?
- It has no clear finish or timeframe to check progress against
- It's not something she likes
- It's too easy

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

It says exactly what you'll do and by when · A specific goal names the exact result and the timeframe, so you know when you've reached it.
Run around the park twice without stopping by the end of the month · This goal says exactly what to do (run around the park twice without stopping) and gives a deadline (the end of the month).
True · The steps are what turn a goal into something you can actually do.
3 · Zoe is at 5 laps and her goal is 8, so she still needs 3 more.
Read one book each week · Spreading the books out across the weeks gives Sam a steady step he can actually follow.
Change his plan, like fewer throws with more rest days · When a step stops working, adjusting the plan keeps the goal alive without hurting Ben's arm.
Look at what's not working and change the plan, like saving first before spending · Reviewing what's going wrong and adjusting the plan, not the goal, gets Jamal back on track.
It has no clear finish or timeframe to check progress against · Without a clear target and deadline, Priya can't tell when she's reached it or how she's doing.