Stafford Senior High School

Psychology October 9, 2015

Angela Evans

Lesson Plan Topic

Childhood Dreams and Future Ambitions
Objectives and Standards
Students will be able to:
o Express their childhood dreams and how they correlate with their future ambitions
through writing their thoughts throughout the class block.

There are no standards for Psychology in Virginia. However, I will attach the Stafford
County curriculum framework, which my Mentor Teacher created, for the content.

Assessment of Learning
1 page warmup writing activity
Questioning during class
Reflection Journal
Lesson Plan Outline
Instructional Materials
o DVD of Randy Pausch motivational lecture
Setup before class
o Prepare questions for students to answer
o Ensure DVD works correctly
LESSON PLAN
1. Housekeeping Duties
a. Take attendance
b. Collect signed forms
c. Accept late assignments
2. Teacher Talk
a. Provide brief recap of previous class, wrapping up the unit on Memory
b. Explain what the days lesson will be, and tie it into how it relates to memory,
by examining the memories of childhood dreams and future ambitions.
c. Ask students to write an essay answering:
i. What were your childhood dreams?
ii. How have they changed?
iii. What are you doing now to reach those dreams?
iv. What do you have to do to reach this goal in your future?
3. As students are finishing their writing assignment, transition the writing activity into
further discussion of dreams and ambitions

a. Watch the Randy Pausch motivational speeches video (30 mins)

b. As students watch movie, have students write down any 3 quotes or
statements by Randy Pausch
c. Once the movie is over, have students write how they can apply those quotes
or statements to their own lives, elaborating with at least a paragraph in length
4. Students will turn in both their essay and quotes page once finished
5. The class will finalize with students completing their second journal prompt of the
school year
a. Teacher will ask students to retrieve their personal class journals from their
designated class bins
b. Tell students they will have the remaining class time to answer the prompt
i. How did you feel about the full period activity?
1. Writing about future dreams/goals
2. Randy Pausch video
3. Applying quotes to improve life
c. Once students are finished with their prompts, they will need to return their
journals back to their class bins
6. With any remaining time in class, the teacher will ask students to share what
childhood dreams and future goals they wrote about throughout the class period