Internship Lesson Plan 

Counselor: ​Lindsay Timmerman 

 
Topic: ​Goal-Setting | ​Domain: ​Academic | ​Title of Lesson: ​Setting SMART Goals 
Grade Level: ​6-7 | ​Time Needed: ​50 min. 

ASCA Standards Addressed: 

● M 5.​ Belief in using abilities to their fullest to achieve high-quality results and outcomes 
● B-SMS 5. ​Demonstrate perseverance to achieve long- and short-term goals  

Core and/or Indiana Standards Addressed: 

● 6.SL.2.3:​ Follow rules for considerate discussions, set specific goals and deadlines, and 
define individual roles as needed 
● 7.SL.2.3: ​Follow rules for considerate discussions, track progress toward specific goals 
and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed. 

Developmental Asset(s) Addressed: 

● Achievement Motivation 
● Planning and Decision Making 

Differentiated Instruction/Cultural Awareness: 

● Acknowledge the fact that not all families/cultures celebrate the New Year during 
opening conversation 
● Use video subtitles 
● Read “SMART Cards” aloud before passing to accommodate those with speech, reading, 
or language barriers 
● Circulate while students are writing goals of their own to provide assistance as needed 

Learning Objective(s) 

● Students will be able to identify goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, 
and time-bound (SMART) 
● Students will be able to write their own SMART goals 

Collaborative Partners: ​6th & 7th grade teachers 

Materials Needed 

● Group agreement poster 

● Talking piece 
● Video 
 ● Computer 
● Projector 
● Doc cam or whiteboard 
● Shmoop video link 
● Phone for music 
● Laminated ​SMART Goal Sort cards 
● Laminated ​sorting cue cards  
● 2 hula hoops (1 red, 1 green) 
● SMART goal mini-worksheet 

Activity Summary 

First, students will engage in a classroom activity designed to help frame a conversation about 
goals and resolutions. Next, they will learn the components of the SMART acronym. Then, they 
will practice identifying SMART goals. Finally, they will write SMART goals of their own.  

Procedure 

● Welcome students to circle and review agreements. 

● Open up discussion about New Year’s resolutions. Say, “At the start of the new year, 
people often set resolutions for the year to come. These can be new habits they want to 
start, goals they want to achieve, or things they want to change about their current 
lifestyle. I wonder if you have any resolutions or if you know anyone with resolutions for 
2020?” (Pause, allow time for sharing.) 
● Share your personal resolution for the year and discuss how that resolution is going so 
far. 
● Tell students, “Often, people give up on their resolutions. What do you think makes the 
difference between a resolution that sticks and a resolution that somebody gives up on?” 
● Pass around ​SMART Goals sort cards ​and position hula hoops in the center of the circle, 
placing the ​“Smart” indicator in one hoop and the “Not So Smart” i​ndicator in the other. 
● Once every student has a card, say, “On each of your cards is an example of a goal 
someone might set for themselves. When I read off your card, please come forward and 
place it in the appropriate hoop based on whether you think the goal is “Smart” or “Not 
So Smart.” 
● Read off cards and allow students to place them in the hoop they believe is most 
appropriate. Provide students with opportunities to share why they made their 
decisions. 
● Show Shmoop video on SMART goals. 
https://www.shmoop.com/video/college-and-career-1-4-get-smart-goals 
● Say, “Raise your hand if this definition changes your thoughts about what hoop your goal 
belongs in.” 
● Tell students you’re going to give them another chance to sort the goals.  
● Explain that you will be playing a game of “hot potato.” First, you will read a card. Then, 
you will start some music. Once the music is playing, you will pass the card to the person 
on your right. The card will continue to be passed around until the music stops. When the 
music stops, the person holding the card must decide if the goal written on the card is a 
 “SMART” or “Not So Smart” goal.  
● Play until all the cards have been reviewed making sure the music stops on a different 
student every time. 
● Pass out SMART goal mini-worksheets and let students know the time has come to write 
their own SMART goals. Model by writing your own SMART goal (and 3 steps you will 
take to achieve the goal) using the doc cam or whiteboard. 
● Give students about 10 minutes to work on their SMART goals. Let them know you will 
be providing feedback during your next class lesson and following up with goal progress 
at midterm and end of year.  

Evaluation Plan 

● 1. Use 5 point rubric to determine whether students have mastered each component of 
the SMART acronym 
● 2. Check in and see where students are with goals at midterm (did they follow through?) 
 

Follow-Up Plan 

● Provide students with feedback re: their goals at next meeting 

● Check in and see where students are with goals at midterm. Depending on their 
progress, students will either revise their old SMART goal or set a new SMART goal 

References/Resources Used 

● SHMOOP Video 
○ https://www.shmoop.com/video/college-and-career-1-4-get-smart-goals 
● SMART Goal Mini-Worksheet 
○ https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Smart-Goal-Bulletin-Board-Pac
k-2971446 
● SMART Goals Sort 
○ https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMART-Goal-Setting-Lesson-2
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