Goals in Gear Lesson Plan
Teacher Guide
Goals in Gear
Middle School Tier 1 Lesson
5 Minutes
Objective
Students will identify and set one academic and one personal goal for the school year, outlining simple steps to achieve them.
Why This Matters
Setting clear, achievable goals boosts motivation, organization, and self-confidence—helping middle schoolers begin the year focused and proactive.
Materials
- Goals in Gear Slides
- Goal-Setting Bingo (1 per student)
- Projector/Screen
Preparation (2 Minutes)
• Review Goals in Gear Slide Deck slides and talking points.
• Print one copy of the Goal-Setting Bingo Game per student.
• Cue up the slide deck and ensure projector/screen is ready.
Lesson Flow
1
Introduction
1 Min
• Display Slide 1: "Why Set Goals?"
• Briefly explain benefits: focus, motivation, progress.
Differentiation: Provide sentence starters on board for students with IEPs or ELL needs (e.g., “My academic goal is…”).
2
Goal Brainstorm
2 Mins
• Display Slide 2: "Types of Goals"—academic vs. personal.
• Ask students to think of one academic and one personal goal. Students jot them down in notebooks or on whiteboards.
Support: Offer visual supports or goal examples for students with 504 plans.
3
Goal-Setting Game
1 Min
• Hand out Goal-Setting Bingo Game cards.
• Call out goal prompts at random (e.g., “Improve math grade,” “Read 5 books”).
• Students mark matching squares; first to bingo shouts and shares one goal aloud.
4
Share & Wrap Up
1 Min
• Invite 2–3 volunteers to share one academic and one personal goal.
• Encourage students to keep their goals visible (locker, notebook).
• Closing Tip: Remind all to revisit goals weekly for progress check-ins.
Goals in Gear Slide Deck Presentation
Goals in Gear
Why Set Goals?
Gives you direction and focus
Boosts motivation when things get tough
Lets you celebrate wins along the way
"What do you want to achieve this year?"
Teacher Note: Welcome the class. Say: "Today we're kicking off the year by setting one academic and one personal goal."
Motivation Gear
How to Stay Motivated
Launch Video: How to Stay Motivated
[Insert Teacher-Selected Video Content Here]
Think: What idea from the video stood out to you?
Category Selection
Types of Goals
Academic
- Improve math grade
- Read 10 books
Personal
- Join a new club
- Practice piano 3x/week
Pick ONE of each and jot them down!
Final Step: Interaction
Goal-Setting Bingo
Grab your Bingo Card
Listen for Goal Prompts
Mark your squares & shout "Bingo!"
Winner Shares!
First to get Bingo shares one academic and one personal goal.
KEEP YOUR GOALS VISIBLE EVERY DAY!