Grades 3–5
Helps or Gets in the Way?
Kai wants to read 20 minutes every night. Sort twelve things into what helps his goal and what gets in the way.
SEL worksheet · Goal setting
Big Goal, Little Steps
Put the little steps for two big goals, learning to swim and growing a sunflower, in order, then plan your own first step.
- Grade level
- Grades 2–4
- Time
- About 20 minutes
- Topic
- Goal setting
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Goal setting, Planning, Tracking progress, Self-reflection
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- A big goal is easier when you break it into little steps and do them one at a time, in order.
- Big goal: learn to swim. Write 1 to 5 to put the steps in order.
- Kick across the pool holding a board.
- Get used to splashing water on your face.
- Swim across the pool on your own.
- Blow bubbles in the water.
- Float on your back with a helper.
- Big goal: grow a sunflower. Write 1 to 5 to put the steps in order.
Teacher tip
Ask kids to plan the first step of a goal they really have.
How to use it
- Share one of your own goals and the steps you are taking.
- Keep the first goals small enough to reach in a week.
- Read scenarios aloud for younger kids and let them answer with a drawing.
Watch for
Goals that are too big or too vague. Help kids make them specific.
Talk about it
- What is the first small step?
- Have you ever been in a moment like this? What happened?
Take it further
Make a class goal, like reading 1,000 minutes, and track it on a big chart.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More goal setting worksheets
Grades 3–5
Goal-Setting Words
Fill in six goal words, plan, progress, obstacle, deadline, motivation and celebrate, then describe a goal with them.
Grades 2–5
Goal Progress Thermometer
Write a goal and ten steps up the thermometer, then color it in as you get closer to the top.
Grades 2–4
School, Health or Kindness Goal?
Sort twelve goals into school, health and kindness goals, then write one goal of your own for each kind.
Free for teachers
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