How Can Pre-K Students Improve By Setting Goals: SEL Lesson

Pre-kindergartners are delighted to meet their two new friends, StarBoy and StarGirl, who join this lesson as colorful visual aids. To start the class, StarBoy and StarGirl engage pre-kindergartners in a fun conversation about the exciting part of growing up—improving themselves!

StarGirl explains what improvement means, why it is exciting, and how it becomes a part of growing up. She also introduces and defines what the word "goal" means and why it is important. StarBoy and the young students suddenly can’t wait to improve themselves!

This SEL lesson keeps the students engaged and excited to learn how to improve themselves. It is complete with a fun class discussion that clarifies and elaborates on the importance of striving for betterment. Then, a memorable march about growth and improvement follows, reinforcing the lesson concept to students.

To end the lesson, the class sings and dances to the Positive Action song, "Improve Myself." It is a song that reminds students about the importance of setting goals and being persistent in improving. Listening to this song helps them develop a positive self-concept and an intrinsic motivation to aim higher and work to be better.

The objective of this lesson is to introduce pre-kindergartners to the concept of setting and achieving goals as a way to improve themselves. Goals are the things they want to accomplish or habits they want to develop to achieve their desired result. For example, pre-kindergartners’ goals can be learning to read and write so they can acquire and impart knowledge. Other examples include learning to ride a bike, making friends, and developing self-confidence.

Accomplishing their goals can help pre-kindergartners achieve better results in their physical, intellectual, social, and emotional health. It is important that they learn to set goals for themselves so that they can track their progress on their self-improvement journey.