Starting a project or activity with the end result or goal in mind is an important skill for everyone to learn. The great news is that this mindset can be taught to kids as early on as elementary school! There are many benefits to "beginning with the end in mind," and even young children can see the positive impact of this skill and thought pattern as they grow and learn throughout their elementary school years.
Let's take a look at fifteen of the best activities that encourage kids to keep their goals at the forefront of their minds while they work towards success!
1. Video: Begin with the End in Mind
This animated video is a great way to introduce the concept of beginning with the end in mind, and it also offers some concrete examples and vocabulary. This video is perfect for showing some essential kindergarten skills and other critical skills for elementary school students.
Learn More: Katey Pastore
2. Bloom's Taxonomy Ladders
This printable activity is great for homeroom or the art classroom. It's a perfect resource for explaining Bloom's Taxonomy to young learners in a way and at a level that they can understand. This is also great for critical skills at the first-grade level, such as developing fine motor skills and spatial awareness.
Learn More: Life In First Grade
3. Read-Aloud: Someday by Eileen Spinelli
This book focuses on career awareness and the differences in attitudes that kids can experience when they think about growing up. It also offers realistic insights into the creative mind of a child who considers her own future.
Learn More: Amazon
4. Setting Smart Goals
This activity is geared towards boosting positive outcomes for students by helping them set smart and attainable goals. It focuses on each individual student assessing their own aims, and then setting up goals and systems that will gear them up for success!
Learn More: Mrs. Winters Bliss
5. Weekly Class Goals
This is an ongoing activity that can help increase levels of student inclusion in classroom management. It's also a great tool to help students learn to co-regulate their self-determination skills as a class. This way, all of your kids can succeed together!
Learn More: 3rd Grade Thoughts
6. Object Lesson: Big Rocks First
This classic video illustrates the importance of setting priorities to help achieve goals. It takes students through a simple illustration and encourages them to name the most important things that can help determine successful outcomes for students.
Learn More: 7 Big Rocks - The Productivity System
7. Big Rocks Classroom Decoration
This collaborative classroom decoration idea helps students remember the big goals and priorities that are represented by the "big rocks" in the previous object lesson. It's a way to remind them of the beneficial habits of mind and bring some collaborative community experiences to classroom decorations.
Learn More: Pinterest
8. Read-Aloud: Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss
This is a classic children's book that helps kids practice positive attitudes toward their big futures. There are many interactive resources to go with this read-aloud. Plus, the act of reading aloud together is great for developing phonemic awareness skills in the early grades.
Learn More: Amazon
9. New Year's Goal Setting Worksheet
The New Year holiday can help center activities on goal setting. It's the perfect time to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the coming year. It's also a wonderful opportunity to predict where the coming year will take your kids and begin with that end in mind.
Learn More: Classroom Freebies
10. "Now and Later" Candy Reminders
This is a great reminder for students to use their self-determination and self-regulation skills when it comes to making decisions. It can also encourage students to think ahead to the outcome before they make any decisions.
Learn More: Pinterest
11. Presentation About Beginning with the End in Mind
This is the ultimate introduction to beginning with the end in mind, especially for older elementary students. It focuses on how outcomes for students can be predicted and tweaked with time, and the importance of social skills and institutional practices throughout that process.
Learn More: Slideshare
12. Introduction to "Mindset" for Elementary Students
This is a resource that helps young learners improve their current knowledge on the topic of mindset. It explains the importance of mindset and attitude when it comes to improving learner knowledge, and it mentions practical ways to shift students to a more positive mindset from the get-go.
Learn More: Word Press
13. "Begin With the End in Mind" Downloadable Unit
This unit is perfect for face-to-face lessons or for the digital classroom. It's full of activities that classroom teachers can use to help support students as they set goals and start with the end in mind.
Learn More: Pinterest
14. Books to Supplement "Leader in Me"
This is an outstanding list of books that supplement the habits and skills that are taught throughout the "Leader in Me" series. Habit #2 is beginning with the end in mind, and there are several engaging offerings that will spark an interest in your elementary school kids.
Learn More: Library Learners
15. Tracking Goals with Data Graphs
This is a pack of activities that are best for kids in third grade and up. It allows them to track the numbers and figures of their goals, which can help them adjust their mindset as each semester progresses. It also includes other curated resources such as reflection prompts.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
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