Freshman Future Fiesta: Goal-Setting Gala!

All grades Project 4 weeks

Freshman Future Fiesta: Goal-Setting Gala!

Missy Lee

VA:Cr1.2.4a

DA:Pr5.1.8.c

VA:Cr1.1

Self Directed Learning

Academic Mindset

+ 1 more

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Purpose

This project empowers students to take charge of their high school journey by setting meaningful goals and developing strategies to balance their academic, personal, and extracurricular pursuits. Through hands-on activities like reflective journaling, role-playing, and interactive workshops, students will cultivate essential life skills such as self-directed learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The project culminates in a digital portfolio and a student-led conference, providing opportunities for students to showcase their growth and receive constructive feedback from peers, teachers, and community members.

Learning goals

Students will develop strategies to effectively balance their academic, personal, and extracurricular goals throughout high school. They will engage in self-directed learning by using feedback and reflection to monitor their progress and build self-knowledge. Through critical thinking and problem-solving activities, students will explore innovative approaches to address real-world challenges. They will cultivate an academic mindset by establishing a sense of identity and belonging, enhancing their self-efficacy.

Standards

[National Core Arts Standards] VA:Cr1.2.4a - Collaboratively set goals and create artwork that is meaningful and has purpose to the makers.
[National Core Arts Standards] DA:Pr5.1.8.c - Collaborate with peers to discover strategies for achieving performance accuracy, clarity, and expressiveness. Articulate personal performance goals and practice to reach goals. Document personal improvement over time (for example, journaling, portfolio, or timeline).
[National Core Arts Standards] VA:Cr1.1 - Creativity and innovative thinking are essential life skills that can be developed.

Competencies

Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.

Products

Throughout this learning experience, students will develop a comprehensive digital portfolio that documents their progress, reflections, and achievements in balancing their high school goals. They will also prepare and deliver TED-style talks during the 'Pathway Presentation,' showcasing their strategies and growth. Additionally, students will create reflective journals and participate in role-playing scenarios, producing written and verbal reflections that demonstrate their problem-solving and decision-making skills. These products will culminate in a student-led conference, where students present their personal growth to peers, teachers, and family members.

Launch

Kick off the project with a 'Goal-Setting Adventure Day' where students engage in interactive team-building activities and workshops. These activities will simulate real-life high school scenarios, prompting students to identify and articulate their academic, personal, and extracurricular goals. This immersive experience sets the stage for students to collaboratively explore strategies for balancing their goals throughout their high school journey.

Exhibition

Students will participate in a 'Pathway Presentation' event, delivering TED-style talks that highlight their personal growth and strategies for managing high school goals. This exhibition will invite community members to attend, providing students with an authentic audience for their reflections and achievements. Attendees will have the opportunity to offer feedback and encouragement, fostering a supportive environment for student success.

Plan

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Goal-Setting Adventure Introduction - Begin with an interactive discussion introducing the project and essential question, setting the stage for goal-setting exploration (15 min) Team-Building Workshop - Engage in collaborative exercises that simulate real-life high school scenarios to identify and articulate personal goals (30 min)	Understanding the NC Portrait of a Graduate - Explore the NC Portrait of a Graduate through a gallery walk, allowing students to reflect on its relevance to their goal-setting (20 min) Personal Goal Mapping - Use a graphic organizer to map out individual academic, personal, and extracurricular goals inspired by the Portrait of a Graduate (25 min)	Reflective Journaling Introduction - Introduce reflective journaling as a tool for self-directed learning and start the first entry on personal goals and initial thoughts (20 min) Peer Feedback Session - Collaborate with classmates to share goal maps and give constructive feedback, fostering an academic mindset (25 min)	Role-Playing High School Scenarios - Engage in role-playing activities that simulate common high school challenges, focusing on decision-making and problem-solving skills (25 min) Discussion and Reflection - Gather insights from role-playing experiences and reflect on strategies for balancing goals within journals (20 min)	Digital Portfolio Setup - Begin creating digital portfolios to document progress, challenges, and achievements throughout the project (25 min) Goal Reflection and Adjustment - Reflect on the week's learning experiences and adjust personal goals as needed in response to new insights (20 min)
Deliverables	1. Reflective journal entries documenting initial high school goals and strategies for balancing various commitments.
Preparation	1. Gather materials for 'Goal-Setting Adventure Day,' including props for team-building exercises and scenario cards. 2. Provide journals or digital devices for students to record their reflections. 3. Prepare role-playing scenario prompts and guidelines to facilitate effective decision-making practice. 4. Organize group collaboration spaces and resources for peer discussions. 5. Develop feedback forms to guide teacher and peer feedback sessions.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Reflective Journaling Session - Students document their progress, challenges, and strategies in balancing academic and extracurricular commitments, focusing on personal growth and learning goals (45 min)	Role-Playing Scenarios - Engage in simulated high school challenges to practice decision-making and problem-solving skills related to goal management (30 min) Peer Feedback Exchange - Collaborate with classmates to provide and receive feedback on strategies used in role-playing scenarios, enhancing critical thinking abilities (15 min)	Digital Portfolio Development - Begin compiling reflections and documented skills into a digital portfolio, emphasizing progress towards personal goals (45 min)	Collaborative Goal-Setting Workshop - In small groups, set specific, measurable goals for personal and academic growth, utilizing the NC Portrait of a Graduate as a framework (30 min) Mind Mapping Activity - Create visual mind maps to explore and organize strategies for achieving set goals, promoting creative and innovative thinking (15 min)	Self-Directed Learning Plan - Design a personalized learning plan based on feedback and reflections, outlining steps for continuous improvement and self-monitoring (45 min)
Deliverables	1. Completed reflective journal entries documenting progress and strategies. 2. A draft section of the digital portfolio showcasing reflections, role-play insights, and peer feedback.
Preparation	1. Prepare reflective journaling prompts and templates for students. 2. Develop role-playing scenarios that are relatable and age-appropriate. 3. Arrange digital devices or access for students to work on their portfolios. 4. Organize peer feedback guidelines and structure to ensure focused discussion. 5. Set up classroom space for group collaboration activities and provide necessary materials.

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Reflective Journaling and Goal Tracking - Continue documenting progress, strategies, and adjustments in balancing academic and extracurricular commitments, focusing on self-directed learning (45 min)	Role-Playing High School Challenges - Participate in role-playing scenarios that simulate new or complex high school challenges, honing decision-making and problem-solving skills (30 min) Peer Strategy Exchange - Collaborate with peers to discuss role-playing experiences and share strategies for overcoming challenges, fostering critical thinking (15 min)	Digital Portfolio Progress Review - Reflect on and refine digital portfolios by incorporating new reflections and skills gained, emphasizing personal growth and goal achievement (45 min)	Collaborative Pathway Planning - In small groups, brainstorm and plan pathways for achieving personal and academic goals using the NC Portrait of a Graduate as a guide (30 min) Creative Strategy Mind Mapping - Create and share mind maps that explore innovative strategies for reaching identified goals, encouraging creative thinking (15 min)	Self-Directed Learning Reflection - Prepare a reflection on personal learning plans, highlighting insights gained from peer feedback and documenting steps for continuous improvement (45 min)
Deliverables	1. Mid-project reflective journal entry 2. Updated digital portfolio with documented progress 3. Outline for TED-style talk for the Pathway Presentation
Preparation	1. Gather materials for reflective journaling (notebooks or digital platforms) 2. Set up spaces for peer feedback sessions and workshops 3. Prepare role-playing scenario scripts and resources 4. Ensure access to digital tools for portfolio development 5. Provide exemplars and guidelines for TED-style talk preparation

Week 4	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Reflective Journaling and Portfolio Finalization - Reflect on personal growth and finalize digital portfolios by incorporating all reflections, achievements, and skills gained throughout the project (45 min)	TED-Style Talk Preparation - Plan and outline the key points for the TED-style talk, focusing on personal growth and strategies for goal management (25 min) Rehearsal and Peer Feedback - Practice delivering the TED-style talk and receive constructive feedback from peers to enhance clarity and expressiveness (20 min)	Role-Playing Presentation Skills - Engage in role-playing activities to simulate public speaking scenarios, enhancing confidence and presentation skills (20 min) Collaborative Rehearsal - Work with peers to refine presentation delivery, focusing on performance accuracy and expressiveness (25 min)	Student-Led Conference Preparation - Organize materials and plan the structure for the student-led conference, ensuring all elements of personal growth and achievements are highlighted (25 min) Final Presentation Rehearsal - Conduct final rehearsals of TED-style talks, incorporating feedback and making last-minute adjustments (20 min)	Pathway Presentation Event - Deliver TED-style talks to peers, teachers, and community members, showcasing strategies for managing high school goals and personal growth (30 min) Community Feedback and Final Reflection - Gather feedback from the audience and reflect on the overall learning experience, documenting final thoughts and future aspirations (15 min)
Deliverables	1. Completed digital portfolio showcasing reflections, projects, and skills gained. 2. Student-led conference presentation materials, including speech notes and visual aids. 3. Reflective journal entries summarizing project experiences and future application of strategies. 4. TED-style talk presentation materials for 'Pathway Presentation'.
Preparation	1. Set up the venue for the student-led conference and 'Pathway Presentation', including seating arrangements and audiovisual equipment. 2. Provide materials for the final reflective journaling session, such as journals and writing prompts. 3. Ensure students have access to digital devices to finalize their digital portfolios. 4. Coordinate with community members and family members to attend the exhibitions and provide feedback. 5. Prepare role-playing scenarios and any props or materials needed for the activity.