Wellness Goals Start

Overview

In this 45-minute session, 10th grade students will be introduced to the foundational concept of wellness and the role of personal goal-setting in promoting long-term health. Students will specifically learn about SMART goals and will begin applying this framework to wellness areas like nutrition, exercise, and sleep. The lesson incorporates interactive discussion, multimedia, and individual reflection to engage students fully.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Define wellness and describe its importance for holistic health.
• Explain the components of SMART goals.
• Create preliminary wellness goals related to nutrition, exercise, and sleep using the SMART framework.
• Reflect on personal wellness habits to identify areas of growth.

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Standards Alignment

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) – Health Education & Literacy Integration

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas clearly and accurately.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions on health-related topics.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.9-10.6: Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases related to wellness.

Health Education Standards (Grade 9-12)

• Standard 1: Comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.
• Standard 2: Analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology, and other factors on health behaviors.
• Standard 3: Demonstrate the ability to access valid health information and products.
• Standard 7: Demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks.

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Materials Needed

• Whiteboard or smartboard
• Markers
• Printed SMART Goal worksheets (1 per student)
• Projector for short video clip or presentation slides
• Notebooks or journals
• Pens/pencils

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Lesson Schedule & Procedures

1. Opening Activity & Brainstorm (5 minutes)

• Begin with an open question on the board: “What does wellness mean to you?”
• Students write quick answers in their journals/notebooks (1-2 minutes).
• Volunteer students share their ideas; teacher synthesizes to define wellness as a holistic approach including physical, mental, and social health.
• Reference CCSS.SL.9-10.1 by encouraging respectful, concise sharing.

2. Introduce Wellness & Challenges (5 minutes)

• Brief mini-lecture defining wellness and its dimensions (physical, emotional, social, intellectual).
• Teacher shares a few common challenges teens face regarding nutrition, exercise, and sleep.
• Ask students to quickly jot down which challenges resonate most with them.

3. What Are SMART Goals? (10 minutes)

• Present the SMART goal framework with clear definitions and examples for each component:
  • Specific: Clear and focused
  • Measurable: Trackable progress
  • Achievable: Realistic and attainable
  • Relevant: Meaningful to your wellness
  • Time-bound: Set with a deadline
• Use a visual chart and provide examples related to wellness (e.g., “I will eat three servings of vegetables each day for two weeks”).
• Reference CCSS.L.9-10.6 by introducing domain-specific vocabulary (e.g., measurable, achievable).

4. Video Clip & Group Discussion (8 minutes)

• Show a short interactive video (3-4 minutes) explaining SMART goals applied to health and wellness (teacher-prepared or from trusted educational sources).
• Facilitate discussion: How do SMART goals make setting wellness goals more effective?
• Encourage collaboration and critical thinking, aligning with CCSS.SL.9-10.1.

5. Guided Independent Work – Drafting SMART Wellness Goals (12 minutes)

• Distribute worksheets where students begin drafting 1-2 personal wellness goals around nutrition, exercise, or sleep using the SMART criteria.
• Teacher circulates to support goal development and provide feedback.
• Encourage and validate realistic goal-setting, citing Standard 7 on practicing health-enhancing behaviors.

6. Exit Reflection & Sharing (5 minutes)

• Invite volunteers to share one SMART goal they have drafted.
• Prompt reflection on how setting these goals can support their wellness growth over the coming weeks.
• Collect worksheets for informal formative assessment on understanding SMART goals and personal reflection.

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Assessment

• Formative: Observation during discussion, quality of responses in brainstorming, and participation in SMART goal creation.
• Exit tickets: Completed SMART goal worksheets evaluated for understanding of key components, relevance, and achievability.
• Self-Reflection: Teacher reviews depth of journaling responses to wellness definition and challenges.

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Differentiation & Inclusion

• Provide additional scaffolding with sentence starters or SMART goal templates for students who need writing support.
• Use visual aids and graphic organizers for English Language Learners (ELLs).
• Encourage peer support through partnered brainstorming during the group discussion.
• Allow alternative formats for goal expression (drawing, audio recording) when needed.

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Extension Ideas (For teacher use or homework)

• Assign students to track their progress on their SMART wellness goals through daily journals.
• Introduce a digital health app where students log nutrition, exercise, and sleep data.
• Plan a peer-led workshop on time management to support goal achievement.

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By integrating the Common Core standards with active goal-setting strategies, this lesson fosters meaningful engagement and sets a strong foundation for the unit "Wellness Goals and Growth."