OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This ESL lesson plan on SMART Goals & Resolutions offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for B1-B2 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss New Year’s resolutions and personal goals, sharing opinions and experiences.
• Explore vocabulary and phrases related to setting and describing goals.
• Watch a video explaining why most resolutions fail and how to use the SMART method.
• Identify and explain the parts of the SMART acronym in a real example goal.
• Practice creating and refining their own SMART goals through discussion and collaboration.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

Students start by reading Eleanor’s list of New Year’s resolutions. They discuss which goals are well-made and which could be improved, giving reasons for their choices.

Next, students answer reflective questions about goals and New Year’s resolutions, such as what makes a goal effective, whether they personally make resolutions, and common mistakes people make when trying to achieve them.

Finally, students complete a short activity predicting the missing letters in the SMART acronym and discuss which of Eleanor’s goals have or lack these characteristics. They also reflect on what it means to experience a setback when pursuing a goal and how to maintain a positive mindset.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

Students watch a short video that explains why most New Year’s resolutions fail and introduces the SMART acronym for setting clear, achievable goals.

After viewing, students complete comprehension tasks including short-answer questions on resolution statistics, examples of vague goals, and a model SMART goal.

They also choose the correct words used to describe attainable and relevant goals and listen for phrases describing how to handle setbacks, filling in missing words and discussing their meaning.

VIEWING FOLLOW-UP

Students discuss the usefulness of the SMART acronym for their own goals and explore ways to create a goal if they have none in mind.

They then read Eleanor’s revised New Year’s resolution about launching a food vlogging YouTube channel and identify how each element fits the SMART criteria. Students compare goals to see which are most relevant and attainable, then attempt to make their own goals more specific, measurable, and time-bound. This section reinforces critical thinking and language for explaining goals and planning steps toward achieving them.

FROM THOUGHT TO ACTION: CRAFTING YOUR SMART GOALS

Students start by writing their own goals, even if they are not SMART, or creating an imaginary one if needed. They then work in pairs or with the teacher to share goals, ask questions, give feedback, and discuss first steps to make progress. Students analyze which parts of their goals fit the SMART criteria and reflect on any difficulties identifying specific elements. In an alternative Option B, students discuss topics such as current SMART goals, ongoing progress, past setbacks, habits they want to change, or fun experiences they want to try this year.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS SMART GOALS & RESOLUTIONS ESL LESSON

• This lesson helps students practice meaningful discussion about personal goals and self-improvement.
• It introduces clear vocabulary and expressions for talking about progress and setbacks.
• The video provides authentic listening content that motivates critical thinking.
• Students apply the SMART framework to real-life goals, reinforcing speaking, writing, and problem-solving skills.
• The activation encourages collaboration, reflection, and practical use of language in engaging and personalized contexts.