Guidance — Grades K–5

Creating community in the classroom: Part 1 (setting goals )

This series of lessons is designed to help develop a sense of classroom community. Group goal-setting, brainstorming, peer feedback, group decision-making, positive reinforcement, and positive peer pressure are used to create a safe, supportive environment for learning in the classroom.

In Part 1, students are introduced to the goal-setting process. They will practice the first step of the process as they set individual and class behavioral goals.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–8 Guidance)

By Pat Nystrom.

Creating Community in the Classroom: Part 2 (Cooperative Planning)

This series of lessons is designed to help develop a sense of classroom community through use of group goal-setting, decision-making, brainstorming, peer feedback, positive reinforcement, and positive peer pressure. The lessons will help students create and maintain a supportive environment for learning. Part 1 focused on goal-setting process and practice. In Part 2, students will apply knowledge of the goal-setting process by cooperatively creating a plan to work on group goals.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–8 Guidance)

By Pat Nystrom.

Creating Community in the Classroom: Part 3 (Monitoring Progress)

This series of lessons is designed to help develop a sense of classroom community through use of group goal-setting, decision-making, brainstorming, peer feedback, positive reinforcement, and positive peer pressure. The lessons will help students create and maintain a supportive environment for learning. Part 1 focused on goal-setting process and practice. In Part 2, students applied knowledge of the goal-setting process and cooperatively created a plan to work on short-term group goals. In part 3, students will monitor the effects of their plan by determining whether short term goals are being achieved.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–8 Guidance)

By Pat Nystrom.

Goals, Goals, Goals

Students will be introduced to the benefits of goal-setting and the steps in the goal setting process. A group activity with a ball will give students practice in all steps of the process and an opportunity to see the benefits of setting goals.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–8 Guidance)

By Pat Nystrom.

Lesson plans on the web

You can climb any mountain

Students think about the skills and qualities required to be a good mountain climber and read about renowned climber Ed Viesturs and his experiences in the Himalaya mountains, especially Mount Everest. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–5 Guidance)

Provider: National Geographic