Psychological Corollary

It is important to set realistic goals - goals that can be accomplished with reasonable effort.

Lesson Objective

Students will label goals as realistic or unrealistic. For example, people who have limited funds and lack map-reading skills would find a costly camping trip unrealistic.

Social Behaviors

This lesson shows students that successful people:

Other Vocabulary

• Gear
• Afford
• Hiking boots

Suggested Lesson Plans

Introduction

• Write the word realistic on the board. Have students define, in their own words, what it means to be realistic (e.g., manageable, possible, within your capabilities, achievable).
• Introduce vocabulary.

Group Use of Student Workbook

• Ask students to read the play, "Wilderness Weekend" and complete and discuss the exercises.
• Discuss how the girls negotiated to reach a compromise.

Behavior Development Activity

• Tell students to think of a time when they were asked to do something that they thought was unrealistic or too hard for them. Have students brainstorm a list of unrealistic requests (e.g., homework too hard and too much work to do at home).
• Have students suggest how they might negotiate to make the request/goal more realistic (e.g., get help, have time to do it extended, or change the request).
• Have students choose an unrealistic request from the list and roleplay negotiating to make it more realistic.

Review

• Ask students to identify two reasons why a person should set goals that can be accomplished with reasonable effort (e.g., to avoid failure and to avoid frustration).