Psychological Corollary

A person should be mentally and physically ready before starting a new task.

Lesson Objective

Students will identify three mental or physical preparations necessary for success on a task. For example, being organized, efficient, and prompt are necessary to get to work on time.

Social Behaviors

This lesson shows students that successful people:

Social Vocabulary

• Worried

Suggested Lesson Plans

Introduction

• Remind students that Unit 3, Lesson 3, showed why it is important to set realistic goals and negotiate to make unrealistic goals more attainable.
• Introduce vocabulary.

Group Use of Student Workbook

• Ask students to read the story, "-Or Else."
• Discuss the list Danny made for himself. Ask if the list was a good idea.
• Which things could Danny do the night before (e.g., iron shirt; pack lunch; and gather pen, keys, and money)? How could not leaving everything to be done in the morning help Danny to get to work on time?
• What other things might Danny have done to get to work on time? (He might have tried to get up earlier, to have a friend give him a call, to set an extra alarm to go off when he had to leave his apartment, and to leave whether or not he was ready.)
• Discuss how lists can help (e.g., remind one of what has to be done, create a system for getting everything done, and establish a routine).
• Tell students that now they will have a turn at preparing for a goal or activity at which they would like to be successful. Tell students their goals should be something they want to accomplish that week (e.g., get to school on time and complete all homework assignments).
• Have students fill in the empty chart on the Lesson 4 worksheet.

Follow - Up

• Discuss the importance of mental preparation in being successful at a task (e.g., getting "psyched" for an athletic competition, feeling you know the material before a test, and looking forward to a party).
• Discuss how feeling ready or good about doing an activity increases your chances of success.

Behavior Development Activity

To encourage students to be prepared:

• Divide the class into several small groups. Ask each group to develop a list of how to prepare for a test. Assign each group a different subject: math, spelling, social studies, etc.
• Have groups exchange lists and critique one another's methods. Have class review lists to compile a master list of how to prepare for tests.

Review

• Ask students to identify three things they would need to do to be prepared to
• go to work (e.g., get dressed, pack a lunch, and leave at a specified time).
• take part in an athletic competition (e.g., attend practice, be well rested, and get "psyched").
• go shopping (e.g., bring money, know what you need to buy, and decide where to shop).

Homework (Optional)

• Tell students to recall the chart they filled out in Unit 3, Lesson 4, worksheet.
• Have students use the chart for one week to try to succeed at their goals.
• Ask students to report back to the class on whether or not the list worked for them. Ask them to explain why they think it did or did not work.