Vision board, also known as a dream or goal board, is an excellent concept to teach students. Students need to learn how to set goals for success.
What is a Vision Board?
Vision board is created by an individual to illustrate what he wants in this life. A vision board is a personal collection of an individual desires and no restrictions are placed on the images or words displayed on the board.
A vision board may be a combination of life areas such as career, finances, family, and health or it may only highlight one life area such as finances. A student vision board will differ from an adult's vision board. For example, a student will not be focused on her career but rather on her education.
A vision board is created by pasting images and words on a poster board to display the individuals goals. The images can be magazine photos, personal photos, or hand drawn pictures and sketches. As well, the words can be cut from media formats or be handwritten.
Vision Board Lesson Plan
How to Set a Goal
Before students are able to identify their visions, also known as goals, they must learn how to write and identify a goal. Teach the students the difference between a goal and a wish. Students should not be discouraged to have incredible dreams but must be aware that flying to the moon tomorrow is a wish not a goal. It is also important for students to understand that they do not need to know how a goal will manifest.
Goal Brainstorming
1. Students make a circle in the middle of a large piece of paper. For 3-5 minutes students are to fill the circle with their personal goals. Students write their goals with one or two words. Teacher Prompt: Tell students to say "I want or My vision is..." to initiate their brainstorming.
2. After the above activity, students will make branches off the center circle with the headings: friends, school, sports, fun, family, games/toys and other. The headings can be altered to align with the students' grade level.
3. Students will highlight a word in the middle circle and place it under one of the branches. They will continue this procedure until all words are highlighted.
4. Students are to add more ideas to headings that have 1 or fewer goals, as often students are unbalanced with their goals focusing only on one area of their lives.
Vision (Goal) Board
Students peruse magazines to find pictures and words that represent their goals. As well, students may draw pictures or write words to represent their goals.
Students paste pictures of themselves in the center of their boards.
Students paste the pictures and words on the vision board around their image. Pictures may overlap, words can be pasted on top of images or pictures can be in a distinct order. Students should be encouraged to do the vision board based on their ideas and not those of their friends.
Goal Setting Tips
- Be specific
- Do not limit your goals because you are unsure how they will manifest
- Always write the goal in the present tense
- Write goals for you - not others
- Revisit the vision board
Vision Board Alternatives
Instead of the traditional poster board there are other creative ways to illustrate goals.
1. Make a book with one picture per page and a short phrase to represent the goal.
2. Make a book with one theme per page with a word or two to represent the theme.
3. Create an electronic vision board.
4. Use flash cards to display each goal.
5. Cut out shapes and glue them to a poster board. Place the images in each shape. For example, student may use the shape of a puck to paste all her hockey goals. Another student may choose a piano key and paste items related to music.
6. Place different mediums on a table and have students create their own vision boards with no parameters.
Types of Goals
Often vision boards are created by one person for his personal goals. However, vision boards are a great tool to outline goals for the class, school, community, or a global issue. Students can create a vision board to promote peace or love for all. As well, a vision board can be created about their class with learning and fun be illustrated. A group or an individual can create a vision board and there are no limits to what can be displayed.
