I love that term – “Turn Over a New Leaf.” I don’t really know what it means in terms of leaves to turn over a leaf but I know what it represents to me. Change. Redirection. Focus. Intentions. Becoming better. And that is the message that we taught during our “Goal Banner” activity for Activity Days.
We talked about this phrase about leaves and turning them over. What does it mean? We talked about things that we wanted to change in our lives. Ways we wanted to be better. Times that we have set goals and succeeded and times that we have not. What makes us not succeed at a goal? These girls already have had experience with accomplishing and not accomplishing goals that they have set for themselves. Some want to play soccer better. One wanted to do some kind of gymnastics trick. One wanted to make a different choice concerning a friend.
We can all change and become better. That is the purpose of this life – celebrating our successes and looking toward the future to become even better than we already are. Throwing off old habits and shouting to the world I. AM. BETTER. THAN. THIS.
I love setting goals. I don’t like setting them in January. There is too much pressure, honestly. I like setting goals along the way – when I feel strongly about making a change, I set a goal to change. So, yes. This post might seem a little late for you to use but really it’s not. Improving who we are can start anytime. In fact, it SHOULD start anytime. And if you don’t follow through with the goal set, start again. There is always another day to make a fresh start and move forward.
For our activity, we made little banners for each girl. Five flags = four goals and one spot for their name. Everyone knows that goals are easier to accomplish when they are cute so we made these cute by placing pennies on colored cardstock and lightly spray painting over the top of the pennies with white paint. The pennies were the mask and when removed, created darling dots on the cardstock flags. The girls were thrilled to know that I had made the pattern myself so you can bet that we will be teaching them this technique at an activity in the near future. It’s a life skill – think of how much more fun a science fair project will be when it’s painted with polka dots!
I believe that some goals help us actually become better than other goals. In order to set a “good goal,” we should keep a couple of things in mind. Goals should be:
- Specific (be a better friend vs. talk to a new person every day)
- Measurable (make new friends vs. invite a new person over to my house by next Friday)
- Written Down (put it in a place you can see it)
- Accountable (tell someone your goal!)
After discussing how to set effective goals, I decided to divide their goal-setting up into 4 areas to create a full and well-rounded life. Each of these areas was represented by one flag on their banners, with the center flag being the spot for their monogram and name.
- how can I be a better friend?
- how can I be a better family member?
- how can I feel the Holy Ghost (spirituality) in my life?
- how can I improve physically or educationally?
click on image to download journaling spots
Here are the Monogram Circles (ie “initial spots”). Click on each one to download. I had them put their initial in the center flag of each banner.
Initial Spots A-I
Initial Spots J-R
Initial Spots S-Z
The girls then spent time thinking about goals that they want to accomplish in each area, writing them down and practicing how to make them measurable and specific. They then assembled their banners by gluing down the goal journaling spot and stapling each flag to a ribbon. The final touch was adding their pre-printed initial and name to make it their own.
We wrote our goals in pencil so that when we accomplish something, we can erase that goal and set a new one. Always moving forward. Always trying to become better than we already are. And with such a cute way to remember what our goals are, we are sure to succeed!
What are you ready to accomplish?
What a fun project and banner! TFS
I think I might have to use this in my classroom! We could hang them up to remind them. I think I might make it vertical. Thanks for sharing!
Love this!! I just got called as the Activity Day Leader and I am so excited to use this!!
I love this idea and wanted to use it this Thursday. Could you please let me know how to get the monogram circles with the girl’s names?
I printed those myself and don’t have them in a editable format at this time – consider cutting layered circles and placing them on top of each other. I hope to have printables ready in the coming weeks but it won’t happen by Thursday. So sorry.
I 💗this!! We are doing goal setting this week! I’m so excited to have a cute way to inspire the girls to accomplish their goals! By chance, have you created those printable a yet?
I have added the Monogram Circle printables to the post – you can now download them and print them out. The files are not editable so I’m sorry that you will probably have to print out multiples of the same sheets to get all the correct monograms for your group. This was the simplest way for me to make it happen for you. I hope it helps!!!
Do you just have the flags folded and glued over ribbon? So cute – thanks for sharing! 🙂
Two staples – one on each end of each flag. Make sure the staple grabs the ribbon. Good luck!
We are going to use this idea for a gratitude banner instead. I love it! Thanks for the ideas!
I just got called for activity days, I’m a mom of all boys, can’t tell you how excited I am to start with this project. Thanks for sharing!
Love it also, thank you! How wide are each of the flags?
Thx for the idea! Darling! I am going to use the four areas in the Faith in God for the girls to set goals in: Faith in God award requirements, Learning and living the gospel, Serving others and Developing talents. I think they will be excited to use this!
Vivienne, I’m not sure on the width – probably about 6″ at the top.
Great idea, and you made it cute and fun. I am a Grandma in this calling and I just love what you clever young Mom’s come up with. Thank-you, Thank-you Thank-you !
Thanks so much for sharing! Recently called to activity days, and we are going to do this tonight!!
Thank you for the idea! Love this!!!
you saved me with this one. I was at a loss for this weeks Activity days. Thank you for this!
I loved this idea and saved it to do as the trees and plants are budding this month to add the turning a new leaf theme for goal setting. Thanks so much!
I am using this for Personal Progress. One banner for each color! We are laminating them so once the goal they are working on is done they can erase it and write another. Thanks for the idea!
How did you string together your card stock? Love these banners-so cute and inspirational! Planning to use your idea this week-thx for sharing!
hed3044 –
I just folded over the top of the banners and stapled them to a ribbon.
This is such a cute idea! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
where do I find the banner print out? Really like to do this with my girls
Doing this tomorrow night. Thanks!