Module 4: Goal Setting and Planning

This module addresses the ways in which goal setting and planning help to promote life satisfaction.
Setting goals helps people to look forward to the future and have something to work toward. Planning
allows for the goals to be reached gradually, and helps people to avoid or manage obstacles effectively.
Flexibility and social supports are good resources to have while attempting to reach our goals,
especially if something does not go as planned or if goals become unobtainable.
Preparation Activity: Thinking about the Future

Task Objectives: Preparation for the Game of Real Life, thinking about what teens hope for, what
they hope to accomplish, and where they think they will be by the time they are 25 years old.

Materials: Plans for When Im 25 Years Old form, pencils

Directions: Facilitator explains: Based on our strengths and interests, we set goals for
ourselves. We also engage in some degree of planning in order to realize our goals. Think
about your personality strengths and your interests, and then consider the kind of adult
youd like to become. For the next few minutes, take time to write down some of the goals
you hope you will meet between now and when you reach 25 years of age. Have the
students write down realistic expectations in terms of: future education, the type of car and type of
home, marriage, children, employment, income, money saved in bank (see attached form)

Facilitator tells students to think about these goals as we begin to play the Game of Real Life

Central Activity: The Game of Real Life

Task Objectives: to experience the need for goal setting and planning in real life, but in a game
format; learn to be flexible in dealing with obstacles that may impede their progress toward reaching
their goals

Materials: game board, playing pieces, dice, play money, life cards, calculators, monthly statement
sheets.

Directions: In small groups of 4-8 people, facilitators will explain the game directions (see attached).

Process Questions:
Did things turn out the way you had planned why or why not?
Are you happy with the decisions you made throughout the game of life?
If you could go back and do it again, what would you do differently?
If you had to play it again, what would you do the same?
What were you surprised at during the game of life?
How did setting goals help you to do well?
How did planning ahead help you?
Did the game seem realistic to you? Did you learn anything new about life and how to be
successful? What is successful? Who in this group is happy with their outcomes in this
game? Why or why not?

Experience of the Week: Set a small goal; Plan how to reach the goal; DO IT
Retrospective Pre/Post Evaluation (see attached)

The Game of Real Life

Setting Up
When facilitating the game, each player is required to maintain a monthly balance sheet to determine
the amount of money received or paid out when crossing each payday. While the players are
maintaining their sheets, facilitators will also maintain a master sheet for each player. Every time a
player takes a turn, remind him or her to modify their sheets and help them with a calculator if needed.
Each game works best if there are 2 facilitators: Facilitator A: takes care of the bank and keeps track
of changes to each players monthly take-home pay; Facilitator B ensures that the game continues to
move from player to player, assists students with salary, car, and house cards, and reports changes as
they occur for each player to Facilitator A.
Cards
Separate the cards into 4 decks: Career Cards, Salary Cards, House Deeds, and Car Cards. Make an
additional pile for the Marriage and Baby cards. Place only the salary cards facedown, the others can
remain face up. Playing cards are attached to the end of this document. The salary cards should be
divided into three groups (college salary range, technical school salary range and high school salary
range). It is suggested that the high school salaries range from $15,000-25,000; the technical school
salaries range from $25,000-50,000 and the college salaries range from $35,000-120,000. These are
only suggested ranges, and can be adjusted as appropriate. The three sets of salary cards can be
marked to indicated which group to which they belong, for example: a yellow dot on the back of the
card=college; an orange dot on the back of the card=technical school; a green dot on the back of a card
=high school.
Playing Pieces
Each player will choose a playing piece that will represent the player during the game. After a playing
piece is chosen, distribute the Game of Life monthly statement sheets to each player. The colors
chosen by each player can be written on the master sheet to help keep the players separate.
Money
The facilitators will be the bankers and will be in charge of all money paid to and from the bank. The
banker separates the money into piles by denomination, gives each player taking the college track
$6,000 and each player taking the technical school track $3,000 that will signify loans. When
distributing money, keep in mind to give a variety of dominations. Red or Blue chips will signify
$5,000 and White chips will signify $1,000. The loans must be paid back within 3 paydays. Extra
ten dollar bills should be available in case they are needed; however, do not distribute the tens to the
players.
Loans
For the players taking the college or technical school track, they must repay their loans to the bank
within 3 paydays. If loan is not repaid in 3 paydays, add $500 to whatever they owe on the 4th payday.
If the loan is still not repaid after the 4th payday, force the players to downsize their house or car to get
the extra money to pay off the loan. The facilitators should remind each player how much money
is owed at each payday.

Playing Instructions
Notes for Facilitator
Each spot requires a different action to be carried out. The spaces with the stop signs are required
stops, regardless of the number of moves remaining. However, these are only mandatory stops the
first time around the board. Once players have made it through the board and have made life changes,
they are not required to stop at the spaces with the stop sign. If a player lands directly on a stop sign
space, they have the option of following the directions on the space. If a player receives a loan, the
loan must be repaid within three paydays in order to avoid a penalty. If a player lands on a payday, but
does not own a car or house, they still have to pay for groceries. Finally, each space is a designated
color depending on the action of the space. The colors are explained in further detail in the following
instructions.
Getting Started
The person to the facilitators left goes first. Play then continues clockwise.
On each players first turn, have him or her decide either to start a career, go to technical school, or go
to college.
Start Career
If the player decides to start a career, have them place their playing piece on the CAREER space and
do the following: choose a career card from the stack that does not require a degree and then draw a
salary card at random. Encourage the players to choose careers that they would actually be interested
in. Now have them roll the die and move as on a regular turn.
Technical School
If the player decides to go to technical school, have them place their playing piece on the TECHNICAL
SCHOOL space and give the player a $3,000 loan. Explain to the player that the loan must be paid off
by the third payday. When the players finish technical school and must choose a career, they can only
choose careers from the non-degree or technical school piles.
College
If the player decides to go to college, have them place their playing piece on the COLLEGE space and
give the player a $6,000 loan. Explain to the player that the loan must be paid off by the third payday.
When the players finish college and must choose a career, they can choose careers from any of the
piles: non-degree, technical school, or college degree required.
Mandatory Stops (the first trip through the board)
On each players turn, he or she will role the die and move the playing piece the number of spaces on
the die. There are certain spaces on the board that require the players to stop even if there are
moves left. Once a player takes care of business at the mandatory stop, this is the end of his or her
turn. Remember to make the necessary changes to the monthly bill statement. Those spaces are
Begin Career, Buy a Car, Buy a House, Get Married, and Marriage Problems.
Begin Career
Players that have chosen the college or technical school track will pass this space before moving to the
main part of the game board. These players should stop and choose a career, based on the school
track they have chosen. They can choose from college degree, technical degree, or no degree
required cards. The players will also choose a salary at this time.
Buy a Car
When a player lands on a car space, have them choose a car that they would like to have, while
encouraging them to think about what type of car, and car payment, would be most logical for the
income they are bringing in. Have the player make the first car payment when the car is chosen.

Buy a House
When a player lands on a house space, have them choose a house they would like to have, while
encouraging them to think about the mortgage payment, or their family situation, and what type of
house would be most logical to have. Once a house is purchased, the player must decide whether to
stay single or to become engaged. Their decision determines the route they will take from this point.
Have the player make the first house payment when the house is chosen.
Get Married
Once a player buys a house, they have a choice whether to stay single or get engaged and take the
married route. If a player chooses to get engaged, they will land on the get married space. This is the
point that the marriage officially starts; give the player a married card to signify the addition of a spouse.
Have the player buy $150 worth of groceries for the spouse and remember to add $150/month to the
players bill statement. The spouse also will be bringing in $500/month. Make sure to add $500
to the players monthly take home pay (money after bills).
Marriage Problems
Players that have chosen to get married must stop at the marriage problems space. When they land on
that space, have the player roll the die and an even number means that they stay together while an odd
number means divorce. Proceed to the next player. If a player gets a divorce, remember to
subtract $150 from the bill statement (i.e., money after bills will increase $150).
Other Stops
Have a Baby
When a player lands on the have a baby space, explain to the player that they have two choices: either
to stay single or to get married. Have them think through the pros and cons of each choice before they
make their decision. If the player chooses to get married, direct them to the married route; if they
choose to stay single, direct them to the single route. Have the player pay $150 for each baby,
regardless of marital status. Remember to add $150/month to players monthly statements for
each baby.
Rob a Bank
When a player lands on the rob a bank space, the player must roll the die to determine the action
taken. An even roll means that they receive $1,000 times the number of the roll, and odd means they
pay $2,000 times the number of the roll.
Get a 2nd Job
When a player lands on this space, the player will add $500/month to the Money After Bills section.
The Spaces (Colors)
Black Spaces
Black spaces signify places that the players will lose a turn.
Green Spaces
Green spaces signify places that the players will receive money.
Orange Spaces
Orange spaces are spots where players are forced to pay money.
Red Spaces (PAYDAY)
Red spaces signify paydays, when a player lands on or passes over a payday spot they receive their
monthly paycheck, but then they have to make all their monthly payments to the bank. For example, if
a player is making $1,000 a month but has a $200 car payment and a $300 rent payment, that player
will only receive $500 for passing a payday spot. Each player will keep up with his or her payment
schedules on monthly statement worksheets made up for each player. The facilitators will also keep up
with each players monthly bill statements, using the master sheet provided, and assist the players if
needed.

Blue Spaces
Blue spaces signify life change spots where players are forced to make or choose a life change that
they may want to make at that particular time. For example, if a player lands on the CAR ACCIDENT
spot, that player will have to move back to the car space and choose another car to buy.
Purple Spaces
Purple spaces signify baby spots where players are blessed with having a baby (or two!)
Once a player has reached the end of their chosen path, have them make a life change and then start
again from the life change spot that they have chosen. For example, if a player reaches the end of the
single path and chooses to get married for their next turn, have them put their playing piece on GET
MARRIED spot and continue playing from there.
Depending on the time allotted, the Game of Real Life can be played between 50 and 90 minutes.
When the game is over, have participants tally up the money they have (this is their savings in the
bank) and have them look at their playing sheets to ensure that all information is updated (i.e., marital
status, number of children, type of career, car, home, etc.). Next have them compare how they did in
the game with what they wrote down on their When Im 25 Years Old sheet. Ask the participants if
anything in the game is similar to what they wrote down. Also ask what when well and what did not go
well for them during the game. Ask if there were any surprises. Finally ask what are the main things
they learned from the game that they can apply to their real lives.

PLANS FOR WHEN I AM 25 YEARS OLD

Name:_________________________________
Type of career or job I want to have ______________________________
Type of car I want to have___________________________________
Type of place I want to be living in________________________________
Highest level of education I want to have___________________________
The yearly salary I want to earn_________________
The amount of money I want to have left over each month after paying all of my bills___________________________________
The amount of money I want to have saved in the bank______________
Will I be married (circle one)

yes

no

Will I have children (circle one)

yes

no

Number of children

____________

The Game of Real Life

Name:_________________________________

Color of Playing Piece_____________

Career ________________________________

Loan_________________

Car___________________________________
1
Type
monthly payment
Home_________________________________
2
Type
monthly payment

amount paid ______________pay day

______________pay day
______________pay day

3
Marital status:

single

Number of Children

married

divorced

remarried

Education/Training____________________________________________
Yearly Salary________________________
Monthly Salary

________________

Groceries ($150/person)

(minus)

________________

Car Payment (monthly amount + $150)

(minus)

________________

(minus)

________________

($150 covers insurance and gas)

House Payment (monthly amount + 200)

($200 covers electricity, gas, water, & sewage)

Money after Bills (monthly salary groceries car house) =

Make adjustments to money after bills as needed:
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________

________________

EXAMPLE SHEET

The Game of Real Life

Name:

Sara

Color of Playing Piece:

Green

Career: Computer Programmer

Loan: $3000

Car: Jeep Cherokee ($270/mo.)

Type
monthly amount

amount paid $1,000 pay day 1

$1,500 pay day 2
$500 pay day 3

Home Town House ($650/mo.)

Type
monthly amount
Marital status:

single

Number of Children

married

divorced

remarried

Education/Training: Technical School

Yearly Salary:

$45,000

Monthly Salary

$3, 750

Groceries ($150/person)

(minus)

150

Car Payment (monthly amount + $150)

(minus)

420

(minus)

850

Money after Bills (monthly salary groceries car house) =

$2, 330

($150 covers insurance and gas)

House Payment (monthly amount + 200)

($200 covers electricity, gas, water, & sewage)

Make adjustments to money after bills as needed:

$2,180 (subtracted $150 for groceries for spouse)
$2030 (subtracted $150 for groceries for child #1)
$2130 (received $100 month raise)
$1980 (subtracted $150 for groceries for child #2)
_______
_______

NAME________________ Color of Playing Piece_______

NAME_________________ Color of Playing Piece_______

SALARY___________________________

SALARY___________________________

CAR__$150 +________________________

CAR__$150 +________________________

RENT______________________________

RENT______________________________

UTILITIES___$200__________________

UTILITIES___$200__________________

GROCERIES__$150 x________________

GROCERIES__$150 x________________

LOAN_____________________________

LOAN_____________________________

PAYDAY___________________________

PAYDAY___________________________

NAME________________ Color of Playing Piece_______

NAME_________________ Color of Playing Piece_______

SALARY___________________________

SALARY___________________________

CAR__$150 +________________________

CAR__$150 +________________________

RENT______________________________

RENT______________________________

UTILITIES___$200__________________

UTILITIES___$200__________________

GROCERIES__$150 x________________

GROCERIES__$150 x________________

LOAN_____________________________

LOAN_____________________________

PAYDAY___________________________

PAYDAY___________________________

NAME________________ Color of Playing Piece_______

NAME_________________ Color of Playing Piece_______

SALARY___________________________

SALARY___________________________

CAR__$150 +________________________

CAR__$150 +________________________

RENT______________________________

RENT______________________________

UTILITIES___$200__________________

UTILITIES___$200__________________

GROCERIES__$150 x________________

GROCERIES__$150 x________________

LOAN_____________________________

LOAN_____________________________

PAYDAY___________________________

PAYDAY___________________________

MODULE 4: GOAL SETTING AND PLANNING

Grade in school______________
Race/Ethnicity:

Age___________

Black/African American
Native American

Circle one:

White/Caucasian

Asian American

male female

Hispanic/Latino

Other_______________________

Please circle the number that indicates how much you enjoyed the activities.
Not
At All

A little

Some

A lot

I enjoyed the Thinking About the Future

(when Im 25 years old) activity.

I enjoyed playing The Game of Real Life

Please circle the number that indicates what you knew before and after participating in this
session.
Before this session
Not A little Some A lot
At All

After this session

Not A little Some A lot
At All

I knew how to set goals for

the future.

I knew how to make

effective plans for reaching
my goals.

I knew how to adjust my

plans for reaching my goals.

I knew what I wanted for my

future education, career,
and personal life.

I was aware of the many

responsibilities one has
when one is an adult.

Architect
(College)

Entertainer

Artist

Teacher
(College)

Police
Officer

Doctor
(College)

Nurse
(Technical)

Computer
Consultant

Salesperson

(Technical)

Restaurant
Industry

Business
Management
(Technical)

Military

Scientist
(College)

Ford F150
$20,000
$280/mo.

Lawyer

Athlete

(College)

Chevy S10
$15,000
$220/mo.

Toyota
Camry
$17,000
$250/mo.

Honda Civic
$14,000
$200/mo.

Mitsubishi
Galant

Kia Sephia
$11,000
$150/mo.

Ford Mustang
$19,000
$270/mo.

Jeep
Cherokee
$19,000
$270/mo.

Cadillac
Escalade

$14,000
$200/mo.

$45,000
$600/mo.

Nissan Altima
$17,000
$250/mo.

Mercedes
$40,000
$550/mo.

One BR Apt.
$400/mo.

Two BR Apt.
$550/mo.

Farmhouse
$800/mo.

Log Cabin
$700/mo.

Mobile Home
$400/mo.

Trailer
$300/mo.

Condominium
$600/mo.

Townhouse
$650/mo.

Duplex
$550/mo.

Two BR House
$750/mo.

Three BR
House
$880/mo.

Four BR
House
$1000/mo.

$25,000
$2,080/mo.

$35,000
$2,920/mo.

$75,000
$6,250/mo.

$30,000
$2,500/mo.

$80,000
$6,660/mo.

$40,000
$3,320/mo.

$100,000
$8,320/mo.

$60,000
$5,000/mo.

$22,000
$1,820/mo.

$15,000
$1,250/mo.

$45,000
$3,750/mo.

$20,000
$1,660/mo.

$90,000
$7,490/mo.

$120,000
$9,550/mo.

$50,000
$4,160/mo.

Married

Married

Baby

Baby

Married

Married

Baby

Baby

Married

Married

Baby

Baby

Married

Married

Baby

Baby

Baby

Baby

Baby

Baby

Baby

Baby

Baby

Baby