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Ace Your Exams: Study Smarter

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Erica Loiben

Tier 2
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Ace Your Exams Lesson Plan

Students will identify and apply effective test preparation and study techniques to improve their academic performance.

Effective study habits reduce stress and significantly boost academic success, helping students feel more confident and prepared for tests.

Audience

9th-10th Grade

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Interactive instruction, discussion, and practical application.

Materials

  • Ace Your Exams Slide Deck, - Study Smarter Worksheet, - Discussion Starters, and - Study Strategy Scramble Activity

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Review the Ace Your Exams Slide Deck, Study Smarter Worksheet, Discussion Starters, and Study Strategy Scramble Activity. Ensure all digital materials are accessible and print copies of the worksheet and activity cards as needed. Prepare any necessary writing supplies.

Step 1

Introduction & Hook

2 minutes

  1. Welcome and Hook: Begin by asking students: "Who here has ever felt stressed about a test? Or wished they had a magic wand for studying?" Introduce the lesson by explaining that while there's no magic wand, there are proven strategies to make studying more effective and less stressful. Use Ace Your Exams Slide Deck (Slide 1-2).

Step 2

Presenting Study Strategies

5 minutes

  1. Introduce Key Strategies: Go through the core study tips using the Ace Your Exams Slide Deck (Slides 3-7). Briefly explain each tip: Time Management, Active Recall, Spaced Repetition, Teach It!, and Mind Your Body. Encourage students to think about how they might already use some of these or where they could start. Distribute the Study Smarter Worksheet and ask students to jot down one new tip they want to try.

Step 3

Group Discussion

5 minutes

  1. Facilitate Discussion: Break students into small groups (2-3 students) or facilitate a whole-group discussion using the Discussion Starters. Encourage them to share their current study habits, challenges, and how they think these new strategies could help. Emphasize active listening and respectful sharing. Use Ace Your Exams Slide Deck (Slide 8).

Step 4

Study Strategy Scramble Activity

6 minutes

  1. Engage in Activity: Introduce the Study Strategy Scramble Activity. Explain the instructions clearly. Students will categorize or apply the strategies to different scenarios. Circulate to provide support and encourage deeper thinking. Use Ace Your Exams Slide Deck (Slide 9).

Step 5

Wrap-up & Cool-down

2 minutes

  1. Summarize and Reflect: Bring the class back together. Ask students to share one key takeaway or one strategy they are committed to trying this week. Collect the Study Smarter Worksheet for a quick check of understanding. Conclude by reiterating the benefits of smart studying. Use Ace Your Exams Slide Deck (Slide 10).
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Slide Deck

Ace Your Exams: Study Smarter, Not Harder!

Are you ready to unlock your best study self?

Welcome students and introduce the lesson's goal: to learn smart study tips. Ask a hook question about test stress or wishing for a magic study wand.

What's the Big Deal About Studying?

  1. Boost your grades
  2. Reduce stress and anxiety
  3. Understand subjects deeply
  4. Feel confident for tests
  5. Develop lifelong learning skills

Explain why effective studying is crucial for success and reducing stress.

Tip 1: Master Your Time

Plan Ahead: Don't wait until the last minute!
Break It Down: Tackle big topics in smaller chunks.
Use a Schedule: Dedicate specific times for studying.
Prioritize: Focus on what's most important or challenging first.

Introduce time management. Emphasize creating a study schedule and breaking down large tasks.

Tip 2: Active Recall - Get Your Brain Working!

Flashcards: Use them to test yourself on definitions and concepts.
Practice Questions: Attempt questions without looking at notes.
Self-Quizzing: Ask yourself "What did I just read?" or "How does this work?"

Explain active recall: actively retrieving information rather than passively re-reading. Give examples like flashcards or self-quizzing.

Tip 3: Spaced Repetition - The Power of Review

Regular Review: Don't just study once; revisit material over days/weeks.
Short Bursts: Frequent, shorter study sessions are more effective than long, infrequent ones.
Combat Forgetting: This method helps move information to your long-term memory.

Discuss spaced repetition: reviewing material at increasing intervals. Contrast with cramming.

Tip 4: Teach It! If You Can Explain It, You Know It!

Become the Teacher: Explain concepts out loud to a friend, family member, or even a pet!
Identify Gaps: If you struggle to explain something, you know where you need more study.
Simplify: Breaking down complex ideas for others helps you understand them better.

Explain the 'teach it' method: solidifying understanding by explaining concepts to others.

Tip 5: Mind Your Body & Brain

Sleep Matters: Get enough rest; your brain processes information while you sleep.
Healthy Fuel: Eat nutritious foods to keep your energy up.
Take Breaks: Step away from your studies to recharge and avoid burnout.
Exercise: Physical activity can improve focus and reduce stress.

Cover the importance of physical and mental well-being for effective studying.

Let's Discuss: What Works for You?

Share your current study habits.
What challenges do you face when studying?
Which of these tips do you think would be most helpful for you, and why?

Transition to the discussion portion of the lesson. Encourage students to share their thoughts and experiences.

Time to Put It Into Practice!

Get ready for our 'Study Strategy Scramble' activity!

Let's apply these tips to real-life study situations.

Transition to the activity. Explain the instructions for the 'Study Strategy Scramble'.

Your Ultimate Study Toolkit

Remember to:

Plan Your Time
Actively Recall
Space Out Your Review
Teach What You Learn
Take Care of Yourself

You've got this! Smart studying leads to success!

Conclude the lesson by summarizing the key tips and encouraging students to implement them.

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Worksheet

Study Smarter Worksheet

Name: _____________________________
Date: _____________________________

Part 1: My Study Toolkit

As we discussed, there are many ways to study effectively. For each tip below, write down one idea or specific action you can take to use this strategy for your next test.

1. Master Your Time (Planning & Scheduling)

  • One action I can take:





2. Active Recall (Testing Yourself)

  • One action I can take:





3. Spaced Repetition (Reviewing Over Time)

  • One action I can take:





4. Teach It! (Explaining Concepts)

  • One action I can take:





5. Mind Your Body & Brain (Self-Care)

  • One action I can take:





Part 2: My Next Study Plan

Think about a test or assignment you have coming up. Use the space below to plan how you will use at least two of these study tips to prepare.

What subject/test are you preparing for?





When will you study? (Specific days/times)









Which two tips will you focus on, and how?

  1. Tip: _____________________________
    How I'll use it:








  2. Tip: _____________________________
    How I'll use it:








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Discussion

Study Smarter: Discussion Starters

Use these questions to guide a rich discussion about effective study habits and test preparation.

Warm-up Questions:

  1. What's one study habit you currently use that you feel works well for you? Share a quick example.


  2. On the flip side, what's the biggest challenge you face when preparing for a test or a big assignment? (e.g., procrastination, feeling overwhelmed, forgetting information)


Exploring New Strategies:

  1. We talked about five key study tips: Time Management, Active Recall, Spaced Repetition, Teach It!, and Mind Your Body. Which of these tips are you most excited to try for your next test, and why?





  2. Can you think of a specific subject or upcoming test where one of these new strategies would be particularly helpful? How would you apply it?





Connecting to Well-being:

  1. How do you think improving your study habits and feeling more prepared could help reduce stress or anxiety about tests?





  2. Besides studying, what's one thing you do (or could do) to take care of your mind and body when exam time approaches?





Wrap-up Question:

  1. What's one
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Activity

Study Strategy Scramble!

Instructions: Below is a list of common study actions. Your task is to match each action to the best study strategy we discussed: Time Management, Active Recall, Spaced Repetition, Teach It!, or Mind Your Body & Brain. Write the correct strategy next to each action.

  1. Action: Creating a study calendar for the entire week, blocking out specific hours for different subjects.
    Strategy: __________________________________


  2. Action: After reading a chapter, closing your book and trying to explain the main ideas out loud to yourself.
    Strategy: __________________________________


  3. Action: Reviewing your notes for 15 minutes every other day, rather than cramming for 2 hours the night before a test.
    Strategy: __________________________________


  4. Action: Making flashcards for vocabulary terms and quizzing yourself on them until you know them by heart.
    Strategy: __________________________________


  5. Action: Getting at least 8 hours of sleep the night before a big exam and eating a healthy breakfast.
    Strategy: __________________________________


  6. Action: Explaining a difficult math concept to a classmate who is struggling with it.
    Strategy: __________________________________


  7. Action: Breaking down a huge research project into smaller steps and setting deadlines for each step.
    Strategy: __________________________________


  8. Action: Taking short breaks every 45-60 minutes during a long study session to stretch or get a snack.
    Strategy: __________________________________


  9. Action: Using practice problems from your textbook or online resources to test your understanding before a quiz.
    Strategy: __________________________________


  10. Action: Starting to review material for an upcoming unit test two weeks in advance, doing a little bit each day.
    Strategy: __________________________________


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Discussion

Study Smarter: Discussion Starters

Use these questions to guide a rich discussion about effective study habits and test preparation.

Warm-up Questions:

  1. What's one study habit you currently use that you feel works well for you? Share a quick example.


  2. On the flip side, what's the biggest challenge you face when preparing for a test or a big assignment? (e.g., procrastination, feeling overwhelmed, forgetting information)


Exploring New Strategies:

  1. We talked about five key study tips: Time Management, Active Recall, Spaced Repetition, Teach It!, and Mind Your Body. Which of these tips are you most excited to try for your next test, and why?





  2. Can you think of a specific subject or upcoming test where one of these new strategies would be particularly helpful? How would you apply it?





Connecting to Well-being:

  1. How do you think improving your study habits and feeling more prepared could help reduce stress or anxiety about tests?





  2. Besides studying, what's one thing you do (or could do) to take care of your mind and body when exam time approaches?





Wrap-up Question:

  1. What's one
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