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Be Prepared

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Lesson Plan

Preparation Prep Plan

Students will learn to gather and organize materials before activities, enabling quick engagement and independent work readiness.

Teaching planning and organization builds confidence, reduces downtime, and fosters independence, setting students up for successful learning moments.

Audience

Kindergarten

Time

12 minutes

Approach

Interactive slides, modeling, guided practice, and a game reinforce organizing materials.

Materials

Prep

Review Materials

3 minutes

  • Review the Be Prepared Slides and familiarize yourself with each visual step.
  • Explore the rules and prompts in the Ready-Set-Go Check Game.
  • Prepare chart paper with the question: “What happens if we aren’t prepared?”

Step 1

Warm-Up Discussion

2 minutes

  • Display a messy desk image on slide 1 of the Be Prepared Slides.
  • Ask: “What do you notice? How might this affect our work?”
  • Highlight how missing materials can slow us down and feel frustrating.

Step 2

Introduce Preparation Steps

3 minutes

  • Show slides 2–4 of the Be Prepared Slides illustrating: 1) Gather materials, 2) Check your space.
  • Model each step at your desk, narrating aloud: “First I get my paper and crayon. Next I clear space.”
  • Emphasize the order and purpose of planning before starting.

Step 3

Guided Practice

3 minutes

  • Instruct students to gather a sheet of paper and crayons on their tables.
  • Guide them through: 1) Gather supplies, 2) Clear space, 3) Arrange materials neatly.
  • Circulate, praise students who are prepared, and support those still gathering.

Step 4

Reinforcement Game

2 minutes

  • Introduce the Ready-Set-Go Check Game.
  • Call out “Ready,” “Set,” “Go!”
  • On “Ready,” students show a thumbs-up if they have materials; on “Go,” they begin a quick doodle only if prepared.
  • Repeat for 2–3 rounds to build speed and accuracy.

Step 5

Reflect and Share

2 minutes

  • Invite 2–3 students to share how preparing materials helped them start quickly.
  • Record their ideas on chart paper under the opening question.
  • Reinforce that planning ahead helps everyone learn and have fun.
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Slide Deck

Be Prepared

Let’s learn how to gather and organize so we can start quickly!

Welcome the students and introduce the lesson: “Today we’re learning how to be prepared by planning and organizing our materials before we start any activity.”

What Do You Notice?

[Image of a messy desk]

• What do you see?
• How could this make it hard to work?

Display a picture of a messy desk. Ask: “What do you notice? How might this affect our work?” Chart responses to highlight how lack of preparation slows us down.

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

• Paper
• Crayons (or pencils)

Gather everything you need before you begin.

Show images of paper and crayons. Model aloud: “First I get my paper and crayons. Now I have what I need to start.”

Step 2: Clear Your Space

• Put away extra items
• Make room on your desk

A tidy space helps you focus.

Demonstrate clearing space: push toys or books aside, make room for your paper. Narrate each move.

Ready-Set-Go Check Game

• Ready: Thumbs up if your materials are ready
• Set: Get your hand ready
• Go: Start drawing only if you’re prepared

Let’s play 2–3 rounds!

Explain and model the Ready-Set-Go Check Game: “On ‘Ready,’ show thumbs-up if you have your materials. On ‘Go,’ begin a quick doodle only if you’re ready. We’ll try 2–3 times to get faster!”

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Game

Ready-Set-Go Check Game Instructions

Objective: Help students practice gathering and organizing their materials quickly, building self-management and readiness skills.

Materials Needed:
• Paper
• Crayons (or pencils)
• Your thumbs-up gesture!

How to Play (2–3 rounds, about 2 minutes total):

  1. Teacher Cue “Ready”
    • Teacher says “Ready!”
    • Students check their desk for paper and crayons.
    • If they have everything, they show a thumbs-up; if not, a thumbs-down.

  2. Teacher Cue “Set”
    • Teacher says “Set!”
    • Students place their hand on their paper, ready to draw.

  3. Teacher Cue “Go”
    • Teacher says “Go!”
    • Students begin a quick doodle only if they showed thumbs-up on “Ready.”
    • If they weren’t ready, they wait quietly and watch.

  4. Repeat 2–3 rounds, getting a little faster each time to build fluency.

Teacher Tips:
• Celebrate students who are prepared quickly (“Great thumbs-up, Maya!”).
• Gently remind others to gather supplies next round.
• After the last round, ask:

  • “How did being prepared help you start right away?”
  • “What might happen if we’re not ready?”

Follow-Up Reflection

Record students’ responses on chart paper under “What happens if we aren’t prepared?” to reinforce why planning materials first sets everyone up for success.

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