Boosting Focus Strategies Students will learn and apply three focused-attention strategies—Mindful Minute, Brain Breaks, and Goal Setting—using self-monitoring checklists, a quick game, and a progress tracker to boost on-task behavior within a 30-minute session.
Building self-awareness and providing clear, engaging strategies helps 5th graders maintain focus, complete tasks efficiently, and develop lifelong self-regulation skills.
Teach, practice, game, reflect.
Prep Prepare Materials 10 minutes
Step 1 Introduction & Objective Review 5 minutes
Greet students and state today’s goal: learn ways to stay focused and on task.
Show Slide 1 of
Ask: “What makes it hard to stay on task?” List answers on the board.
Step 2 Teach Focus Strategies 10 minutes
Present Slide 2: Mindful Minute. Model a 60-second breathing activity.
Present Slide 3: Brain Breaks. Demonstrate a quick stretch or desk exercise.
Present Slide 4: Goal Setting. Show how to set a small, clear goal for a 5-minute work period.
After each strategy, ask students to summarize key steps in pairs.
Step 3 Self-Monitoring Practice 5 minutes
Distribute the
Explain checklist columns: Strategy, Time Stamp, Self-Rating.
Set a 2-minute timer. Students pick one strategy and complete the checklist as they practice it.
Step 4 On-Task Challenge Game 5 minutes
Introduce the
Start the timer and let students play. Give stickers or tokens for each successful focus moment.
Encourage cheering and positive reinforcement.
Step 5 Reflection & Progress Tracking 5 minutes
Hand out the
As a group, rate today’s session: Did we use each strategy? How well?
Students set one personal focus goal for tomorrow and record it on the rubric.
Collect game tokens to tally points next session.
