Lesson Plan
Pro-Planner Outline
Students will learn to prioritize tasks, allocate time effectively, and create a simple daily plan through hands-on and discussion activities.
Building planning and self-management skills helps students stay organized, meet deadlines, and gain confidence in handling schoolwork and daily responsibilities.
Audience
4th Grade
Time
25 minutes
Approach
Interactive activities and reflection.
Materials
Planning Power Slides, Task Toss Soft Balls, Daily Plan Puzzle Cards, Chart Paper with To Do/Done Columns, Sticky Notes, and Markers
Prep
Prepare Classroom and Materials
5 minutes
- Load and review the Planning Power Slides.
- Print, cut, and sort the Daily Plan Puzzle Cards.
- Gather Task Toss Soft Balls and test in the open space.
- Hang chart paper with “To Do” and “Done” headings at the front.
- Place sticky notes and markers at each student desk.
Step 1
Task Toss (Warm-Up)
5 minutes
- Gather students in a circle and explain the activity purpose: brainstorming tasks.
- Toss a soft ball to a student; they catch it, name one task they do (e.g., homework), then toss to a peer.
- Continue until each student shares at least one task.
- Highlight how naming tasks is the first step in planning.
Step 2
Daily Plan Puzzle (Activity)
10 minutes
- Divide students into pairs and give each pair a set of Daily Plan Puzzle Cards.
- Ask pairs to arrange cards into a logical daily schedule on their desk, considering start times and priorities.
- Circulate and prompt: “Why did you place this task first?” or “How much time will this take?”
- Invite one or two pairs to share their schedules with the class.
Step 3
Class Planning Chat (Discussion)
5 minutes
- Gather attention and display chart paper with “To Do” and “Done” columns.
- Ask guiding questions:
- “Which tasks were most important to schedule early?”
- “How did you decide the time needed for each task?”
- Record key student responses under each column.
- Emphasize that planning helps track progress and stay on task.
Step 4
Plan Wrap-Up (Cool-Down)
5 minutes
- Distribute sticky notes. Ask each student to write one planning tip they learned (e.g., “Make a list first”).
- Have students place their tips on the chart paper under “To Do” or “Done.”
- Read a few aloud and congratulate students on becoming “Pro-Planners.”
- Encourage them to use these tips tomorrow at home and in class.
Slide Deck
Can You Plan Like a Pro?
• Self-management and planning
• Prioritize tasks
• Create a simple daily plan
Welcome students and introduce the lesson: “Today, we’re going to learn how to plan like a pro! Planning helps you get things done and feel confident.”
Lesson Objectives & Why Plan
- Learn to name and prioritize tasks
- Estimate how long each task takes
- Create a logical daily schedule
Why? Planning keeps you organized, on time, and less stressed.
Explain the objective and purpose. You can say: “By the end of our 25 minutes, you’ll know how to list tasks, decide which is most important, estimate time, and build your own plan.”
Task Toss (Warm-Up)
- Form a circle.
- Toss the soft ball to a peer.
- When you catch it, name one task you do (e.g., chores, homework).
- Toss to another friend until everyone shares.
Introduce the warm-up. “We’ll start with Task Toss to get our brains thinking about all the tasks you do each day.”
Daily Plan Puzzle (Activity)
- Work in pairs.
- Arrange cards into a logical day plan.
- Consider start times and priorities.
- Share your schedule with the class.
Guide students through the pairs activity. “Use your Daily Plan Puzzle Cards to build a schedule. Think about what comes first and how long things take.”
Class Planning Chat (Discussion)
• Which tasks go first? Why?
• How did you decide time estimates?
• What helps you stay on track?
Lead the discussion. Use chart paper with columns “To Do” and “Done.” Ask each question, record responses, and highlight planning insights.
Plan Wrap-Up (Cool-Down)
- Write one planning tip on a sticky note.
- Place it under “To Do” or “Done.”
- Read aloud a few tips.
- Celebrate becoming Pro-Planners!
Wrap up with reflection. “Write one planning tip you learned today and add it to our chart under To Do or Done.”
You’re a Pro-Planner!
• Use your tips in class and at home
• Check off tasks as you go
• Keep planning to build confidence
Encourage application. “Take these tips home and use them tomorrow. Planning is a life skill you’ll use every day!”
Warm Up
Task Toss Warm-Up
Purpose: Students will brainstorm and name daily tasks to kickstart thinking about planning and organization.
Materials:
- Task Toss Soft Balls
Directions:
- Have students form a circle in an open area of the classroom.
- Explain: “Today, we’re going to start by thinking of all the tasks you do each day. Naming your tasks is the first step to planning like a pro!”
- Teacher models a toss: gently toss the soft ball to a student.
- When a student catches the ball, they say one task they do (e.g., “I do my homework,” “I feed my pet”) then toss it to a peer.
- Continue until every student has caught the ball and shared a task at least once.
- Debrief by asking: “How did naming tasks help you think about planning? What other tasks could you add to your list?”
This quick game energizes students and gets them naming real tasks, setting the stage for deeper planning activities. Feel free to repeat a second round if time allows.
Activity
Daily Plan Puzzle
Purpose: Students will practice ordering tasks, estimating durations, and creating a simple daily schedule.
Materials:
- Daily Plan Puzzle Cards
- Sticky notes or scrap paper for writing times
Directions:
- Pair up and find a clear spot on your desk.
- Spread out your Daily Plan Puzzle Cards.
- Discuss with your partner and arrange the cards into what you think is a logical order for a day (for example: Wake Up → Breakfast → School → Homework → Free Time → Bedtime).
- Next to each card, write an estimated start time and how many minutes you think each task will take. Use sticky notes if you need more space.
- Double-check with your partner: Does the flow make sense? Are your time estimates realistic?
Guiding Questions:
- Why did you choose to place this task first?
- How did you decide how long each task would take?
- Did any tasks need to happen at a certain time (like lunch or bedtime)?
Share & Reflect (Whole Class):
- Two pairs will come up and post their schedules on the board.
- Explain your ordering decisions and time estimates.
- Discuss: What was easy or tricky about building your schedule?
Discussion
Class Planning Chat
Purpose: Reflect on planning choices and identify strategies that make daily schedules work smoothly.
Materials:
- Chart Paper labeled To Do and Done
- Markers
- Sample schedules from the Daily Plan Puzzle activity
Student Roles:
- Presenter: Explains your pair’s schedule.
- Recorder: Writes key ideas and tips on the chart.
- Timekeeper: Keeps us on track with the discussion.
- Listener: Notes one tip you’ll try next.
Discussion Structure (5 minutes)
- Set Up (1 minute)
- Invite two pairs to post their schedules under the chart paper.
- Label one side To Do (tasks to plan) and the other Done (tips for success).
- Guided Questions (3 minutes)
- Which tasks did you schedule first, and why?
- How did you estimate how long each task would take?
- Were there tasks that had to happen at a certain time (like lunch or bedtime)? How did you handle them?
- What was easiest about creating your schedule? What was trickiest?
- Reflection & Charting (1 minute)
- Ask: “How will these planning ideas help you tomorrow in class or at home?”
- Record a few key words or tips under each column.
- Emphasize that good planning shows a clear path from To Do to Done.
Cool Down
Plan Wrap-Up (Cool-Down)
Purpose: Students reflect on planning strategies learned and commit to applying one tip.
Materials:
- Sticky Notes
- Pens/Markers
- Chart Paper labeled To Do and Done (from earlier)
Directions:
- Distribute one sticky note to each student.
- Ask students to write a planning strategy they learned today that they will use tomorrow.
- Prompt: “What tip will help you stay organized?”
- Prompt: “How will you remind yourself to use this tip?”
- Have students place their sticky note on the chart paper under To Do (if it’s a new strategy they want to start) or Done (if it’s a strategy they feel ready to use confidently).
- Read aloud a few sticky notes and celebrate students’ ideas and commitments.
Extension:
- Encourage students to stick their note in their planner, notebook, or at home as a reminder to use their planning tip.