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Conquer Digital Chaos

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Erin Cloutier

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Conquer Digital Chaos

In this 30-minute lesson, students will explore and practice leveraging analog planners, digital apps, and folder systems to organize assignments, set deadlines, and create a personalized weekly plan they can apply immediately.

Effective organization reduces stress, prevents missed deadlines, and builds strong study habits, empowering 10th graders to manage workloads and improve academic performance.

Audience

10th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Guided exploration, hands-on practice, and peer sharing.

Materials

Printable Weekly Planner Template, Digital Apps Comparison Chart, Folder Organization Guide, and Conquer Digital Chaos Slide Deck

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Print enough copies of Printable Weekly Planner Template for each student
  • Distribute copies of Digital Apps Comparison Chart
  • Ensure digital display of Conquer Digital Chaos Slide Deck is ready
  • Review Folder Organization Guide to familiarize yourself with recommended folder structures

Step 1

Introduction and Hook

5 minutes

  • Present a brief scenario of a missed assignment due to poor organization
  • Ask students: “What challenges do you face when tracking deadlines?”
  • Introduce lesson objectives with the first slide from Conquer Digital Chaos Slide Deck

Step 2

Tool Exploration

10 minutes

  • Divide students into pairs
  • Provide each pair with Digital Apps Comparison Chart and Folder Organization Guide
  • Instruct pairs to discuss pros and cons of each digital and analog tool
  • Circulate to support groups and answer questions

Step 3

Hands-On Planning

10 minutes

  • Distribute Printable Weekly Planner Template to each student
  • Have students fill in upcoming week’s assignments, deadlines, and study blocks
  • Encourage students to sketch out a digital folder structure using suggestions from Folder Organization Guide

Step 4

Reflection and Sharing

5 minutes

  • Invite volunteers to share one organizational strategy they plan to adopt
  • Record strategies on the board for peer reference
  • Summarize key takeaways and ask students to set up their digital folders after class
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Slide Deck

Conquer Digital Chaos

Streamline your academic life with simple, practical organization tools.

Welcome students to the lesson. Introduce today’s topic and explain why organization matters for academic success.

The Chaos of a Missed Deadline

Maya stayed up late working on her English essay, but she didn’t record the due date properly. When she checked her planner the next morning, the assignment was already late—and her grade suffered.

Read aloud the scenario. Then ask: “Has anything like this happened to you?” Encourage a few quick responses.

Lesson Objectives

• Explore analog and digital organization tools
• Practice mapping out assignments and deadlines
• Create a personalized weekly plan to use immediately

Walk through each objective. Invite students to nod or share if they’ve tried any before.

Comparing Organization Tools

• Analog Planners: easy to carry, no battery needed, visual overview
• Digital Apps (e.g., Google Calendar, Trello): automated reminders, accessible on any device
• Folder Systems: structured file storage, quick retrieval, backup-friendly

Display the full Digital Apps Comparison Chart later during small-group work. Here, highlight the main categories.

Hands-On: Weekly Planner

Use the Printable Weekly Planner Template to:

  1. List all upcoming assignments and deadlines
  2. Block out study sessions and extracurriculars
  3. Prioritize tasks by urgency and importance

Distribute the Printable Weekly Planner Template. Guide students to fill in each section.

Organizing Your Digital Folders

  1. Create a main “School” folder
  2. Inside it, make subject subfolders (e.g., Math, English)
  3. Within each, use year and unit folders
  4. Name files consistently (e.g., “2024_Science_Project.docx”)

Reference the Folder Organization Guide. Explain each step as you display it.

Reflection & Next Steps

• Share one organization strategy you’ll adopt
• Write it down and post it visibly
• After class, set up your digital folders and planner

Encourage volunteers. Record one strategy per student on the board. Prompt them to commit to at least one change.

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Worksheet

Weekly Planner Template

Week of: _______________________


DayMorningAfternoonEvening
MondayTask: ___________
Priority: ____		Task: ___________
Priority: ____		Task: ___________
Priority: ____
TuesdayTask: ___________
Priority: ____		Task: ___________
Priority: ____		Task: ___________
Priority: ____
WednesdayTask: ___________
Priority: ____		Task: ___________
Priority: ____		Task: ___________
Priority: ____
ThursdayTask: ___________
Priority: ____		Task: ___________
Priority: ____		Task: ___________
Priority: ____
FridayTask: ___________
Priority: ____		Task: ___________
Priority: ____		Task: ___________
Priority: ____
SaturdayTask: ___________
Priority: ____		Task: ___________
Priority: ____		Task: ___________
Priority: ____
SundayTask: ___________
Priority: ____		Task: ___________
Priority: ____		Task: ___________
Priority: ____

Additional Notes:





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Reading

Digital Apps Comparison Chart

Use this chart to compare popular organization apps. Review each app’s main features, pros, and cons to decide which tool might work best for you.

AppMain FeaturesProsCons
Google Calendar• Event scheduling
• Automated reminders
• Color-coding and time blocking		• Free and widely available
• Syncs across devices
• Integrates with Gmail and other Google services		• Requires internet for full functionality
• Can become cluttered without regular cleanup
Trello• Kanban-style boards and lists
• Drag-and-drop cards
• Labels and checklists		• Highly visual and intuitive
• Great for project workflows
• Real-time collaboration		• Limited advanced features in the free tier
• No built-in calendar view without power-ups
Microsoft OneNote• Notebook, section, and page hierarchy
• Freehand drawing and annotations
• Audio and image embedding		• Integrates with Office suite
• Excellent for rich note-taking
• Free to use		• Less task-focused (no built-in reminders)
• Can feel overwhelming with many sections
Notion• Custom databases and templates
• Notes, tasks, and wikis in one workspace
• Markdown support		• Extremely customizable
• Combines notes, tasks, and docs
• Clean, modern interface		• Steep learning curve
• Performance can slow with large pages

After reviewing, think about which features matter most to you. Consider your workflow, collaboration needs, and device access when choosing an app.

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Reading

Folder Organization Guide

A well-organized folder system makes it easy to find your school files, stay on top of your work, and back up your documents. Follow these simple steps to create a clear, consistent digital filing structure.

1. Create a Main “School” Folder

  • On your computer or cloud drive, start with a single top-level folder called School (or your name + “School”).
  • Example: School_2024 or Emily_School

2. Add Subject Subfolders

Inside your School folder, create one folder for each class or subject.

  • Example structure:
    • School_2024
    • Math
    • English
    • Biology
    • History
    • Spanish

3. Organize by Year and Unit

Within each subject folder, break your work into years, semesters, or units.

  • Example for Biology:
    • Biology
    1. 2023_Fall
      • Unit_1_Cell_Structure
      • Unit_2_Genetics
    2. 2024_Spring
      • Unit_3_Ecology
      • Unit_4_Evolution

4. Use Clear, Consistent File Names

Adopt a naming convention that helps you identify files at a glance. Include the date, class, and assignment name.

  • Format suggestion: YYYY-MM-DD_Subject_Assignment.ext
  • Example: 2024-03-15_English_Essay1.docx

5. Tagging and Color-Coding (Optional)

If your system supports tags or colors (e.g., in Google Drive or macOS Finder), consider these tips:

  • Green = Completed work
  • Yellow = In progress
  • Red = Urgent or overdue

6. Back Up Regularly

  • Sync your School folder with a cloud service (Google Drive, OneDrive) or an external hard drive.
  • Schedule a weekly backup reminder in your planner or app.

Plan Your Own Folder Structure

Sketch out how you’ll set up your folders. Think about what subjects and units you need.

Your Main Folder Name: ___________________________



Subject Folders (e.g., Math, English):
1. ___________________________
2. ___________________________
3. ___________________________
4. ___________________________
5. ___________________________



Example of one Subject’s Unit Structure:
• ___________________________
  – ___________________________
  – ___________________________





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