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Executive Function Gym

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Lesson Plan

Brain Boost Workout Plan

Students will be able to identify and apply strategies to strengthen executive function skills such as working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control, improving their planning, organization, and task execution abilities.

Developing strong executive function skills is crucial for academic success and everyday life. This lesson helps students build cognitive 'muscles' to better manage tasks, organize thoughts, and achieve their goals.

Audience

11th Grade Group

Time

25 minutes

Approach

Interactive exercises and reflective activities.

Materials

Your Mental Fitness Center (slide-deck), Memory Maze Challenge (game), and Executive Function Reflection (worksheet)

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Brain Activation (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Begin with a quick mental warm-up. Ask students to list five things they need to remember for the day (e.g., homework, appointments, items to bring home).
  • Facilitate a brief discussion: "How do you keep track of these things? What happens when you forget something?"

Step 2

Introduction: Executive Function Gym (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Use the Your Mental Fitness Center slide deck to introduce the concept of executive functions as cognitive 'muscles'.
  • Explain the three key areas: working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control.
  • Discuss why these skills are important for school and life.

Step 3

Activity: Memory Maze Challenge (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Introduce the Memory Maze Challenge game.
  • Divide students into small groups or pairs.
  • Instruct them to complete the challenge, emphasizing strategies they used to remember information and adapt to changes.
  • Circulate and observe, offering guidance as needed.

Step 4

Reflection: Executive Function Workout (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Executive Function Reflection worksheet.
  • Have students complete the reflection individually, considering how they used their executive function skills during the game and how they can apply these skills in other areas of their lives.
  • Conclude with a brief group share-out of reflections.
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Slide Deck

Welcome to Your Mental Fitness Center!

šŸ’Ŗ Get Ready to Power Up Your Brain!
šŸ§  Improve Focus & Get Things Done.
šŸš€ Boost Your Planning & Organization Skills!

Welcome students and get them thinking about how their brains work. Ask them if they've ever felt overwhelmed by tasks or forgetful. Introduce the idea of brain 'muscles'.

What Are Executive Functions?

Your brain's 'control center' for:

  • Planning & Organizing
  • Focusing & Paying Attention
  • Managing Time & Tasks
  • Controlling Impulses
  • Adapting to New Situations

Think of them as your brain's personal trainers!

Explain that executive functions are like the 'command center' of our brain, helping us manage ourselves and our tasks. Emphasize that these are skills we can improve.

Muscle 1: Working Memory šŸ§ 

šŸ’” Holding information in your mind to use it right now.

  • Remembering instructions
  • Following multi-step directions
  • Mental math
  • Recalling details for a test

Introduce the first 'muscle': Working Memory. Give simple examples like remembering a phone number or a shopping list. Ask students how they use working memory in school.

Muscle 2: Flexible Thinking šŸ¤”

šŸ”„ Shifting gears and adapting to new situations.

  • Problem-solving creatively
  • Changing plans when needed
  • Seeing things from different perspectives
  • Learning from mistakes

Introduce Flexible Thinking. Discuss how life rarely goes exactly as planned and the importance of being able to adjust. Ask for examples of when they've had to be flexible.

Muscle 3: Self-Control (or Inhibitory Control) šŸ›‘

šŸš¦ Pausing before you act or speak.

  • Resisting distractions
  • Waiting your turn
  • Managing emotions
  • Thinking before you speak or act

Introduce Self-Control. Explain that it's not just about not doing something, but also about choosing to do the right thing, even when it's hard. Ask for examples of when they've needed self-control.

Time for a Brain Workout!

Ready to exercise your executive function muscles?

Let's tackle the Memory Maze Challenge!

Transition to the activity. Explain that just like physical muscles, executive function muscles get stronger with practice. Tell them they're about to do a 'workout'.

Reflect & Grow šŸŒ±

After the challenge, you'll complete the Executive Function Reflection worksheet.

Think about:

  • What strategies did you use?
  • What was challenging?
  • How can you use these skills every day?

Explain the reflection part. Emphasize that thinking about how they think and how they learn is just as important as the activity itself.

Keep Training Your Brain!

The more you practice, the stronger your executive function muscles become.

Keep challenging your:

  • Working Memory
  • Flexible Thinking
  • Self-Control

Conclude by reiterating the main message: executive functions are vital skills that can be improved with practice. Encourage them to keep practicing.

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Game

Memory Maze Challenge

Objective: To strengthen working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control by completing a series of memory and pattern-based challenges.

Materials:

  • Pen/pencil for each student
  • Paper for each student (or small whiteboards)
  • Timer
  • (Optional) Small objects or cards for memory items

Instructions:

Part 1: The Memory Sequence (Working Memory)

  1. Teacher reads a sequence: The teacher will read a sequence of 5-7 items/words/numbers aloud. Students should listen carefully without writing anything down yet.
    • Example Sequence: Apple, Book, Chair, Dog, Cloud, Pen, Tree
  2. Recall and write: After the teacher finishes, students will have 30 seconds to write down as many items as they can remember from the sequence, in the correct order.
  3. Check and discuss: Briefly check answers. Ask students what strategies they used (e.g., visualization, chunking, repeating).
  4. Repeat (optional): Do one more round with a different sequence or slightly longer sequence.

Part 2: The Pattern Pivot (Flexible Thinking)

  1. Introduce a pattern: The teacher will introduce a simple pattern (e.g.,
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