Students will develop and practice executive functioning skills such as organization, planning, self-regulation, and task initiation to better manage symptoms of anxiety and ADHD.
Executive functioning skills are crucial for academic success, social interactions, and emotional well-being. By building these skills, students will gain confidence, reduce anxiety, and improve their ability to focus and complete tasks, leading to a more positive school experience and daily life.
Audience
2nd and 3rd Grade Students
Time
6 weeks, 30 minutes per session
Approach
Interactive activities, discussions, and skill-building exercises.
Review the Executive Functioning Superstars Lesson Plan and associated materials for each weekly session. - Prepare any necessary printables or supplies as listed in the materials section for each session. - Ensure the classroom or group space is set up to facilitate interactive activities and discussions. - Familiarize yourself with the Executive Functioning Superstars Slide Deck content for smooth delivery. - Consider any individual student needs and how to adapt activities for optimal engagement.
Step 1
Week 1: Focus Fun - Sharpening Attention
30 minutes
Objective: Students will identify strategies to improve focus and minimize distractions.
Introduction (5 minutes) - Welcome students and introduce the concept of 'Executive Functioning Superstars' – building their brain muscles to help them learn and feel calm. - Ask: "What does it mean to focus? What makes it hard to focus sometimes?" - Use Executive Functioning Superstars Slide Deck (Slide 1-2).
Activity: Focus Freeze (15 minutes) - Explain that focusing is like a superpower. We'll play a game to practice. - Have students stand. Play upbeat music. When the music stops, students must 'freeze' and hold still, focusing on their breath for 10 seconds. Gradually increase the freeze time. - Discuss: "What helped you stay still and focused?" - Distribute and complete the Session 1: Focus Fun Worksheet discussing strategies like taking deep breaths or finding a quiet spot.
Wrap-up & Preview (5 minutes) - Briefly recap focus strategies. Encourage students to try one strategy before the next session. - Use Executive Functioning Superstars Slide Deck (Slide 3-4).
Step 2
Week 2: Organize It! - Taming the Clutter
30 minutes
Objective: Students will learn and practice organizational strategies for school materials and personal spaces.
Introduction (5 minutes) - Welcome back! Review a focus strategy from last week. - Introduce 'organization' – making things easy to find and use. Ask: "Why is it helpful to be organized? What happens when things are messy?" - Use Executive Functioning Superstars Slide Deck (Slide 5-6).
Activity: Organizing Challenge (15 minutes) - Provide a mixed pile of pretend school supplies (or actual supplies if available: pencils, erasers, paper clips, index cards) to small groups. - Give them 5 minutes to organize the items in a way that makes sense to them. - Discuss their strategies. Introduce the idea of 'zones' or 'categories.' - Use Session 2: Organize It! Activity Cards to guide a discussion on organizing backpacks, desks, or lockers.
Wrap-up & Preview (5 minutes) - Encourage students to choose one area (desk, backpack) to organize this week. - Use Executive Functioning Superstars Slide Deck (Slide 7-8).
Step 3
Week 3: Planning Power - Map Your Day
30 minutes
Objective: Students will understand the importance of planning and practice creating simple plans for tasks or activities.
Introduction (5 minutes) - Welcome. Review an organization tip. - Introduce 'planning' – thinking ahead about what needs to happen. Ask: "When do we plan? Why is it helpful to plan?" - Use Executive Functioning Superstars Slide Deck (Slide 9-10).
Activity: My Daily Plan (15 minutes) - Discuss a simple task, like 'getting ready for school' or 'doing homework.' Brainstorm the steps involved. - Introduce the concept of breaking big tasks into smaller, manageable steps. - Distribute Session 3: My Planning Pad Worksheet. Have students plan out a simple after-school routine or a small project. - Share and discuss their plans.
Week 4: Calm My Body, Calm My Brain - Self-Regulation
30 minutes
Objective: Students will learn and practice self-regulation strategies to manage strong emotions and maintain focus.
Introduction (5 minutes) - Welcome! Briefly check in on planning efforts. - Introduce 'self-regulation' – noticing how our bodies and brains feel and choosing tools to help us be calm and focused. Ask: "What does it feel like when you're worried or super excited?" - Use Executive Functioning Superstars Slide Deck (Slide 13-14).
Activity: Calm Down Corner Exploration (15 minutes) - Discuss different
Slide Deck
Welcome, Executive Functioning Superstars!
Get ready to power up your brain!
Welcome the students warmly. Start with an energetic introduction to get them excited about becoming 'superstars' of their own brains.
What Are Executive Functions?
Your brain's superpowers:
Focusing 🎯
Organizing 📦
Planning 🗺️
Staying calm 😌
Explain what executive functioning is in simple, child-friendly terms. Use an analogy if possible (e.g., your brain's 'control center'). Connect it to real-life situations they might experience.
Week 1: Focus Fun! 🎯
Learning to zero in and pay attention.
Introduce the idea of 'focus' for this session. Ask students what helps them focus and what makes it hard. Emphasize that everyone struggles with focus sometimes.
Focus Freeze Activity
Music on: Move! 🕺💃 Music off: FREEZE and focus on your breath! 🌬️
Explain the 'Focus Freeze' activity. Guide them through deep breaths. Reinforce that breathing is a tool for focus. Encourage them to notice their bodies.
Week 2: Organize It! 📦
Making things easy to find and use.
Introduce the topic of organization. Ask them about their experiences with organized vs. disorganized spaces (backpacks, desks).
Organizing Challenge
Your mission: Organize these items! 🤔 Why is it important to organize?
Lead the 'Organizing Challenge.' Observe their strategies and prompt them to think about why certain methods are effective. Introduce simple concepts like 'put like things together.'
Week 3: Planning Power! 🗺️
Thinking ahead and making a map for your day.
Introduce the concept of planning. Use a simple example from their lives (e.g., planning a playdate, packing for school).
My Daily Plan Activity
Break big tasks into small steps. What will you plan this week?
Guide students through the process of breaking down a task. Use visual aids if helpful (e.g., drawing steps). Have them work on their planning pad worksheet.
Week 4: Calm My Body, Calm My Brain! 😌
Learning tools to feel calm and focused.
Introduce self-regulation. Discuss different emotions and how they feel in their bodies. Emphasize that all emotions are okay.
Calm Down Corner Exploration
What helps you feel calm? - Deep breaths 🌬️ - Counting 🔢 - Squeezing a stress ball 💪
Explain different calm-down strategies. Demonstrate a few. If possible, have a physical 'calm down corner' or a visual representation to explore.
Week 5: Problem Solving Pros! 🧩
Finding solutions to tricky situations.
Introduce problem-solving. Use a simple scenario relevant to their age group (e.g., two friends want to play with the same toy).
Problem-Solving Steps
What's the problem? 2. Brainstorm solutions. 3. Pick the best one. 4. Try it out!
Guide them through the problem-solving steps. Use the worksheet to apply these steps to a practice problem.
