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How Do You Begin?

Lesson Plan

Brainstorm Blueprint

Students will brainstorm various strategies to start tasks, evaluate their clarity and ease, and select the best starter approach to improve task initiation and engagement.

Teaching task initiation equips Special Education students with tools to overcome start-up challenges, fostering independence, focus, and confidence in learning activities.

Audience

Special Education Class (Grades 2–4)

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Collaborative brainstorming and individual strategy choice.

Materials

Starter Strategy Showcase, How Do You Begin? Brainstorm, Sticky Notes, Whiteboard And Markers, Projector Or Smartboard, and Timer

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

2 minutes

  • Explain that today’s focus is task initiation: how we start work efficiently
  • Ask students to share times they feel ‘stuck’ when beginning tasks
  • Emphasize that having starter strategies can help everyone begin more smoothly

Step 2

Strategy Showcase

5 minutes

  • Display Starter Strategy Showcase on the projector
  • Walk through 3–4 example starter strategies (e.g., drawing a quick sketch, writing one sentence, reading instructions aloud)
  • Prompt students with questions: “Which feels easiest?” “Which have you tried before?”

Step 3

Group Brainstorm

7 minutes

  • Invite the class to call out additional ways to begin tasks
  • Write each idea on the whiteboard or on sticky notes
  • Group similar ideas and highlight the top 3–5 based on clarity and ease
  • Encourage all voices, offering support to students who need prompting

Step 4

Worksheet Completion

5 minutes

  • Distribute How Do You Begin? Brainstorm to each student
  • Ask students to select two starter strategies from the group list
  • Have them illustrate or describe how they would use each strategy
  • Circulate to assist and prompt elaboration

Step 5

Wrap-Up and Reflection

1 minute

  • Invite 2–3 students to share which strategy they’ll try first tomorrow
  • Remind the class to refer to their chosen strategy when they feel stuck
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Slide Deck

Starter Strategy Showcase

We all get stuck sometimes when starting work.
Here are a few ways to get going!

Introduce the concept of starter strategies. Show an image of a student thinking and say: “We all get stuck sometimes when starting work. Today, you’ll learn a few ways to get going!”

1. Quick Sketch

• Grab a pencil or crayon.
• Spend 30 seconds drawing anything related to your task.
• Use the sketch to spark your next steps.

Display an image of a child doing a quick sketch. Explain: “This is Quick Sketch. Grab a pencil or crayon and draw for 30 seconds. Use your sketch to spark ideas.”

2. One-Sentence Jump

• Open your notebook or worksheet.
• Write one simple sentence about the task.
• Even a small start can lead to big progress.

Show an icon of a notebook. Model writing one sentence. Say: “Even one line can build momentum—let’s try!”

3. Read Aloud

• Read the instructions or question out loud.
• Hearing the words can make the task clearer.
• Then choose where to start.

Display an image of a student reading aloud. Read a sample instruction aloud and invite students to do the same.

4. Talk It Out

• Find a partner or ask the teacher.
• Describe what you need to do.
• Use the conversation to plan your first step.

Show an icon of two students talking. Ask: “How could talking through a task with a friend help you?”

Let’s Reflect

• Which strategy feels easiest?
• Which have you tried before?
• Which one will you try next?

Have students turn to a partner and answer the questions aloud. Then call on volunteers to share.

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Worksheet

How Do You Begin? Brainstorm

Name: ___________________________ Date: _______________

1. Class Starter Strategies

Write the 3–5 starter strategies our class brainstormed today:

  1. ________________________________

  2. ________________________________

  3. ________________________________

  4. ________________________________

  5. ________________________________

2. Strategy 1

Name of Strategy: ________________________________________


How will you use this strategy to start your work?





Draw yourself using this strategy:











3. Strategy 2

Name of Strategy: ________________________________________


How will you use this strategy to start your work?





Draw yourself using this strategy:











4. Reflection

Which strategy will you try first tomorrow? Why?












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