lenny

Mastering Your Mind

Lesson Plan

Mastering Your Mind Lesson Plan

4th graders will learn executive functioning skills to plan, organize, and control impulses for academic and personal success.

Building executive functioning skills early helps students manage tasks, focus attention, and self-regulate, which are key for lifelong academic and personal achievement.

Audience

4th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion with activities and small group practice.

Materials

Mastering Your Mind Lesson Plan

Prep

Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review the Mastering Your Mind Lesson Plan for step-by-step activities.
  • Ensure any visual aids or handouts are ready for the session.
  • Familiarize yourself with discussion questions and group activity instructions to guide student participation.

Step 1

Introduction & Discussion

5 minutes

  • Introduce the concept of executive functioning and its importance.
  • Ask students about times when planning or self-control helped them succeed.

Step 2

Interactive Activity

15 minutes

  • Use a simple game or role-playing scenario where students practice planning a short project.
  • Encourage group collaboration and discussion of the different strategies used.

Step 3

Wrap-Up & Reflection

10 minutes

  • Summarize key points about planning, organization, and self-regulation.
  • Lead a brief reflection where students share one new strategy they learned.
  • Answer any remaining questions.
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Slide Deck

Mastering Your Mind

A lesson on executive functioning skills for 4th graders.

This slide serves as the introduction to the lesson. Engage the 4th graders with a warm welcome and briefly mention that today's lesson is about mastering the mind by learning key skills to plan, organize, and control impulses.

What is Executive Functioning?

Executive functioning includes skills like planning, organizing, and controlling impulses. It helps us manage tasks and reach our goals.

Introduce the term 'executive functioning'. Ask students if they have heard of this concept and what it might mean. Use simple language and relatable examples like planning a game or a project.

Why Is It Important?

  • Helps us plan and organize our day
  • Improves focus and self-control
  • Sets the foundation for success in school and life

Discuss why these skills are important for school and personal life. Inspire the students by connecting executive functioning skills to their everyday activities such as homework, playing sports or games.

Interactive Activity

Let's plan a small project together! Work in groups to decide on steps, discuss strategies, and share ideas.

Explain the upcoming interactive activity. Describe the role-playing or planning game that will allow students to practice executive functioning skills.

Wrap-Up & Reflection

In this lesson, we've learned ways to plan, organize, and control our actions. What is one strategy you can use to master your mind?

Wrap up the lesson by summarizing key takeaways. Encourage each student to share one new strategy they learned, and be prepared to answer any questions.

lenny

Activity

Executive Functioning Role-Play

In this role-playing activity, you'll work in small groups to plan and execute a short project. This is a fun way to practice how you think ahead, organize ideas, and control your actions!

Guidelines for the Role-Play

  1. Group Formation:

    • Divide into small groups of 4-5 students.
    • Choose a group leader to help guide the discussion.

  2. Planning Your Project:

    • Pick a simple project idea (for example, planning a classroom party, a mini-play, or a game).
    • As a group, brainstorm the steps needed to complete your project. Write down each step.
    • Discuss who will do what in your group. Everyone should have a role!

  3. Role-Playing & Execution:

    • Act out the planning: one student can be the leader, another can be a timer, another can be a note-taker, etc.
    • Practice planning, organizing, and controlling impulses by taking turns and listening carefully to each other's ideas.
    • If a challenge comes up, discuss as a group how to solve it. Use strategies like taking a deep breath or asking for a pause if you need to think.

  4. Discussion and Reflection:

    • After your role-play, talk about what worked and what could be improved.
    • Each group member should share one new strategy or key point they learned about planning or organization.

Prompts for Reflection

  • What did you enjoy most about planning and carrying out your project?
  • Which part of the planning process was the hardest, and why?
  • How did using roles help your group stay organized?

Follow-up Points

  • Consider how you can use these planning and organization strategies in other areas, like getting ready for school or completing homework.
  • Think of a time when you had to control your impulses (for example, waiting your turn or deciding not to interrupt). How did that help you?
  • Discuss ways to improve teamwork in challenging situations.

For more help during the activity, you can refer to the Mastering Your Mind Slides for visual reminders of our key strategies and steps.




Now, get into your groups and begin your role-play. Remember to communicate clearly and support each other as you plan your project!

lenny
lenny
Mastering Your Mind • Lenny Learning