Lesson Plan
Week 1: Organized Start
Students will learn to organize their materials and tasks using planners, binders, and personalized checklists, and will set up their own organizational systems.
Developing strong organizational habits early reduces stress, improves academic performance, and fosters independence, setting students up for success in middle school.
Audience
Middle School Students (6th Grade)
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Guided, hands-on organization of planners, binders, and checklists.
Materials
- Week 1 Slide Deck, - Organization Checklist Template, - Binder Setup Guide, - Student Planners (one per student), - Three-Ring Binders (one per student), - Color-Coded Dividers, - Markers and Pens, and - Sticky Notes
Prep
Prepare Materials
Before class
- Print one copy of the Organization Checklist Template for each student
- Review the Week 1 Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with key talking points
- Gather and arrange student planners, binders, color-coded dividers, markers, and sticky notes on a central table
Step 1
Warm-Up Discussion
5 minutes
- Invite students to share times they felt organized or disorganized at home or school
- Ask: “How did being organized or messy affect how you felt or performed?”
- Record responses on the board to highlight patterns
Step 2
Introduction to Organization
7 minutes
- Present the importance of organization using the first slides of the Week 1 Slide Deck
- Define key tools: planner, binder, checklist
- Highlight benefits: tracking assignments, reducing stress, saving time
Step 3
Planner Walkthrough
10 minutes
- Distribute student planners
- Guide students through filling today’s date, upcoming assignments, and personal goals section
- Model how to update the planner daily and check off completed tasks
Step 4
Binder Setup Activity
10 minutes
- Hand out binders and Binder Setup Guide
- Students insert color-coded dividers and label sections for each subject
- Circulate to support labeling and answer questions
Step 5
Checklist Creation
7 minutes
- Provide each student with the Organization Checklist Template
- Explain how checklists help break down tasks into steps
- Students customize their checklist for a typical weekly homework routine
Step 6
Reflection & Wrap-Up
6 minutes
- Ask students to pair-share one thing they’ll use immediately to stay organized
- Collectively list top three tips from today’s session on the board
- Remind students to update their planners and use their checklists tonight
Slide Deck
Week 1: Organized Start
Building Your Personal Organization System for Middle School
Welcome students to Week 1. Introduce yourself and the goals of this lesson. Encourage excitement about organizing for a great middle school start.
Objectives
• Learn key organization tools
• Set up and use a planner daily
• Organize a three-ring binder with dividers
• Create a personalized weekly checklist
Read each objective aloud and explain how it will help them succeed. Invite quick questions.
Why Organization Matters
• Reduces stress and last-minute scrambling
• Helps you manage time and deadlines
• Improves grades by keeping materials in one place
• Builds independence and confidence
Discuss why organization reduces stress. Reference students’ past experiences with disorganization.
Key Organization Tools
• Planner or agenda book
• Three-ring binder with color-coded dividers
• Checklists for tasks and chores
• Sticky notes and markers for reminders
Introduce each tool briefly. Show real samples if possible.
Using Your Planner
- Write today’s date at the top
- List assignments and due dates
- Set one personal goal for the day
- Check off tasks as you complete them
Walk students through a sample planner page projected on the screen.
Setting Up Your Binder
• Insert color-coded dividers for each subject
• Label tabs clearly with subject names
• Keep handouts and worksheets behind the matching tab
• Use pockets or sheet protectors for loose papers
Refer students to the Binder Setup Guide handout while you demonstrate.
Creating Effective Checklists
• Break projects into small steps
• Prioritize items by due date or importance
• Assign deadlines next to each task
• Check off items to track progress
• See the Organization Checklist Template for ideas
Show template example. Encourage students to customize based on their routines.
Student Examples
• Sample planner page with assignments and goal
• Binder layout with four subject dividers
• Customized weekly checklist for homework and chores
Share two brief real or hypothetical student setups. Invite volunteers to explain their own examples.
Key Takeaways
• Consistent planner use builds good habits
• A well-organized binder saves time
• Checklists help you stay on top of tasks
• Start small and build your system over time
Recap the most important points. Ask students to name one thing they learned.
Reflection & Next Steps
• What is one tool you’ll use tonight?
• Which part of this system seems most helpful?
• How will you remind yourself to update your planner daily?
Pose each question and allow students to share in pairs. Then ask a few to report out.
Warm Up
Warm-Up: Organization Check-In
Time: 5 minutes
Instructions:
- Invite students to share a time when they felt organized and a time when they felt disorganized at home or at school.
- Ask: “How did being organized or messy affect how you felt or performed?”
- Record student responses on the board, highlighting common patterns (e.g., reduced stress, improved focus).
Activity
Binder Setup Guide
Time: 10 minutes
Objective:
Students will create a clearly labeled, color-coded binder system to keep class materials organized and easily accessible.
Materials:
- Three-ring binder (one per student)
- Color-coded dividers (5–7 tabs per binder)
- Labels or markers
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Lay your binder flat and fan out your dividers.
- Decide which subjects or categories you need (e.g., Math, English, Science, Social Studies, Notes, Homework).
- Assign a unique color or label to each subject and write the subject name on its tab.
- Insert the dividers into your binder in a logical order (e.g., by daily schedule).
- Use the pockets of your binder to store:
- Loose handouts
- Completed assignments waiting to be turned in
- Important reference sheets
Your Binder Layout:
| Divider # | Subject | Color |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | _____________ | _____________ |
| 2 | _____________ | _____________ |
| 3 | _____________ | _____________ |
| 4 | _____________ | _____________ |
| 5 | _____________ | _____________ |
| 6 | _____________ | _____________ |
Section Details:
For each section, list two types of papers or items you will keep here:
Section 1 (________________):
Section 2 (________________):
Section 3 (________________):
Reflection:
What two strategies will you use this week to keep your binder organized?
Worksheet
Organization Checklist Template
Name: _________________________ Week of: _________________________
Weekly Overview
| Task | Due Date | Priority (H/M/L) | Steps to Complete | Completed |
|---|
- _________________________________ | ______________ | _______________ | _________________________________________ | [ ]
- _________________________________ | ______________ | _______________ | _________________________________________ | [ ]
- _________________________________ | ______________ | _______________ | _________________________________________ | [ ]
- _________________________________ | ______________ | _______________ | _________________________________________ | [ ]
- _________________________________ | ______________ | _______________ | _________________________________________ | [ ]
- _________________________________ | ______________ | _______________ | _________________________________________ | [ ]
- _________________________________ | ______________ | _______________ | _________________________________________ | [ ]
Daily Check-In
Monday
- Tasks Completed Today: ________________________________
- Tasks to Carry Over: ________________________________
Tuesday
- Tasks Completed Today: ________________________________
- Tasks to Carry Over: ________________________________
Wednesday
- Tasks Completed Today: ________________________________
- Tasks to Carry Over: ________________________________
Thursday
- Tasks Completed Today: ________________________________
- Tasks to Carry Over: ________________________________
Friday
- Tasks Completed Today: ________________________________
- Tasks to Carry Over: ________________________________
Reflection
- What helped me most about using this weekly checklist was:
- One thing I will do differently next week to improve my checklist is:
Cool Down
Cool-Down: Week 1 Exit Ticket
Time: 5 minutes
Instructions:
Take a few minutes to answer the questions below. Be honest—your feedback helps us improve!
- Which organization tool from today’s lesson (planner, binder, or checklist) do you think will help you the most, and why?
- Describe one specific step you will take tonight to keep your binder organized (e.g., labeling a tab, putting away loose papers).
- How will you remind yourself each day to update your planner? (Tip: think of a trigger, like finishing lunch or your last class.)
- One thing you’d like to see in our next session to help you stay even more organized is:
Thank you for your feedback!
Lesson Plan
Week 2: Speak Up!
Students will learn to differentiate verbal and nonverbal cues, practice active listening strategies, and use “I-messages” to express feelings clearly.
Strong communication and listening skills build trust, reduce misunderstandings, and improve collaboration—key for positive peer and classroom interactions in middle school.
Audience
Middle School Students (6th Grade)
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, paired practice, and role-play.
Materials
- Week 2 Slide Deck, - Active Listening Worksheet, - I-Message Card Template, - Whiteboard or Chart Paper, - Markers, and - Sticky Notes
Prep
Prepare Materials
Before class
- Print one copy per student of the Active Listening Worksheet and I-Message Card Template
- Review the Week 2 Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with definitions, examples, and role-play prompts
- Post chart paper and markers for the Warm-Up discussion
- Arrange desks or areas for paired and small-group activities
Step 1
Warm-Up: Communication Snapshot
5 minutes
- Ask students to pair up and share one moment they felt truly heard and one when they felt ignored
- Invite a few pairs to share highlights with the class
- Chart key words under “Heard” vs. “Ignored” to illustrate differences
Step 2
Introduction to Communication
7 minutes
- Present concepts of verbal (words, tone) vs. nonverbal cues (facial expressions, posture) using the first slides of the Week 2 Slide Deck
- Show short video or demo contrasting similar verbal messages with different nonverbal signals
- Ask students to call out other examples of nonverbal communication they notice daily
Step 3
Active Listening Practice
10 minutes
- Distribute the Active Listening Worksheet
- Model active listening with a volunteer: maintain eye contact, nod, paraphrase, ask clarifying questions
- In pairs, have one student speak about a recent small success while the partner practices active listening and completes the worksheet fields
- Switch roles after 3 minutes
Step 4
Teaching “I-Messages”
7 minutes
- Introduce the “I-message” structure: “I feel ___ when ___ because ___” via the Week 2 Slide Deck
- Contrast with blame statements (e.g., “You never…”) and discuss how “I-messages” focus on one’s own feelings
- Provide real-life examples and invite students to convert a blame statement into an I-message
Step 5
Role-Play Activity
10 minutes
- Form groups of three: Speaker, Listener, Observer
- Distribute scenario cards (e.g., “You feel left out when…”)
- Speaker uses an I-message to express a feeling; Listener uses active listening; Observer uses the worksheet to note strengths and suggestions
- Rotate roles until each student has practiced all three parts
Step 6
Reflection & Wrap-Up
6 minutes
- Invite students to share one communication strategy they’ll use this week
- Hand out sticky notes; students write a personal commitment (e.g., “I will paraphrase at least once when talking with friends”) and post it on the board
- Summarize key takeaways from the lesson and preview Week 3’s focus on peer relationships
Slide Deck
Week 2: Speak Up!
Building Effective Communication & Active Listening
Welcome students to Week 2: Speak Up! Introduce today’s focus on communication skills. Encourage energy and participation as we explore how we send and receive messages.
Objectives
• Identify verbal vs. nonverbal cues
• Practice active listening strategies
• Use “I-messages” to express feelings clearly
Read each objective out loud. Ask if any sound especially exciting or challenging. Reinforce that these skills will help them every day.
Why Communication Matters
• Builds trust and cooperation
• Reduces misunderstandings
• Strengthens friendships and teamwork
Discuss why good communication matters. Invite examples of times when clear communication helped them or when miscommunication caused problems.
Verbal vs. Nonverbal Cues
Verbal: words and tone
Nonverbal: facial expressions, posture, gestures
Define verbal and nonverbal communication. Show quick live demo: say the same sentence in two different tones and explain how meaning changes.
Spot the Cues
• Same words, different expressions
• How does posture change the message?
• What emotions do these gestures show?
(Optional) Play a short video clip showing mismatched verbal and nonverbal cues, or act out examples. Ask: “What did you notice?”
Active Listening Steps
- Make eye contact
- Nod and show you’re listening
- Paraphrase what you heard
- Ask clarifying questions
Model each step with a volunteer. Project the steps and refer students to the Active Listening Worksheet.
I-Message Structure
I feel ___ when ___ because ___
Focus on your own feelings rather than blaming others.
Contrast an “I-message” with a blaming statement. Invite students to rewrite “You never help me!” into an I-message.
Practice: Role-Play
- Form groups of three: Speaker, Listener, Observer
- Speaker uses an I-message
- Listener practices active listening
- Observer notes strengths on worksheet
- Rotate roles
Explain each role and hand out scenario cards. Circulate to support groups and ensure everyone practices all three roles.
Reflection & Next Steps
• Which listening skill will you try this week?
• Write a personal commitment on a sticky note and post it
• Coming up: Week 3 – Friendship Formula
Invite a few students to share their sticky-note commitments. Preview that Week 3 will dive into building strong friendships.
Worksheet
Active Listening Worksheet
Name: ________________________________ Date: ________________
Part 1: Observing Your Partner
-
Summarize the main point your partner shared (in two or three sentences):
-
What nonverbal cues did you notice while listening? (e.g., facial expressions, tone of voice, body posture):
Part 2: Paraphrasing
- In your own words, paraphrase what you heard. Start with “So, what I’m hearing is…”:
Part 3: Asking Clarifying Questions
- Write two questions you could ask to learn more or make sure you understand fully:
a. ____________________________________________________
b. ____________________________________________________
Part 4: Reflecting on Your Listening Skills
-
Check the listening behaviors you used during this exercise:
[ ] Made eye contact
[ ] Nodded or smiled to show I was listening
[ ] Avoided interrupting
[ ] Paraphrased my partner’s words
[ ] Asked clarifying questions -
Describe one thing you feel you did well as a listener:
-
Identify one area you want to improve for next time:
Part 5: Action Plan
- What specific step will you take in our next conversation to become a better listener?
Use this sheet during partner activities to guide your listening and grow your communication skills!
Worksheet
I-Message Card Template
Use this card to plan and write an “I-message” when you want to share feelings clearly and respectfully.
Name: _______________________ Date: _______________
I-Message #1
Situation:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
I feel __________________________________________________ when __________________________________________________ because __________________________________________________.
What I need or want:
___________________________________________________________
I-Message #2
Situation:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
I feel __________________________________________________ when __________________________________________________ because __________________________________________________.
What I need or want:
___________________________________________________________
I-Message #3
Situation:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
I feel __________________________________________________ when __________________________________________________ because __________________________________________________.
What I need or want:
___________________________________________________________
Warm Up
Warm-Up: Communication Snapshot
Time: 5 minutes
Instructions:
- Ask students to pair up and share one moment they felt truly heard and one when they felt ignored at home or at school
- Invite a few pairs to share their highlights with the class
- On chart paper or the board, draw two columns labeled “Heard” and “Ignored,” and record key words or phrases from student shares
Cool Down
Cool-Down: Week 2 Exit Ticket
Time: 5 minutes
Instructions: Reflect on today’s communication lesson by answering the prompts below.
-
Which communication skill from today’s lesson (verbal cues, nonverbal cues, or active listening) will you practice this week, and why?
-
Describe one nonverbal signal you noticed during a conversation and what it communicated to you:
-
Write an I-message you could use this week to share a feeling respectfully. Use the structure: I feel ___ when ___ because ___:
-
What daily reminder or trigger will you set to help you remember to use active listening? (e.g., finish lunch, start your first class)
Thank you for your feedback and commitment to speak up and listen well!