Lesson Plan
Mapping My Day
Guide the student to design a personalized visual daily planner using drawings and stickers to anticipate key transitions, fostering organization and self-management skills.
Building a co-created daily map empowers first graders to anticipate transitions, reduces anxiety, and strengthens planning habits aligned with CASEL’s Self-Management domain.
Audience
1st Grade Student
Time
20 minutes
Approach
Hands-on creation with guided talk and visual supports.
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
5 minutes
- Print one copy of Sticker & Draw Planner for the student
- Upload or queue Transition Tracker on a tablet or computer
- Review the flow and prompts in Guided Planner Talk
Step 1
Introduction & Purpose
3 minutes
- Greet the student and explain: “Today we’ll make a map of your day so you know what to expect.”
- Show the Transition Tracker slide deck overview of day segments (morning, snack, recess, etc.)
- Discuss why planning helps us feel calm and ready
Step 2
Explore Planner Tools
5 minutes
- Introduce the Sticker & Draw Planner
- Lay out stickers, markers, and crayons
- Use Guided Planner Talk prompts to ask: “Which part of your day is first? How could we show that?”
Step 3
Co-Create the Daily Map
8 minutes
- Guide the student to place stickers for each activity in sequence
- Prompt drawing details: people, locations, or feelings for each segment
- Encourage labeling or simple words (e.g., “Snack,” “Math”)
- Validate choices and ask: “Does this look like your day?”
Step 4
Review & Practice
4 minutes
- Have the student walk through the map verbally, using the Guided Planner Talk cues
- Reinforce self-management: “You can look at this when you’re unsure what’s next.”
- Praise planning effort and remind them to keep the map visible
Slide Deck
Our Day
🌞 Morning 🍎 Snack 🛝 Recess 🥪 Lunch 📚 Reading 🚍 Going Home
Introduce the segments of the day. Point to each icon and say the name. Ask: “Which part do you like best?”
Morning Work
🌞 Morning Work
We start our day by doing quiet work at our desk.
Explain morning work: “This is when you come in, unpack, and start your work on the board.” Ask: “What is your favorite morning activity?”
Snack Time
🍎 Snack Time
Time to eat a healthy snack and take a little break.
Talk about snack: “We have our snack time after morning work.” Ask: “What snack will you have today?”
Recess
🛝 Recess
Play and run around with friends outside.
Explain recess: “This is when we go to the playground.” Ask: “What game do you like to play?”
Lunch
🥪 Lunch
Sit with friends and eat our lunch together.
Describe lunch: “We sit in the cafeteria.” Ask: “What do you like in your lunch?”
Reading
📚 Reading
Time to read books or listen to a story.
Talk about reading: “We can pick our own book or listen to the teacher.” Ask: “Which book will you choose?”
Going Home
🚍 Going Home
Pack up, line up, and wait for the bus or for your caregiver.
Explain dismissal: “We pack our things and wait quietly.” Ask: “Where do you go after school?”
Worksheet
Sticker & Draw Planner
Use stickers or draw pictures in each box to show the activities in your day. Then write the name of each activity below.
- Morning Work
Label this activity: ____________________________
- Snack Time
Label this activity: ____________________________
- Recess
Label this activity: ____________________________
- Lunch
Label this activity: ____________________________
- Reading
Label this activity: ____________________________
- Going Home
Label this activity: ____________________________
Keep this planner on your desk so you can check what’s coming next in your day!
Script
Introduction & Purpose
Teacher: "Hi there! Today we’re going to make a special map of your day so you know exactly what’s coming next. Having a map helps us feel calm, confident, and ready to learn. Does that sound fun to you?"
(pause for student response)
Teacher: "Great! Take a look at our Transition Tracker. These pictures show each part of our day: morning work, snack time, recess, lunch, reading, and going home. Which part of the day do you like best?"
- (Follow-up if needed: "Why do you like that one?")
Explore Planner Tools
Teacher: "Now we have this Sticker & Draw Planner. You can use stickers or draw pictures and then write the name of each activity below. Let’s spread out our stickers, markers, and crayons.
Teacher: "First, which part of your day comes first? How could we show that here?"
- (Pause for response and point to the first box)
- (If the student hesitates: "Think about what you do when you first walk into our classroom. What sticker could show that?")
Co-Create the Daily Map
Teacher: "Awesome choice! Let’s place that sticker in the top box for Morning Work. Does that look like where morning work goes?"
- (Wait for confirmation)
Teacher: "Now let’s pick a sticker for Snack Time. What snack do you like most?" - (After placing the snack sticker)
Teacher: "Can you draw something about snack—maybe your favorite fruit or cookie?" - (Encourage drawing and then writing the word ‘Snack’ below)
Teacher: "Next is Recess. What game do you play outside?" - (Help student choose a sticker or draw a slide or ball)
Teacher: "Perfect! Now write ‘Recess’ under your picture."
Teacher: "For Lunch, think about what you eat or who you sit with. Draw or stick that in the next box, then label it ‘Lunch.’"
Teacher: "Great thinking! Now let’s do Reading. Which book do you like? Draw the book cover or find a sticker, then write ‘Reading.’"
Teacher: "Last is Going Home. How do you go home—bus, car, or walk? Show me with a picture and label it ‘Going Home.’"
Review & Practice
Teacher: "You did an amazing job! Now let’s practice using your map. Show me the Morning Work box and tell me what happens then."
- (Listen and praise: "Yes! You unpack and start your work.")
Teacher: "What comes after morning work?" - (Prompt if needed: "Check your map—what’s the next sticker?")
Teacher: "And at the end of our day, where will you go?" - (Acknowledge: "That’s right—home time!")
Teacher: "Remember, whenever you’re not sure what’s next, just look at your daily map. It will help you stay organized and calm. You did such a great planning job today—way to go!"
Keep this planner on your desk so you can check it whenever you need to know what’s coming next.