Lesson Plan
Prioritize Like a Pro
Students will sort a list of eight tasks using the urgent/important matrix and commit to a next-three list for today.
Effective prioritization helps students manage their workload, reduce stress, and achieve their goals more efficiently in both academic and personal life.
Audience
10th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive instruction and hands-on activity using the Urgent/Important Matrix.
Materials
Smartboard or projector, Do First, Decide, Delegate, Drop Slides, Markers or pens, Task Cards and Matrix Board, Next-Three Action Planner, and Exit Ticket My Top Three
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Prioritize Like a Pro Lesson Plan and all generated materials.
- Prepare the Smartboard or projector for the Do First, Decide, Delegate, Drop Slides.
- Print and cut out the Task Cards and Matrix Board for group activity.
- Make copies of the Next-Three Action Planner for each student.
- Make copies of the Exit Ticket My Top Three for each student.
Step 1
Do Now: Which Task Comes First and Why?
5 minutes
- Display the 'Do Now' slide from Do First, Decide, Delegate, Drop Slides.
- Present students with a single, ambiguous task and ask them individually to decide if it's the first thing they'd tackle today. Have them briefly jot down their reasoning.
- Facilitate a brief class discussion on their responses, probing into the 'why' behind their choices. This activates prior knowledge and sets the stage for the lesson.
Step 2
Teach the Urgent/Important Matrix
10 minutes
- Using Do First, Decide, Delegate, Drop Slides, introduce the Urgent/Important Matrix (Eisenhower Matrix).
- Explain each quadrant with clear, relatable examples: Do First (Urgent & Important), Decide (Important, Not Urgent), Delegate (Urgent, Not Important), Drop (Not Urgent & Not Important).
- Encourage students to share their own examples for each quadrant, fostering understanding and connection.
Step 3
Teams Sort Task Cards
10 minutes
- Divide students into small teams.
- Distribute the Task Cards and Matrix Board to each team.
- Instruct teams to discuss and collectively sort the eight task cards onto their matrix board.
- Circulate among teams, providing guidance and facilitating discussions as needed. Observe their decision-making processes.
Step 4
Personal Next-Three Planner
5 minutes
- Distribute the Next-Three Action Planner to each student.
- Instruct students to reflect on their own current tasks and apply the matrix principles to choose their 'next three' tasks for the day, noting specific time slots.
- Emphasize that these should be actionable and realistic tasks from their own lives (school, home, personal).
Step 5
Exit Ticket: My Top Three
Optional
- Have students complete the Exit Ticket My Top Three.
- Collect exit tickets to gauge understanding and commitment to their personal prioritization.
Slide Deck
Do Now: What First?
You have a big test tomorrow and a group project due next week. Which do you work on first today? Why?
Welcome students and introduce the 'Do Now' activity. Encourage quick, honest responses.
Why Prioritize?
Life is full of tasks! How do we decide what to do when?
Prioritization helps you:
- Manage your time better
- Reduce stress
- Achieve your goals
Introduce the concept of prioritization and why it's important for managing time and stress.
The Urgent/Important Matrix
A tool to help you make smart decisions about your tasks!
Introduce the Eisenhower Matrix (Urgent/Important Matrix). Explain that 'Urgent' means it demands immediate attention, and 'Important' means it contributes to your long-term goals.
Quadrant 1: Do First!
Urgent & Important
- These are your top priorities!
- Requires immediate attention and contributes to your goals.
Examples: Studying for a test tomorrow, completing a project due today.
Explain the 'Do First' quadrant. Give clear examples relevant to students.
Quadrant 2: Decide (Schedule It)
Important, Not Urgent
- These are critical for your goals but don't need to be done right now.
- Plan and schedule time for these tasks to avoid them becoming 'urgent'.
Examples: Working on a long-term project, planning for college applications, regular exercise.
Explain the 'Decide' quadrant. Emphasize planning and scheduling for these tasks.
Quadrant 3: Delegate (If Possible)
Urgent, Not Important
- These tasks demand immediate attention but don't directly contribute to your important goals.
- Can often be done by someone else, or you might need to say 'no'.
Examples: Answering some emails, attending non-critical meetings, interruptions.
Explain the 'Delegate' quadrant. Discuss when it's appropriate to ask for help or assign tasks to others (e.g., group projects, household chores).
Quadrant 4: Drop (Eliminate It)
Not Urgent & Not Important
- These are distractions and time-wasters.
- Try to minimize or eliminate these tasks from your schedule.
Examples: Mindless scrolling on social media, excessive video games, busywork.
Explain the 'Drop' quadrant. Encourage students to identify and eliminate time-wasting activities.
Time to Prioritize!
Now that you know the matrix, let's put it into action! You'll work in teams to sort some tasks.
Transition to the group activity. Remind students to apply what they've learned.
Activity
Task Cards and Matrix Board
Instructions for Teacher Preparation:
- Create the Matrix Boards: On large pieces of chart paper or whiteboards, draw the Urgent/Important Matrix. Label the four quadrants:
- Urgent & Important (Do First!)
- Important, Not Urgent (Decide / Schedule It)
- Urgent, Not Important (Delegate / Ask for Help)
- Not Urgent & Not Important (Drop / Eliminate It)
- Prepare Task Cards: Print and cut out the following eight task cards. You will need one set of cards per small group of students.
Task Cards:
Task Card 1
Study for a big math test tomorrow that counts for 30% of your grade.
Task Card 2
Respond to a text message from a friend asking what you're doing right now.
Task Card 3
Work on your science fair project, which is due in three weeks.
Task Card 4
Help your younger sibling find their lost toy (they are upset and demanding attention).
Task Card 5
Scroll through social media for 20 minutes.
Task Card 6
Clean your room before your parents get home (they asked you to do it this morning).
Task Card 7
Read a chapter from a book for English class due next week.
Task Card 8
Plan your schedule for next semester's classes.
Student Activity Instructions:
- Work in Teams: In your small groups, you will discuss each task card.
- Discuss and Sort: For each task, decide together which quadrant of the Urgent/Important Matrix it belongs in. Talk about why you think it fits there.
- Place the Card: Once your team agrees, place the task card onto the correct quadrant on your Matrix Board.
- Be Ready to Share: Be prepared to explain your team's choices to the class.
Worksheet
Next-Three Action Planner
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
Now it's your turn to be a prioritization pro! Think about your current tasks for today or this week. Use the Urgent/Important Matrix to decide what you need to focus on. Identify three tasks that you will commit to completing today.
My Top 3 Tasks for Today:
Task 1:
What is the task?
Which quadrant does it fall into (Do First, Decide, Delegate, Drop)?
What specific time will you work on this task today?
Task 2:
What is the task?
Which quadrant does it fall into (Do First, Decide, Delegate, Drop)?
What specific time will you work on this task today?
Task 3:
What is the task?
Which quadrant does it fall into (Do First, Decide, Delegate, Drop)?
What specific time will you work on this task today?
Reflection Question:
How might using the Urgent/Important Matrix regularly help you manage your schoolwork and personal life?
Cool Down
Exit Ticket: My Top Three
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
-
What is ONE important lesson you learned about prioritizing tasks today?
-
From your Next-Three Action Planner, list the THREE tasks you are committed to completing today and the time you've allocated for each.
- Task 1: ______________________________ at ___________________
- Task 2: ______________________________ at ___________________
- Task 3: ______________________________ at ___________________
-
On a scale of 1 (Not confident) to 5 (Very confident), how confident are you that you can stick to your