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Ready, Set, Go!

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Lesson Plan

Ready, Set, Go! Lesson Plan

Students will be able to apply a strategy, such as the '5-minute rule', to begin a task without delay.

This lesson empowers students with a simple, actionable strategy to overcome the challenge of starting tasks, boosting their confidence and productivity in school and beyond.

Audience

3rd Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through discussion, modeling, and practice, students will learn and apply the '5-Minute Mission'.

Materials

Whiteboard or Projector, Markers or Pens, Ready, Set, Go! Slide Deck, 5-Minute Mission Tracker Worksheet, Pencils, and A current classroom assignment for practice

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review the Ready, Set, Go! Lesson Plan and all generated materials, making adjustments as needed.
  • Prepare the Ready, Set, Go! Slide Deck for presentation.
  • Print copies of the 5-Minute Mission Tracker Worksheet for each student.
  • Identify a short, upcoming classroom assignment (e.g., a few math problems, a paragraph to write, a reading passage) that students can use for practice during the lesson.
  • Gather any necessary writing tools (pencils, pens, markers).

Step 1

Introduction: Why Is It Hard to Start?

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: "Have you ever had a task you knew you needed to do, but it felt really hard to just start? What made it hard?" (e.g., homework, chores, reading).
  • Facilitate a brief class discussion, validating student experiences and introducing the idea of 'procrastination' in a child-friendly way.
  • Introduce the lesson's big question: "How can we make starting tasks easier?"
  • Display Ready, Set, Go! Slide Deck - Slide 1

Step 2

Introduce the '5-Minute Mission' Strategy

7 minutes

  • Introduce the '5-Minute Mission' strategy. Explain that it’s about committing to work on a task for just five minutes to get past the hardest part: starting.
  • Use the Ready, Set, Go! Slide Deck - Slide 2 and Ready, Set, Go! Slide Deck - Slide 3 to explain the steps: Choose a task, Set a timer for 5 minutes, Start working, Stop when the timer rings (you can keep going if you want!).
  • Emphasize that the goal isn't to finish the task, but just to START it.
  • Discuss how positive self-talk (e.g., "I can do this for 5 minutes," "Just get started") can help.

Step 3

Model and Practice with the 5-Minute Mission

12 minutes

  • Model the strategy using a hypothetical task or a simple example on the board. Talk through your self-talk.
  • Distribute the 5-Minute Mission Tracker Worksheet to each student.
  • Instruct students to choose a real, current classroom assignment they need to start (or provide one if none are readily available).
  • Guide students to fill out the first section of their 5-Minute Mission Tracker Worksheet.
  • Announce: "Ready, Set, Go! Start your 5-minute mission now!" Set a visible timer for 5 minutes.
  • Circulate and provide support, reminding students of positive self-talk if they struggle.
  • When the timer rings, have students stop and complete the reflection section of their 5-Minute Mission Tracker Worksheet.

Step 4

Reflection and Wrap-up

6 minutes

  • Facilitate a brief class discussion based on student experiences with the 5-Minute Mission.
  • Ask questions like: "How did it feel to just commit to 5 minutes?" "Did anyone find it easier to keep going after 5 minutes?" "When else could you use this strategy?"
  • Reiterate the main takeaway: Starting small can make even big tasks feel manageable.
  • Challenge students to use the 5-Minute Mission at least once more before the end of the week.
  • Display Ready, Set, Go! Slide Deck - Slide 4
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Slide Deck

Ready, Set, Go! Starting Your Engines

Ever Feel Stuck Before You Even Start?

  • What makes it hard to begin homework, chores, or other tasks?
  • Sometimes, just starting is the toughest part!
  • Today, we'll learn a trick to get our engines running!

Greet students and begin with a discussion. Ask them to think about times they've found it hard to start a task. Encourage sharing and validate their feelings. Introduce the term 'procrastination' in an accessible way. This slide is a hook.

The 5-Minute Mission: Your Starter Kit!

What is it?

  • A super simple way to trick your brain into starting tough tasks.
  • You only commit to working for 5 minutes.
  • The hardest part is often just beginning!

Introduce the core concept of the '5-Minute Mission.' Explain that it's a small, manageable step to overcome the initial hurdle. Emphasize that the goal is not to finish the task, but just to start.

Your 5-Minute Mission Plan!

How to launch your mission:

  1. Choose Your Task: Pick something you need to start.
  2. Set Your Timer: Just 5 minutes!
  3. Start Working: Focus for those 5 minutes.
  4. Timer Rings: You can stop, or keep going if you're in the zone!

Self-talk helps! Say: "I can do this for 5 minutes!"

Detail the steps of the 5-Minute Mission. Reinforce the idea of using positive self-talk. Explain that after 5 minutes, students can choose to continue or take a break, but the main goal is achieved: they started!

Mission Accomplished! (Almost...)

What did you learn?

  • Was it easier to start than you thought?
  • Did 5 minutes turn into more?
  • When will you use your 5-Minute Mission next?

Remember: A small start is still a start! You've got this!

Facilitate a short reflection session. Ask students how the experience felt and when they could use this strategy again. Conclude with a positive, empowering message about the power of starting small.

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Worksheet

5-Minute Mission Tracker

Name: ________________________
Date: ________________________

My Mission Briefing

  1. What task do I need to start? (Write down the assignment or chore you are going to work on for 5 minutes.)



  2. How do I feel about starting this task right now? (Circle one)

    • Super excited!
    • Okay, I guess.
    • A little nervous.
    • Really don't want to start.



  3. On a scale of 1 to 5, how hard does it seem to just start this task?
    (1 = Super Easy, 5 = Super Hard)
    1      2      3      4      5

During My Mission

  • Set your timer for 5 minutes!
  • Ready, Set, Go!












Mission Accomplished (5 minutes are up!)

  1. What did you do during your 5-Minute Mission? (Be specific about what you worked on.)



  2. How did it feel to just commit to 5 minutes?



  3. Did you keep working after the 5 minutes were up? (Circle one)

    • Yes!
    • No, I stopped.



  4. What did you learn from your 5-Minute Mission today?






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