Ready, Set, Go! Script

Warm-Up: The Procrastination Puzzle (5 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Can I see a show of hands? Who here has ever had trouble getting started on something, even when you knew you had to do it? Maybe it was homework, cleaning your room, or even starting a game?"



(Wait for hands, acknowledge responses with understanding nods.)



"That's completely normal! Many of us feel that way. When we put things off, sometimes we feel a little stressed, anxious, or just plain overwhelmed, right?"



"Today, we're going to talk about a super important skill called Task Initiation. It's basically the ability to just get started on a task without putting it off. Think of it as the 'Go!' button for your brain. We'll be looking at some ideas on our Ready, Set, Go! Slide Deck today. Let's start with Slide 2."

What Stops Us? Identifying Barriers (8 minutes)

"Take a look at Slide 3 on our Ready, Set, Go! Slide Deck. Here are some common reasons why it can be tough to start. Read through them silently for a moment."


(Give students a moment to read.)


"Now, looking at Slide 4, I want you to think: Which of these reasons sounds most familiar to you? You don't have to share out loud unless you want to, but just think about it. Can anyone think of another reason why it might be hard to start a task?"



(Allow for a few voluntary shares. Validate responses and emphasize that these feelings are universal.)


"It's important to remember that everyone faces these challenges. You're not alone! The good news is, there are tools we can learn to help us push past these barriers."

Tools for Takeoff: Strategies for Starting (10 minutes)

"Let's move on to some fantastic tools we can use to make starting tasks easier. Turn your attention to Slide 5 of the Ready, Set, Go! Slide Deck. Our first tool is Chunking."


"Chunking means taking a big, overwhelming task and breaking it down into smaller, super-easy steps. If you have a huge project, don't think 'I have to write a whole report.' Think 'First, I will open a blank document.' Then 'Next, I'll write down three things I know about the topic.' See how much easier that sounds?"


"Next, on Slide 6, we have the 5-Minute Rule. This one is simple but powerful! It means you commit to working on a task for just 5 minutes. If after 5 minutes you truly want to stop, you can. But what often happens? You get into a rhythm, and those 5 minutes turn into 10, then 15, and before you know it, you've made great progress! It's all about tricking your brain into just taking that first step."


"And finally, on Slide 7, let's talk about Clearing Your Space, Clearing Your Mind. This is about making your environment work for you. If you're trying to do homework, but your phone is buzzing and your games are open, it's really hard to start! So, put your phone away, close unnecessary tabs, and find a quiet spot. It creates a space where your brain knows it's time to focus."


"Now, I'm going to hand out this Task Initiation Strategy Worksheet. I want you to think of one task you need to start soon – maybe it's homework, a chore, or something for a club. Then, choose one of these strategies – Chunking, the 5-Minute Rule, or Clearing Your Space – and quickly jot down how you'll use it for that task."

Practice Makes Progress: Commitment (5 minutes)

"As we look at Slide 8, who would like to share the task they chose and which strategy they plan to use?"



(Allow a few volunteers to share their tasks and strategies.)


"Excellent! Remember, starting is often the hardest part, but with practice, it really does get easier. The more you use these tools, the more automatic it will become. Try out your chosen strategy this week, and see what a difference it makes! You've got this!"

Task Initiation Strategy Worksheet

Name: _________________________

Date: _________________________

My Task Challenge

1. What is one task you need to start soon, but have been putting off? (Be specific!)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Looking back at our discussion, which barrier to starting tasks do you most often face with tasks like this? (Circle one or write your own)
   

   • It's Too Big! (Overwhelm)
     
   • I Don't Know Where to Start. (Lack of Clarity)
     
   • Too Many Distractions! (Focus Issues)
     
   • What if I Mess Up? (Fear of Failure)
     
   • I Just Don't Want To. (Lack of Motivation)
     
   • Other: _________________________
     
     
     
     
     

My Strategy for Starting

3. Which strategy will you try to help you start this task? (Circle one)
   

   • Chunking: Break it into smaller steps.
     
   • The 5-Minute Rule: Work on it for just 5 minutes.
     
   • Clear Your Space, Clear Your Mind: Remove distractions.
     
     
     
     
     

4. Briefly describe how you will use your chosen strategy for your task. What are the first 1-2 steps you will take?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Reflection (After Trying the Strategy)

5. Did your chosen strategy help you start the task? Why or why not?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

6. What did you learn about yourself or about task initiation by trying this strategy?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

The Procrastination Puzzle

Instructions: Think about a time you had to start something important, but you just couldn't bring yourself to do it. It could be homework, a chore, or even something fun you planned!

1. What was the task?
   
   
   
   

2. How did it feel before you started? (e.g., overwhelmed, bored, nervous, confused)
   
   
   
   

3. What finally helped you take that first step, if anything?
   
   
   
   

(Teacher Note: This warm-up is designed to activate prior knowledge and set the stage for discussing task initiation and its challenges. Students will reflect on their personal experiences with procrastination.)

Starting Strong Cool Down

Instructions: Take a moment to reflect on today's lesson about Task Initiation. Please answer the following questions.

1. What is one new thing you learned about why it can be hard to start tasks, or about the skill of task initiation itself?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Out of the strategies we discussed today (Chunking, 5-Minute Rule, Clear Your Space), which one are you most likely to try the next time you need to start a task? Why?