Stress Less: Mastering Time Management

Ashton Brown

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Stress Less: Mastering Time Management

Learn effective time management skills

This lesson focuses on teaching 9th-grade students effective time management techniques to reduce stress and increase productivity. Students will learn to prioritize tasks, manage their schedules effectively, and understand the impact of time management on stress levels. This lesson is important as it equips students with essential skills for academic success and personal well-being.

Audience

9th Grade Students

Time

1 hour

Approach

Learn effective time management skills

Materials

Discussion Questions, Time Management Worksheet, Quiz on Time Management Techniques, Answer Key for Quiz, Interactive Game Instructions, and Stress Diary Template

Step 1

Introduction

10 mins

Begin with a brief discussion on what time management is and why it's important.
Ask students to share their experiences with managing time and any challenges they face.

Step 2

Activity: Prioritizing Tasks

10 mins

Distribute the Time Management Worksheet.
Guide students through an exercise on prioritizing tasks using the worksheet.
Discuss the importance of distinguishing between urgent and important tasks.

Step 3

Activity: Scheduling

10 mins

Have students create a mock schedule for a day using the worksheet.
Encourage them to allocate time for study, leisure, and rest.
Discuss how a balanced schedule can reduce stress.

Step 4

Interactive Game: Time Management Challenge

10 mins

Introduce the interactive game where students must manage a series of tasks within a set time limit.
Provide instructions and rules for the game.
Facilitate the game and encourage students to reflect on their strategies.

Step 5

Mindfulness Exercise

10 mins

Guide students through a short mindfulness exercise focused on deep breathing and relaxation.
Explain how mindfulness can help reduce stress and improve focus.
Encourage students to practice this exercise regularly.

Step 6

Stress Diary Activity

5 mins

Introduce the concept of a stress diary and distribute the Stress Diary Template.
Explain how students can use the diary to track stressors and coping strategies over the next week.
Encourage students to reflect on their entries to identify patterns and effective stress management techniques.

Step 7

Discussion: Stress Reduction

5 mins

Use the Discussion Questions to facilitate a conversation about how effective time management can reduce stress.
Encourage students to share strategies they find helpful.

Step 8

Closure and Quiz

5 mins

Summarize key points from the lesson.
Administer the Quiz on Time Management Techniques.
Collect the quizzes and provide feedback using the Answer Key.

Discussion

Discussion Questions

A set of questions to guide a discussion on time management and stress reduction.

What are some common time management challenges you face?

Encourage students to think about their daily routines and identify specific challenges.

How can prioritizing tasks help reduce stress?

Discuss the concept of urgent vs. important tasks and how prioritization can lead to better stress management.

What strategies do you use to manage your time effectively?

Invite students to share personal strategies and discuss their effectiveness.

Worksheet

Time Management Worksheet

A worksheet to help students practice prioritizing tasks and creating a balanced schedule.

List your tasks for the day and categorize them as urgent or important.

Think about deadlines and the impact of each task.

Create a schedule for your day, including time for study, leisure, and rest.

Balance your schedule to ensure you have time for all activities.

Quiz

Quiz on Time Management Techniques

Answer Key

Answer Key for Quiz

The answer key for the quiz on time management techniques.

What is the first step in effective time management?

Prioritizing tasks
Prioritizing tasks helps in identifying what needs immediate attention and what can be scheduled for later.

Why is it important to distinguish between urgent and important tasks?

All of the above
Understanding the difference helps in managing time effectively, reducing stress, and increasing productivity.

Worksheet

Interactive Game Instructions

Instructions for an interactive game that challenges students to manage time effectively by completing tasks within a set time limit.

Objective: Complete as many tasks as possible within the time limit.

Rules: Each task has a different time value. Prioritize tasks to maximize points.

Reflection: After the game, discuss what strategies worked and what could be improved.

Worksheet

Stress Diary Template

A template for students to track their stressors and coping strategies over a week.

Date and Time of Stressful Event

Record when the stress occurred.

Description of Stressful Event

Briefly describe what happened.

Stress Level (1-10)

Rate your stress level during the event.

Coping Strategy Used

Note how you dealt with the stress.

Reflection on Effectiveness

Reflect on how well your coping strategy worked.