Lesson Plan
Triage Tasks Outline
Students will learn to apply the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks by urgency and importance, then practice prioritizing personal and academic tasks to improve planning and reduce overwhelm.
By mastering task triage, students build executive-function skills—boosting self-management, reducing stress, and making daily planning more effective.
Audience
6th Grade Small Group
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Interactive teaching, hands-on sorting, and guided reflection
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review Urgent vs Important Slides to familiarize with definitions and examples.
- Print and cut out Priority Sorting Cards; mix and place in envelope or tray.
- Print enough copies of Priority Debate Prompts and Daily Task Matrix Worksheet for each student.
- Arrange seating in small groups of 3–4 for sorting and discussion activities.
- Test any AV equipment for slide presentation.
Step 1
Introduction & Overview
10 minutes
- Display title slide and learning objectives using Urgent vs Important Slides.
- Ask: “What makes a task feel urgent? Important?” Record responses on board.
- Introduce the Eisenhower Matrix—four quadrants: Urgent/Important, Not Urgent/Important, Urgent/Not Important, Not Urgent/Not Important.
Step 2
Teach the Eisenhower Matrix
10 minutes
- Walk through each quadrant with real-life examples on slides.
- Invite volunteers to suggest tasks from school or home; classify them live.
- Emphasize how true priorities should guide daily planning.
Step 3
Priority Sorting Activity
15 minutes
- Divide students into groups; give each group a set of Priority Sorting Cards.
- Instruct groups to place each card into its correct quadrant on a large matrix poster or desk.
- Circulate to prompt groups: “Why did you place this task here?” and offer clarifications.
- Differentiate: Pair students who need support with strong peers; challenge advanced students to find real examples beyond the cards.
Step 4
Priority Debate Discussion
10 minutes
- Hand out Priority Debate Prompts with paired conflicting tasks (e.g., “Finish homework due tomorrow” vs. “Practice for tomorrow’s basketball game”).
- Each pair debates which task deserves higher priority, using matrix criteria.
- After 2–3 minutes, ask pairs to share their decision and reasoning with the group.
Step 5
Daily Task Matrix Worksheet
10 minutes
- Distribute Daily Task Matrix Worksheet.
- Students list 4–6 tasks they plan to do today and categorize them into the matrix.
- Encourage them to adjust their plan if too many tasks fall into low-priority quadrants.
- Teacher circulates, offering one-on-one feedback.
Step 6
Reflection & Assessment
5 minutes
- Whole-group: Ask each student to name one task they’ll tackle first and why.
- Collect worksheets as an exit ticket to assess correct quadrant placement and reasoning.
- Note students who misclassify tasks for follow-up or reteaching.
Slide Deck
Urgent vs Important: The Eisenhower Matrix
Mastering Task Prioritization for Students
6th Grade Small Group | 60-Minute Session
Welcome everyone! Today we’re diving into why some tasks feel urgent and others important, and how understanding the difference can help you plan smarter. Introduce today’s focus: the Eisenhower Matrix.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
• Define what makes a task urgent
• Define what makes a task important
• Apply the Eisenhower Matrix to sort tasks
• Create a daily plan focusing on true priorities
Read each objective aloud and explain why it matters for everyday success—link each to students’ own routines.
What Is Urgency?
• Tasks demanding immediate attention
• Often tied to deadlines or immediate consequences
• Examples:
– Homework due tomorrow
– A reminder from your teacher
Ask students: “What kinds of things make you drop everything to finish?” Write answers on the board under “Urgent.” Emphasize deadlines and immediate consequences.
What Is Importance?
• Tasks contributing to long-term goals or growth
• May not have a pressing deadline
• Examples:
– Studying ahead for next week’s test
– Practicing vocabulary daily
Invite students to share things they do that help them grow over time—reading, skill practice, planning. Record answers under “Important.”
Introducing the Eisenhower Matrix
A 2×2 grid separating tasks by:
X-axis: Urgent vs Not Urgent
Y-axis: Important vs Not Important
Quadrants:
- Urgent & Important
- Not Urgent & Important
- Urgent & Not Important
- Not Urgent & Not Important
Draw a quick 2×2 grid on the board. Label axes “Urgent/Not Urgent” and “Important/Not Important.” Explain how combining these creates four distinct quadrants.
Quadrant 1: Urgent & Important
• Must be done immediately
• High stakes if delayed
• Example: Finish a science project due tomorrow
Explain that Quadrant 1 tasks must be done now. Ask for another student example and discuss why delaying could cause problems.
Quadrant 2: Not Urgent & Important
• Crucial for long-term success
• No immediate deadline
• Example: Planning next week’s study schedule
Highlight Quadrant 2 as the sweet spot for planning. Ask volunteers: “What’s a Q2 task you want to do this week?” Discuss scheduling.
Quadrant 3: Urgent & Not Important
• Feels pressing but low value
• Often interruptions or distractions
• Example: Replying to a non-critical chat message
Discuss how many distractions feel urgent but add little value. Relate to notifications students get on devices.
Quadrant 4: Not Urgent & Not Important
• Neither time-sensitive nor valuable
• Should be minimized or avoided
• Example: Mindless social media scrolling
Point out these tasks waste time and energy. Ask: “What’s a Q4 habit you’re trying to cut down on?”
Tips & Next Steps
• Review your task list each morning
• Assign tasks to quadrants first, then plan Q1 & Q2
• Aim to spend more time on Q2 for long-term gain
• Reflect daily: What did I accomplish? What slipped?
Wrap up by sharing daily tips. Encourage students to practice by sorting tasks each morning and reflecting at day’s end.
Discussion
Priority Debate Prompts
Overview: These prompts challenge pairs of students to debate which task deserves higher priority by applying Eisenhower Matrix criteria (Urgent vs Important). Encourage students to use guiding questions to structure their discussion and to justify their choice with clear reasoning.
Instructions for Teachers
- Pair students and hand each pair one prompt card.
- Give them 2–3 minutes to discuss using the guiding questions.
- Ask each pair to share their decision and reasoning with the whole group.
Debate Prompts
- Finish math homework due tomorrow vs Practice for the basketball game tonight
Guiding Questions:- Which task has a more immediate deadline?
- Which task aligns more with your long-term goals or interests?
- What are the consequences of delaying each task?
- Study for a science test next week vs Clean your room before guests arrive this weekend
Guiding Questions:- Which task is more important for your academic success?
- How urgent is the test compared to the guest visit?
- Can one task be scheduled more flexibly than the other?
- Help a sibling with reading right now vs Work on your book report due in three days
Guiding Questions:- Which task has an immediate payoff or deadline?
- How does each task support your personal values or responsibilities?
- Can you delegate or reschedule either task?
- Reply to a group chat message vs Read a chapter of your health textbook for tomorrow
Guiding Questions:- Which task feels urgent but might be low value?
- Which task contributes more to your long-term learning?
- How long will each task take?
- Upload your art project photos for a contest closing soon vs Work on science project due in two weeks
Guiding Questions:- Which task has a closer deadline?
- Which task has more impact on your goals?
- Can you break either task into smaller steps?
- Organize your backpack now vs Plan next week’s study schedule
Guiding Questions:- Which task will save you time immediately?
- Which task helps you prepare for future success?
- Could you combine both tasks effectively?
Encourage students to explicitly label each task as Urgent/Important, Not Urgent/Important, Urgent/Not Important, or Not Urgent/Not Important as they debate. After each debate, debrief: What did you learn about how urgency and importance differ?
Lesson Plan
Triage Tasks Outline
Students will learn to apply the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks by urgency and importance and practice prioritizing both personal and academic tasks to boost planning and reduce overwhelm.
By mastering task triage, students build executive-function skills—boosting self-management, reducing stress, and making daily planning more effective.
Audience
6th Grade Small Group
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Interactive teaching, hands-on sorting, and guided reflection
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review Urgent vs Important Slides to familiarize yourself with definitions and examples.
- Print and cut out Priority Sorting Cards; place them mixed in an envelope or tray.
- Make one copy per student of Priority Debate Prompts and Daily Task Matrix Worksheet.
- Arrange desks into small groups of 3–4 for the sorting and discussion activities.
- Test any AV equipment for slide presentation.
Step 1
Introduction & Overview
10 minutes
- Display title and objectives using Urgent vs Important Slides.
- Ask: “What makes a task feel urgent? Important?” Record student responses on the board.
- Introduce the Eisenhower Matrix and sketch its four quadrants: Urgent/Important, Not Urgent/Important, Urgent/Not Important, Not Urgent/Not Important.
Step 2
Teach the Eisenhower Matrix
10 minutes
- Walk through each quadrant on the slides with real-life examples.
- Invite volunteers to suggest tasks from school or home and classify them live.
- Emphasize how identifying true priorities guides daily planning.
Step 3
Priority Sorting Activity
15 minutes
- Divide students into small groups and give each group a set of Priority Sorting Cards.
- Instruct groups to place each card into the correct quadrant on a large matrix poster or desk.
- Circulate to ask, “Why did you place this task here?” and offer clarifications.
- Differentiate: pair students who need support with stronger peers; challenge advanced students to generate examples beyond the cards.
Step 4
Priority Debate Discussion
10 minutes
- Hand out one Priority Debate Prompts card per pair of students.
- Give pairs 2–3 minutes to debate which task deserves higher priority, using the matrix criteria.
- Ask each pair to share their decision and reasoning with the whole group.
Step 5
Daily Task Matrix Worksheet
10 minutes
- Distribute the Daily Task Matrix Worksheet.
- Students list 4–6 tasks they plan to do today and categorize them into the quadrants.
- Encourage students to adjust their plan if too many tasks fall into low-priority quadrants.
- Circulate to offer one-on-one feedback and guide proper classification.
Step 6
Reflection & Assessment
5 minutes
- Whole group: ask each student to name the task they will tackle first and explain why.
- Collect worksheets as exit tickets to assess correct quadrant placement and reasoning.
- Note any common misclassifications for reteaching or follow-up support.
Activity
Priority Sorting Cards
Cut out each of the 16 cards below. Students will sort them into the four quadrants of the Eisenhower Matrix. Cards are grouped and color-coded by suggested quadrant (for teacher reference). Remove color coding before students sort.
🔴 Quadrant 1: Urgent & Important (4 cards)
- Finish science project due tomorrow
- Study for math test in two days
- Write English essay that’s due tomorrow
- Prepare your history presentation for tomorrow’s class
🟢 Quadrant 2: Not Urgent & Important (4 cards)
- Read a chapter of your novel for next week’s book discussion
- Practice piano for next month’s recital
- Plan your study schedule for the coming week
- Research summer camp options for academic enrichment
🟡 Quadrant 3: Urgent & Not Important (4 cards)
- Reply to a friend’s non-urgent group chat message
- Attend an optional club meeting with no clear agenda
- Answer a notification from a game app
- Help a classmate with a non-critical question right now
⚪️ Quadrant 4: Not Urgent & Not Important (4 cards)
- Scroll through social media without a specific goal
- Watch random funny videos online
- Reorganize your phone’s app icons
- Play video games without time limit
Teacher Note: Remove or cover the color/emoji labels before distributing. Have students read each card and decide which quadrant it belongs in based on urgency and importance.
Worksheet
Daily Task Matrix Worksheet
Instructions:
- Think of 4–6 tasks you want to accomplish today.
- Write each task in the correct quadrant of the Eisenhower Matrix below, based on its urgency and importance.
- After sorting, answer the reflection questions to evaluate your plan.
Your Task Matrix
| Not Urgent | Urgent | |
|---|---|---|
| Important | ||
| Not Important |
Reflection Questions
- Which quadrant has the most tasks? Why do you think these tasks clustered there?
- Which task will you tackle first and why?
- Looking at your matrix, how could you adjust tomorrow’s plan to focus more on high-value tasks?
- What strategies will you use to minimize tasks in the low-priority quadrants (Urgent & Not Important or Not Urgent & Not Important)?
Once complete, review your responses and share one key takeaway with your teacher or partner.