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The Executive Function Toolkit

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Lesson Plan

Mastering My To-Do List Plan

Students will learn and apply strategies for effective task organization, planning, and time management using a to-do list system.

Developing strong executive function skills is crucial for academic success and independent living. This lesson equips students with practical tools to manage their workload, reduce stress, and achieve their goals effectively.

Audience

8th Grade Group

Time

75 minutes

Approach

Interactive instruction, group activity, and individual practice.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, Executive Skills Workshop Slide Deck, The Planning Pyramid Game Activity, My Weekly Task Organizer Worksheet, and Pens/Pencils

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up & Introduction (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Greet students and briefly introduce the day's topic: mastering to-do lists for better organization.
    - Ask students: "What does it feel like when you have a lot of things to do and don't know where to start?" (Allow for 2-3 brief responses).
    - Introduce the Executive Skills Workshop Slide Deck and display the first slide.

Step 2

Executive Skills Workshop (20 minutes)

20 minutes

  • Present the Executive Skills Workshop Slide Deck to the small group.
    - Focus on slides explaining the benefits of to-do lists, breaking down tasks, and prioritizing.
    - Encourage questions and facilitate brief discussions after each key concept.
    - Emphasize the connection between executive functions and daily tasks.

Step 3

The Planning Pyramid Game (25 minutes)

25 minutes

  • Introduce The Planning Pyramid Game Activity.
    - Divide students into smaller pairs or groups (if applicable within the small group setting).
    - Explain the rules of the game, which involves prioritizing tasks and allocating time.
    - Circulate among groups, providing support and clarification as needed.

Step 4

My Weekly Task Organizer (15 minutes)

15 minutes

  • Distribute My Weekly Task Organizer Worksheet to each student.
    - Guide students through the worksheet, demonstrating how to fill it out with their own upcoming tasks.
    - Provide examples of how to break down larger assignments into smaller, manageable steps.
    - Encourage students to think about their personal schedules and commitments.

Step 5

Wrap-Up & Reflection (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Bring the group back together.
    - Ask students to share one new strategy they learned or one task they plan to organize using their new skills.
    - Briefly reiterate the importance of consistent practice for executive function development.
    - Assign completing the remainder of My Weekly Task Organizer Worksheet as optional homework.
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Slide Deck

Welcome to Your Executive Skills Workshop!

What are executive skills and why do they matter?

Welcome students to the workshop. Ask them what comes to mind when they hear 'executive skills'. Briefly explain that these are the brain's management system.

Mastering Your To-Do List

Your secret weapon for getting things done!

  • Reduce Stress
  • Stay Organized
  • Achieve Your Goals

Explain that today we're focusing on one key executive skill: planning and organization, specifically through to-do lists. Connect it to feeling less overwhelmed.

Why Use a To-Do List?

  • Clarity: See all your tasks in one place.
  • Prioritization: Figure out what's most important.
  • Motivation: Feel good as you check things off!
  • Memory Aid: Don't forget important deadlines.

Discuss how a to-do list helps us see everything we need to do in one place, making it less overwhelming. Emphasize clarity.

Breaking Down Big Tasks

Think of a giant pizza. You wouldn't eat it whole, right?

  • Identify the big task.
  • Break it into smaller, bite-sized steps.
  • Make each step actionable.

Explain that big tasks can feel impossible. The trick is to break them into smaller, manageable steps. Give an example like 'Write Essay' becoming 'Choose Topic', 'Research', 'Outline', etc.

What's Most Important? Prioritizing!

Not all tasks are created equal.

  • Urgent & Important: Do these NOW!
  • Important, Not Urgent: Schedule these soon.
  • Less Important/Urgent: Do these when you have extra time.

Introduce the concept of prioritizing. Use a simple A, B, C or 1, 2, 3 system. 'A' for urgent/important, 'B' for important but not urgent, 'C' for less urgent/important.

Putting It All Together

You now have the tools!

  • List your tasks.
  • Break them down.
  • Prioritize them.

Give students a moment to think about their own upcoming tasks and how they might apply these strategies. Encourage them to prepare for the upcoming activity.

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Activity

The Planning Pyramid Game

Objective: To practice prioritizing tasks and allocating time effectively.

Materials:

  • One game sheet per small group (provided by teacher)
  • Pens or pencils

Instructions:

  1. Form Teams: The teacher will divide you into small teams (or you will work individually within the small group setting).
  2. Understand the Pyramid: Your game sheet has a pyramid with different levels. Each level represents a different priority:
    • Top (Apex): MOST IMPORTANT / URGENT (Must do today!)
    • Middle: IMPORTANT (Do soon, but not critical today)
    • Bottom (Base): LESS IMPORTANT / FLEXIBLE (Do if you have time)
  3. Task Cards: The teacher will provide you with a list of
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The Executive Function Toolkit • Lenny Learning