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The 'Just Start' Secret

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Lesson Plan

My Personal Power Plan

Students will identify personal challenges with task initiation and develop a 'Power Plan' using visual aids and self-talk strategies to independently start tasks.

Learning to start tasks independently helps students build confidence, reduce frustration, and develop essential self-management skills for academic and daily success.

Audience

1st Grade Student

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, guided journaling, and hands-on activity to create personalized strategies.

Materials

My Start-Up Story Slides, My Starting Superpowers Journal, and Visual Schedule Creator

Prep

Gather Materials & Review

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What Does 'Just Start' Mean?

3 minutes

  • Engage students with a relatable scenario about wanting to play but needing to clean up first.
    * Ask: 'Sometimes it's hard to start something, even if we know what to do. Does that ever happen to you?'
    * Introduce the idea of 'task initiation' in simple terms: 'It's about getting yourself to start doing something.'
    * Transition to My Start-Up Story Slides to visually introduce the topic.

Step 2

Exploring Our Starting Superpowers

7 minutes

  • Present the My Start-Up Story Slides, discussing common reasons why starting tasks can be tricky.
    * Lead a discussion using prompts from the slides about how different feelings or thoughts might make it hard to start.
    * Distribute the My Starting Superpowers Journal. Guide students through the prompts, helping them identify personal 'starting superpowers' (strategies they already use or want to try, like taking a deep breath, thinking about the fun part, or asking for a small first step).
    * Provide examples: 'Maybe your superpower is taking one deep breath before you start.'

Step 3

Building Our Personal Power Plan

8 minutes

  • Introduce the Visual Schedule Creator activity. Explain that a 'Power Plan' helps us remember our superpowers.
    * Guide students to select or draw pictures representing their chosen starting superpowers and sequence them into a mini-visual schedule for a specific challenging task (e.g.,

Step 4

Independent Start to Learning.

2 minutes

  • Remind students of their 'Personal Power Plan' and encourage them to use their chosen strategies when starting a new task.
    * Ask: 'What is one superpower you'll use right now to start our next activity?'
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Slide Deck

The 'Just Start' Secret!

Do you ever feel stuck when it's time to start something new?

Like when you know you need to clean your room, but you just want to keep playing?

Welcome students and introduce the idea of sometimes needing a little help to get started. Relate it to something simple like getting ready in the morning.

What is 'Just Start'?

It's about getting yourself to begin a task, even if it feels hard.

  • Thinking about where to put your first toy away.
  • Picking up your pencil to write the first letter.
  • Taking one step to line up.

Explain that 'task initiation' is just a fancy way of saying 'getting started.' Use simple language and examples relevant to 1st graders (e.g., starting a worksheet, lining up for recess).

Why is it tricky to 'Just Start'?

Sometimes our brains get stuck!

  • Too many steps: The task feels too big.
  • Don't know how: Not sure what to do first.
  • Feeling tired: Just don't have the energy.
  • Want to play! Rather do something fun.

Discuss common feelings that might make starting hard. Encourage students to share if they've felt these before. Emphasize that it's normal.

Discover Your Starting Superpowers!

You have special powers to help you start!

  • Taking a deep breath.
  • Counting to three.
  • Thinking about the first small step.
  • Asking a grown-up for help.

We're going to find your superpowers!

Introduce the concept of 'starting superpowers.' Explain that everyone has ways to help themselves start, and we're going to discover theirs. Connect this to the journal activity.

Create Your Personal Power Plan

A Personal Power Plan is like a secret map.

It shows you exactly what your brain needs to do to 'Just Start.'

Let's make one using your superpowers!

Transition to the 'Personal Power Plan' activity. Explain that this plan will use their superpowers to help them start any task. Provide an example.

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Journal

My Starting Superpowers Journal

Sometimes it's hard to get started on things. Let's think about how we can become "Starting Superheroes"!

My Challenge Zone

  1. What is one thing that is sometimes hard for you to start?











  2. How does it feel when you don't want to start something?




My Superpowers Unlocked!

Here are some ideas for starting superpowers. Circle or draw a picture next to the ones you think could help you!

  • Deep Breaths: Take 3 deep breaths before I start.
  • Counting Down: Count 3, 2, 1... GO!
  • One Small Step: Just do the first tiny part (like putting away one toy, or writing one letter).
  • Ask for Help: Ask my teacher or a grown-up, "What's the very first step?"
  • Think of the End: Imagine how good it will feel when I finish!
  • My Own Superpower: What other ideas do you have to help you start?






My Top 3 Starting Superpowers

Choose your top 3 favorite superpowers from above (or your own ideas!) to help you "Just Start"!

  1. My first superpower is:




  2. My second superpower is:




  3. My third superpower is:




Keep these superpowers in your mind! You are a Starting Superhero!

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Activity

My Personal Power Plan: Visual Schedule Creator

This is your secret map to help you Just Start!

Instructions:

  1. Think of a task that is sometimes hard for you to start (like cleaning up, starting homework, or getting ready).



  2. Choose your top 3 Starting Superpowers from your My Starting Superpowers Journal.

  3. Draw or write about each superpower in the boxes below. How will you use it to start your tricky task?

My Challenge Task Today Is:







My Personal Power Plan Steps:

Step 1: My First Superpower

  • What superpower will you use first?
  • Draw a picture or write about it here:












Step 2: My Second Superpower

  • What superpower will you use next?
  • Draw a picture or write about it here:












Step 3: My Third Superpower

  • What superpower will help you keep going?
  • Draw a picture or write about it here:












I can use my Personal Power Plan to Just Start! I am a Starting Superhero!

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