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The Priority Race

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Lesson Plan

Urgent vs Important Intro

Students will learn to differentiate between urgent and important tasks by exploring the Eisenhower Matrix, then collaboratively sort a variety of real-life tasks into the four quadrants to build planning and prioritization skills.

Mastering the urgent vs important framework helps students manage academic and personal responsibilities effectively, reducing stress and improving decision-making and time management.

Audience

7th Grade Group

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive mini-lesson with sorting activities and relay game

Materials

Quadrant Quickstart, Priority Sorting Sheet, and Task Card Relay

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review the Quadrant Quickstart slide deck to familiarize yourself with key definitions and examples
  • Print and cut up task cards for the Priority Sorting Sheet activity
  • Arrange materials and space for the Task Card Relay
  • Prepare a visible timer or stopwatch for time-boxed activities

Step 1

Introduction & Objectives

5 minutes

  • Greet students and state today’s goal: distinguish urgent vs important tasks
  • Display the Eisenhower Matrix framework on the board or screen
  • Explain the four quadrants with one example each
  • Emphasize how this skill supports planning and reduces last-minute stress

Step 2

Teach the Quadrants

10 minutes

  • Use the Quadrant Quickstart slide deck
  • Walk through each quadrant definition in detail
  • Invite students to suggest tasks and classify them together
  • Clarify any misconceptions and answer student questions

Step 3

Collaborative Sorting Activity

15 minutes

  • Distribute the Priority Sorting Sheet and task cards
  • In small groups, students sort cards into the four quadrants on the worksheet
  • Circulate to guide discussions and prompt rationale for placements
  • After sorting, each group briefly shares one surprising or challenging classification

Step 4

Task Card Relay Game

10 minutes

  • Arrange students in teams of 3–4 facing a central task pool
  • On “go,” one student from each team grabs a card, runs to place it in a large quadrant chart, then tags the next teammate
  • First team to correctly place all cards wins (provide hints as needed)
  • Reinforce learning by discussing any misplacements

Step 5

Debrief & Next Steps

5 minutes

  • Facilitate a whole-group reflection: What did you learn about distinguishing urgent vs important?
  • Ask students how they might apply this to upcoming assignments or chores
  • Assign a brief exit ticket: list two tasks they need to do this week and classify each quadrant
  • Collect exit tickets to assess understanding
lenny

Lesson Plan

Urgent vs Important Intro

Students will learn to distinguish between urgent and important tasks using the Eisenhower Matrix, then sort real-life task cards into the correct quadrants to build prioritizing and planning skills.

Understanding urgent vs. important helps students manage their time, reduce last-minute stress, and make better decisions about schoolwork and personal responsibilities.

Audience

7th Grade Group

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive mini-lesson with sorting activities

Materials

Quadrant Quickstart, Priority Sorting Sheet, and Task Card Relay

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Objectives

5 minutes

  • Greet students and state today’s goal: learn to tell urgent vs. important tasks apart
  • Display the Eisenhower Matrix framework on the board or screen
  • Explain the four quadrants (Urgent/Important, Not Urgent/Important, Urgent/Not Important, Not Urgent/Not Important) with one example each
  • Emphasize how this skill reduces stress and improves planning

Step 2

Teach the Quadrants

10 minutes

  • Use the Quadrant Quickstart slide deck to detail each quadrant
  • Discuss characteristics and examples of tasks in each category
  • Invite students to suggest their own tasks and classify them together
  • Clarify misconceptions and answer student questions

Step 3

Collaborative Sorting Activity

15 minutes

  • Distribute the Priority Sorting Sheet and shuffled task cards
  • In small groups, students sort cards into the four quadrants on the worksheet
  • Circulate to prompt rationale and guide discussions
  • Have each group share one surprising or challenging placement with the class

Step 4

Task Card Relay Game

10 minutes

  • Form teams of 3–4 around a central pool of task cards
  • On “go,” one student runs to place a card on a large quadrant chart then tags the next teammate
  • First team to correctly place all cards wins (offer hints as needed)
  • Review any misplacements and discuss why corrections were needed

Step 5

Debrief & Next Steps

5 minutes

  • Facilitate whole-group reflection: What did you learn about urgent vs. important tasks?
  • Ask students how they might apply this framework to upcoming homework or chores
  • Assign an exit ticket: list two tasks you need to do this week and classify each into the correct quadrant
  • Collect exit tickets to assess understanding
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Slide Deck

Quadrant Quickstart: Eisenhower Matrix

Use this tool to decide what to do now, what to plan, what to delegate, and what to drop.

Welcome the class and introduce the purpose of this mini-lesson: mastering the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize tasks effectively. Explain that this slide deck breaks down each quadrant and gives clear examples.

Matrix Overview

• Horizontal axis: Urgent ←→ Not Urgent
• Vertical axis: Important ←→ Not Important

Quadrant I: Urgent & Important
Quadrant II: Not Urgent & Important
Quadrant III: Urgent & Not Important
Quadrant IV: Not Urgent & Not Important

Point out the two axes: Urgency (horizontal) and Importance (vertical). Draw or display a simple 2×2 grid. Ask students which tasks might go in each area.

Quadrant I: Urgent & Important

Definition:
• Tasks needing immediate attention with high stakes

Examples:
• Homework due tomorrow
• Studying for a test happening today
• Fixing a leaking pipe in your home

Explain that these are tasks that demand immediate attention and have serious consequences if not done. Invite students to name things that fit here.

Quadrant II: Not Urgent & Important

Definition:
• Tasks that help achieve long-term goals and personal growth

Examples:
• Planning next week’s project schedule
• Working on a science fair experiment in advance
• Exercising or learning a new skill

Emphasize that Quadrant II is where growth happens. Encourage students to think of examples from their own lives.

Quadrant III: Urgent & Not Important

Definition:
• Tasks that demand attention but don’t align with your priorities

Examples:
• Phone calls or texts interrupting study time
• Some meetings or announcements
• Quick errands others ask you to handle

Describe how these tasks may feel pressing but don’t actually move you toward your goals. Discuss delegation strategies.

Quadrant IV: Not Urgent & Not Important

Definition:
• Low-value activities offering little reward

Examples:
• Mindless web browsing or social media scrolling
• Rewatching TV reruns without purpose
• Excessive video gaming or aimless chatting

Point out that these are distractions that take time but add little value. Ask students how often they fall into this trap.

Using the Matrix: 4 Quick Steps

  1. List all your tasks for today or this week
  2. Ask: “Is it urgent?” and “Is it important?”
  3. Place each task in the correct quadrant
  4. Do, schedule, delegate, or drop

Next: Let’s practice with mixed task cards!

Summarize key steps: list tasks, place them in the matrix, then act. Transition to the sorting activity next.

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Worksheet

Priority Sorting Sheet

Instructions

Cut out the task cards below and paste or write each into the correct quadrant of the Eisenhower Matrix.

Eisenhower Matrix

Quadrant I: Urgent & Important (Do Now)





Quadrant II: Not Urgent & Important (Plan to Do)





Quadrant III: Urgent & Not Important (Delegate or Delay)





Quadrant IV: Not Urgent & Not Important (Drop or Minimize)





Task Cards (Cut Apart)

1. Finish math homework due tomorrow7. Respond to a non-urgent email
2. School assembly begins in 10 minutes8. Browse social media for 30 minutes
3. Plan science fair project steps for next week9. Help a sibling with chores right now
4. Finalize essay outline due in two days10. Practice piano for upcoming recital
5. Clean your backpack by the end of the week11. Watch videos during class
6. Prepare for the quiz next class period12. Practice guitar daily to improve skill

Once you have sorted all cards, discuss within your group why each task belongs in its quadrant.

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Game

Task Card Relay

Objective

Reinforce sorting tasks into the correct Eisenhower Matrix quadrants under time pressure, while building teamwork and quick decision-making.

Materials

  • Printed task cards (same as on the Priority Sorting Sheet)
  • Large quadrant chart on a poster or whiteboard (4 labeled sections)
  • Timer (stopwatch or phone)
  • Tape, magnets, or clips to attach cards to the chart

Setup (2 minutes)

  1. Divide students into teams of 3–4, having each team form a single-file line facing the chart.
  2. Place a shuffled pile of task cards at each team’s starting point.
  3. Ensure the quadrant chart is blank and visible to all teams.

Game Instructions (10 minutes total)

  1. On “Ready, set, go!” the first student in each line grabs one card from their team’s pile and runs to the chart.
  2. The student places the card in the quadrant they believe is correct (I, II, III, or IV) then runs back and tags the next teammate.
  3. The next student repeats the process: picking a new card and placing it.
  4. If a card is placed incorrectly, the teacher or a student helper gives a quick hint (e.g., “Think: Is this urgent or just important?”), and that card stays until a teammate corrects it on a later turn.
  5. Play continues until one team places all their cards correctly or time (about 8 minutes) runs out.

Scoring

  • First team to correctly place all cards wins.
  • If time expires before any team finishes, the team with the most correctly placed cards wins.

Debrief & Reflection (5 minutes)

  • Ask teams to share any cards they found tricky to classify and explain their reasoning.
  • Discuss how working under time pressure affected their prioritization decisions.
  • Prompt: “What strategies helped your team decide quickly and accurately?”

Next Steps: Encourage students to apply this fast-sorting strategy when planning their weekly homework and chores.

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