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Tick Tock: Master Your Minutes

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Lesson Plan

Time Management Mini Lesson

Students will identify common time wasters and create a simple daily schedule to improve productivity and reduce wasted time.

Building time management skills early helps students become more organized, reduces stress, and boosts academic and personal success.

Audience

6th Grade

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and hands-on planning.

Materials

Time Wasters Brainstorm Sheet, Daily Schedule Template, Timer or Stopwatch, and Markers or Pencils

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Hook & Introduction

2 minutes

  • Ask: “Think about your after-school time yesterday—how did you spend it?”
  • Briefly define time management and explain why it matters (more productivity, less stress).
  • Share today’s goal: spot time wasters and plan a better schedule.

Step 2

Brainstorm Common Time Wasters

4 minutes

  • Distribute the Time Wasters Brainstorm Sheet.
  • Ask students to list at least three ways they waste time (e.g., excessive phone use, chatting, unplanned breaks).
  • Invite a few volunteers to share one item from their list.

Step 3

Plan Your Day

6 minutes

  • Hand out the Daily Schedule Template.
  • Instruct students to block out their after-school hours (e.g., 3–6 PM) in 30-minute or 1-hour slots.
  • Have them label each slot with a planned activity (homework, chores, free time).
  • Circulate to offer guidance and ensure realistic scheduling.

Step 4

Reflect & Commit

3 minutes

  • Ask students to choose two time wasters they’ll reduce this week and note them on their schedule.
  • Pair-share: each student tells a partner one commitment they made.
  • Close by setting a timer for the week: revisit schedules daily to stay on track.
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Worksheet

Time Wasters Brainstorm Sheet

Name: ____________________________ Date: ________________

6th Grade Mini-Lesson: Tick Tock: Master Your Minutes

Instructions

Think about how you spend your time after school. List three common time wasters you notice in your own routine. For each, answer the questions below.

Time Waster #1

  1. What is the time waster?








2. When does this usually happen?








3. About how much time do you lose each time?








4. One idea to reduce this time waster:







Time Waster #2

  1. What is the time waster?








2. When does this usually happen?








3. About how much time do you lose each time?








4. One idea to reduce this time waster:







Time Waster #3

  1. What is the time waster?








2. When does this usually happen?








3. About how much time do you lose each time?








4. One idea to reduce this time waster:







After completing, be ready to share one of your time wasters and your plan to fix it with a partner.

lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Daily Schedule Template

Name: ____________________________ Date: ________________

6th Grade Mini-Lesson: Tick Tock: Master Your Minutes

Instructions

Block out your after-school hours (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM) in 30-minute slots. Write your planned activity for each slot. After scheduling, choose two time wasters to reduce this week and note them at the bottom.

Time SlotPlanned Activity
3:00 – 3:30 PM____________________________


3:30 – 4:00 PM____________________________


4:00 – 4:30 PM____________________________


4:30 – 5:00 PM____________________________


5:00 – 5:30 PM____________________________


5:30 – 6:00 PM____________________________


Time Wasters to Reduce This Week

  1. ____________________________





  2. ____________________________





Be ready to share one of your commitments with a partner!

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