Lesson Plan
Time and Task Systems Guide
Students will learn and apply time blocking and a 2-minute task capture routine to create a weekly plan, enhancing their time management and task prioritization skills.
Effective time and task management is crucial for reducing stress, improving academic performance, and building essential life skills. This lesson provides actionable strategies that students can immediately implement to feel more in control of their schedules and responsibilities.
Audience
8th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive instruction, guided planning, and practical application.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Student notebooks or loose leaf paper, Master Your Week Slides, Time-Block Planner, 2-Minute Capture Drill, and Exit Ticket Top Priority
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Time and Task Systems Guide and all supplementary materials.
- Ensure access to a whiteboard or projector for the Master Your Week Slides.
- Print or prepare digital copies of the Time-Block Planner and 2-Minute Capture Drill for each student.
- Prepare the Exit Ticket Top Priority for distribution at the end of class.
- Consider your own examples of time blocking and task capture to share with students.
Step 1
Warm Up: Schedule Stressors (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Display the
Slide Deck
Master Your Week: Your Time, Your Control
Feeling overwhelmed with school, homework, and activities?
Do you wish you had more time for things you love?
We're going to learn how to take control of your time and tasks!
Welcome students and introduce the concept of managing time and tasks to reduce stress. Ask students to reflect on times they felt overwhelmed.
Do Now: Schedule Stressors
Take 2 minutes to list everything in your schedule that makes you feel stressed or overwhelmed.
(Homework, chores, practice, appointments, studying, etc.)
Explain the 'Do Now' activity. Have students write down everything causing them stress about their schedule for 1-2 minutes. This can be on a piece of paper or in their notebooks.
Strategy 1: Time Blocking
What is time blocking?
- Scheduling specific tasks for specific times.
- It's like making an appointment with yourself for your work, studying, or even free time!
Why does it help?
- Reduces procrastination.
- Helps you focus.
- Makes sure important things get done.
Introduce time blocking. Explain it as planning specific blocks of time for specific activities. Emphasize that it's about being intentional with time, not about being rigid.
Strategy 2: The 2-Minute Capture
Ever have small tasks pile up?
The 2-Minute Rule: If a task takes less than 2 minutes, DO IT NOW!
If it takes longer than 2 minutes?
CAPTURE IT: Write it down and schedule it in your Time-Block Planner for later.
Introduce the 2-minute capture routine. Explain that if a task takes less than 2 minutes, do it immediately. If it takes longer, add it to your plan. Provide examples.
Let's Plan Our Week!
Using your Time-Block Planner:
1. Block out your fixed commitments (school, sleep, meals).
2. Add in regular activities (sports, clubs, family time).
3. Schedule blocks for homework and studying.
4. Don't forget free time and self-care!
(We'll use our 'Stressor List' to help us schedule homework and study blocks!)
Model how to use the time-block planner, perhaps with a fictional student's schedule or your own simplified example. Show how to block out school, homework, activities, and free time.
Practice: 2-Minute Capture Drill
Let's try it!
We'll go through a few common tasks. For each one, decide if you would 'Do It Now' (if it takes less than 2 minutes) or 'Capture It' (and schedule it).
(Refer to your 2-Minute Capture Drill handout.)
Guide students through the 2-Minute Capture Drill activity. Have them practice quickly deciding what to do with incoming tasks.
Your Top Priority: Take Control!
Look at your newly planned week.
What is ONE top priority you will tackle this week using your new system?
When will you work on it?
(Complete the Exit Ticket Top Priority before you leave!)
Conclude the lesson by having students identify their top priority and when they plan to address it. This also serves as the cool-down/exit ticket.
Worksheet
My Weekly Time-Block Planner
Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________
Instructions: Use this planner to schedule your week. First, block out all your fixed commitments (school, sleep, meals). Then, add in your regular activities, homework, and study times. Don't forget to schedule in free time and self-care! Look at your "Schedule Stressors" list to help you prioritize where to block out time for homework and studying.
Monday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | |
| 8:00 AM | |
| 9:00 AM | |
| 10:00 AM | |
| 11:00 AM | |
| 12:00 PM | |
| 1:00 PM | |
| 2:00 PM | |
| 3:00 PM | |
| 4:00 PM | |
| 5:00 PM | |
| 6:00 PM | |
| 7:00 PM | |
| 8:00 PM | |
| 9:00 PM |
Tuesday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | |
| 8:00 AM | |
| 9:00 AM | |
| 10:00 AM | |
| 11:00 AM | |
| 12:00 PM | |
| 1:00 PM | |
| 2:00 PM | |
| 3:00 PM | |
| 4:00 PM | |
| 5:00 PM | |
| 6:00 PM | |
| 7:00 PM | |
| 8:00 PM | |
| 9:00 PM |
Wednesday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | |
| 8:00 AM | |
| 9:00 AM | |
| 10:00 AM | |
| 11:00 AM | |
| 12:00 PM | |
| 1:00 PM | |
| 2:00 PM | |
| 3:00 PM | |
| 4:00 PM | |
| 5:00 PM | |
| 6:00 PM | |
| 7:00 PM | |
| 8:00 PM | |
| 9:00 PM |
Thursday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | |
| 8:00 AM | |
| 9:00 AM | |
| 10:00 AM | |
| 11:00 AM | |
| 12:00 PM | |
| 1:00 PM | |
| 2:00 PM | |
| 3:00 PM | |
| 4:00 PM | |
| 5:00 PM | |
| 6:00 PM | |
| 7:00 PM | |
| 8:00 PM | |
| 9:00 PM |
Friday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | |
| 8:00 AM | |
| 9:00 AM | |
| 10:00 AM | |
| 11:00 AM | |
| 12:00 PM | |
| 1:00 PM | |
| 2:00 PM | |
| 3:00 PM | |
| 4:00 PM | |
| 5:00 PM | |
| 6:00 PM | |
| 7:00 PM | |
| 8:00 PM | |
| 9:00 PM |
Weekend
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | |
| 9:00 AM | |
| 10:00 AM | |
| 11:00 AM | |
| 12:00 PM | |
| 1:00 PM | |
| 2:00 PM | |
| 3:00 PM | |
| 4:00 PM | |
| 5:00 PM | |
| 6:00 PM | |
| 7:00 PM | |
| 8:00 PM | |
| 9:00 PM |
Activity
The 2-Minute Capture Drill
Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________
Instructions: Read each task below. Decide if it would take less than 2 minutes to complete (Do It Now!) or if it would take longer (Capture It! - meaning you would write it down and schedule it for later in your Time-Block Planner). Write your decision in the "My Decision" column.
| Task | My Decision (Do It Now! or Capture It!) | Notes (If you Capture It, where would you schedule it?) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Reply to a quick email from a teacher. | ||
| 2. Clean your entire room. | ||
| 3. Text your friend back. | ||
| 4. Work on a major science project. | ||
| 5. Put away the dishes after dinner. | ||
| 6. Read a chapter for your English class. | ||
| 7. Write down 3 things you need to do tomorrow. | ||
| 8. Study for a math test next week. | ||
| 9. Pack your backpack for tomorrow. | ||
| 10. Decide what you want for dinner tonight. |
Cool Down
Exit Ticket: My Top Priority
Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________
Instructions: Reflect on the time blocking and 2-minute capture strategies we discussed today. Answer the questions below.
-
Looking at your Time-Block Planner, what is ONE top priority or important task you will focus on this week?
-
When, specifically, will you work on this priority using your new time-blocking system? (Be specific with day and time!)
-
How do you think using time blocking and the 2-minute capture rule will help you feel more in control of your week?