Lesson Plan
Time Management Toolkit
Students will learn to prioritize tasks using a four-quadrant matrix, practice quick decision-making with Priority Poker, and apply digital planning strategies by completing a weekly planner template.
Effective time management boosts productivity, reduces stress, and prepares students for academic and workplace success by teaching them to set priorities and use planning tools.
Audience
9th Grade Group
Time
40 minutes
Approach
Hands-on games, guided demos, and individual practice
Materials
Master Your Minutes, Weekly Planner Template, Priority Poker, Computers or Tablets with Internet Access, and Whiteboard and Markers
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Master Your Minutes slide deck to ensure familiarity with all slides and talking points
- Print enough copies of the Weekly Planner Template for each student
- Gather and organize the Priority Poker card sets and instructions
- Set up devices (computers/tablets) and confirm Internet access for the digital planning demo
- Draw or project a blank four-quadrant prioritization matrix on the whiteboard
Step 1
Priority Poker Warm-up
5 minutes
- Distribute one Priority Poker card set to each student or pair
- Instruct students to sort five sample task cards by importance in 30 seconds, then compare with a partner
- Debrief: ask volunteers to share surprising placements
- Differentiation: pair English learners with strong readers; offer visual icons on task cards for support
Step 2
Introduction to Time Management
10 minutes
- Launch the Master Your Minutes slide deck
- Define time management and discuss common challenges (e.g., procrastination)
- Facilitate a brief class discussion: "What's one thing that makes you lose track of time?"
- Differentiation: provide sentence starters on the board ("I get distracted when…")
Step 3
Main Activity: Prioritization Matrix & Digital Planning Demo
15 minutes
- Show the four-quadrant matrix on the whiteboard: Urgent vs. Important axes
- Provide a list of 6–8 sample tasks; have students place each task into the correct quadrant in small groups
- Demo a digital planning app on a device: create a new task, assign due dates, set notifications
- Students follow along on their devices, replicating the demo steps
- Differentiation: hand out a printed sample-task list to students who need reading support
Step 4
Practice with Weekly Planner
5 minutes
- Hand out the Weekly Planner Template
- Students transfer and sequence 4–5 personal or sample tasks into their weekly slots, labeling priority levels
- Circulate to provide one-on-one guidance, especially for students who struggle with organization
- Differentiation: show a completed example for reference
Step 5
Reflection & Exit Ticket
5 minutes
- Pose exit-ticket prompts on the board:
• "Which quadrant will you focus on this week and why?"
• "Name one digital planning feature you’ll use regularly." - Students write brief responses on index cards or submit via a digital form
- Collect responses to assess understanding and plan follow-up support
- Differentiation: allow students to record a 30-second audio response if writing is a barrier
Slide Deck
Master Your Minutes
Time Management Essentials
Career & Life Skills | Workplace & Employability Skills
40-Minute Small-Group Session on Prioritization & Digital Planning
Welcome students and introduce the lesson. Explain that today’s focus is on mastering time management to improve productivity both in school and future workplaces.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, you will:
• Define time management and recognize its importance
• Use the four-quadrant prioritization matrix to sort tasks
• Apply digital planning tool features for scheduling and reminders
• Complete and personalize a weekly planner template
Read aloud and clarify each learning objective. Emphasize the practical skills they will take away.
What Is Time Management?
Time management is the process of planning and exercising conscious control over how much time to spend on specific activities. Effective time management helps you:
• Meet deadlines
• Reduce stress
• Achieve goals consistently
Ask students for their own definitions before presenting this slide. Reinforce key phrases.
Common Time Management Challenges
• Procrastination and delaying tasks
• Frequent distractions (social media, notifications)
• Overcommitting or poor task estimation
• Lack of a clear plan or prioritization
Encourage students to share personal challenges. Note their responses on the board.
Introducing the Prioritization Matrix
Tasks can be sorted by two dimensions:
• Urgent vs. Not Urgent
• Important vs. Not Important
Use this four-quadrant tool to focus on what really matters.
Introduce the matrix concept and draw a blank version on the board for later use.
Prioritization Matrix Explained
Quadrant I: Urgent & Important (Crises, Deadlines)
Quadrant II: Important, Not Urgent (Planning, Learning)
Quadrant III: Urgent, Not Important (Interruptions, Some Emails)
Quadrant IV: Not Urgent & Not Important (Busywork, Time-wasters)
Explain each quadrant with real-life examples. Invite students to brainstorm tasks for each section.
Overview of Digital Planning Tools
Common Features:
• Calendar integration and scheduling
• Task lists with due dates and reminders
• Labels, tags, and priority flags
• Sync across devices for accessibility
Highlight popular apps and ask if students have used any. Transition to the demo slide.
Live Demo: Digital Planning Steps
- Open Google Calendar (or chosen app)
- Create a new task or event
- Assign a due date and time
- Add notifications or reminders
- Color-code or tag by priority
Guide students step-by-step. Pause after each step to let them follow along on their devices.
Practice: Weekly Planner
• Fill in 4–5 personal or sample tasks
• Place each task in a day and time slot
• Label tasks with priority levels (I–IV)
• Reserve time for planning and review
Distribute the Weekly Planner Template. Circulate and offer support.
Reflection & Exit Ticket
Please answer:
• Which quadrant will you focus on this week and why?
• What digital planning feature will you use regularly?
Ask students to submit responses on index cards or via the digital form. Use responses to inform follow-up.
Worksheet
Weekly Planner Template
Use this template to organize your week, set priorities, and stay on track with tasks and goals.
1. Priorities This Week
List your top 3–5 tasks or goals you want to accomplish this week.
2. Potential Distractions to Avoid
Identify common distractions and think of strategies to minimize them.
3. Weekly Schedule
Fill in your tasks and events for each time slot. Label each entry with its priority level (I–IV).
| Time of Day | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | |||||||
| Afternoon | |||||||
| Evening |
Instructions:
- Morning: Plan tasks you’ll tackle before lunch.
- Afternoon: Schedule classes, work sessions, or appointments.
- Evening: Reserve time for review, planning, or personal activities.
Make sure to review your planner each day and adjust as needed to stay on track!
Warm Up
Priority Poker Warm-Up
A fast-paced 5-minute ranking game to kick off time management skills.
Setup
- Prepare one set of five task cards per student or pair:
- Submit English essay (due tomorrow)
- Study for math test (next week)
- Check/respond to non-urgent emails
- Scroll through social media feed
- Prepare presentation slides (due in two days)
- Shuffle each set and place face-down on desks.
Materials
- Printed Priority Poker card sets (five cards per set)
- Timer or stopwatch
- Whiteboard and marker for debrief notes
Rules (5 minutes total)
- Distribute one shuffled set to each student or pair.
- On “Go!”, students flip over cards and sort them left-to-right by importance (most important on left) in 30 seconds.
- Time’s up – compare your ranking with your partner and discuss any swaps (30 seconds).
- Volunteers share one surprising placement; teacher notes key observations on the board.
Debrief Prompts
- Which task’s placement surprised you and why?
- How did racing against the clock affect your choices?
- Into which quadrant of the prioritization matrix would you place each card?
Differentiation: Pair English learners with proficient readers; add simple icons to cards for visual support.