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Time Mastery: Plan, Prioritize!

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Erica Loiben

Tier 2

Lesson Plan

Time Mastery Lesson Plan

Students will identify personal time management challenges, learn strategies for planning and prioritizing tasks, and apply these skills to a simulated schedule.

Effective time management reduces stress, improves academic performance, and builds crucial life skills for future success. This lesson empowers students to take control of their time and achieve their goals.

Audience

9th and 10th Grade Students

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, guided practice, and hands-on activity.

Materials

Time Mastery Slide Deck, Prioritization Worksheet, Time Talk Discussion Prompts, and Schedule Challenge Activity

Prep

Preparation Steps

10 minutes

  • Review the Time Mastery Lesson Plan and Time Mastery Slide Deck.
  • Print copies of the Prioritization Worksheet (one per student).
  • Ensure projector/screen is set up for the slide deck.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Time Troubles

3 minutes

Display the first slide of the Time Mastery Slide Deck.

  • Ask students to quickly think about one challenge they face with managing their time.
  • Have a few students share their challenges with the class or a small group. (e.g., "Getting distracted by my phone," "Too much homework," "Procrastination")

Step 2

Introduction: Why Master Time?

3 minutes

Transition to the introduction slides of the Time Mastery Slide Deck.

  • Briefly explain why time management, planning, and prioritization are crucial skills for their success in school and life.
  • Introduce the objective of the lesson.

Step 3

Key Strategies: Plan & Prioritize

5 minutes

Use the strategy slides in the Time Mastery Slide Deck to explain:

  • Planning Ahead: Briefly discuss tools like calendars, to-do lists, and breaking down big tasks.
  • Prioritization: Introduce a simple method like categorizing tasks by urgency and importance (e.g., Must Do, Should Do, Could Do).

Step 4

Activity: Prioritization Challenge

7 minutes

Distribute the Prioritization Worksheet.

  • Explain the Schedule Challenge Activity: Students will be given a list of tasks and asked to prioritize them for a hypothetical day or week, allocating time slots.
  • Guide students as they work on their worksheets, offering assistance and answering questions.
  • After a few minutes, bring the class back together for a brief discussion using the Time Talk Discussion Prompts. Ask students about their challenges in prioritizing and what they learned.

Step 5

Wrap-Up: Your Time, Your Power

2 minutes

Display the final slide of the Time Mastery Slide Deck.

  • Briefly reiterate the main takeaways: planning ahead helps, and prioritizing makes tasks manageable.
  • Encourage students to try applying one new strategy this week. Ask for a quick show of hands: "Who feels like they can try one new thing this week to manage their time better?"
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Slide Deck

Time Mastery: Plan, Prioritize!

Unlock Your Potential by Taking Control of Your Time!

Welcome students. Introduce the topic of time management as a critical life skill that will benefit them in school and beyond.

Why Is Time Management Important?

Ever feel overwhelmed by tasks?
Stressed about deadlines?
Like there aren't enough hours in the day?

Engage students by asking questions about their common struggles. Connect feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or lacking enough time to the need for better time management.

Your Two Superpowers

  1. Planning Ahead: Seeing Your Future Clearly
    2. Prioritization: Knowing What Matters Most

Introduce the two core concepts of the lesson: planning ahead and prioritization. Explain that these are the 'superpowers' they will learn to wield.

Planning Ahead: See Your Future!

  • Use a calendar or planner (digital or physical).
    - Break big tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
    - Set realistic deadlines for yourself.

Discuss practical tools and methods for planning. Emphasize that breaking down tasks makes them less intimidating.

Prioritize: What's Most Important RIGHT NOW?

Ask yourself: Is it Urgent? Is it Important?
Urgent: Needs immediate attention (e.g., assignment due today).
Important: Helps you achieve goals (e.g., studying for a major exam).

Introduce a simple way to think about prioritization, focusing on 'Urgent' versus 'Important.' Provide quick examples relevant to students.

Your Mission: Schedule Challenge!

It's time to put your new superpowers to the test!
We'll work on prioritizing tasks for a hypothetical schedule.

Transition to the group activity. Explain that they will now apply these concepts to a practical scenario using the worksheet.

Time Power! You've Got This!

Planning ahead and prioritizing tasks can transform your daily life.
Start small, stay consistent, and watch your productivity soar!
What's ONE thing you'll try this week?

Recap the main ideas and encourage students to commit to trying at least one new strategy. End on a positive, empowering note.

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Worksheet

Prioritization Power-Up: Mastering Your Schedule

Name: _________________________ Date: _________________

Part 1: My Current Time Challenges

Think about your typical week. What are 2-3 common challenges you face when trying to manage your time and get things done?











Part 2: The Daily Grind - Tasks to Prioritize

Imagine this is your upcoming week. Below is a list of tasks you need to consider. Your job is to decide which tasks are most important and urgent.

Task List:

  • Finish English essay (due tomorrow)
  • Study for Chemistry quiz (in 3 days)
  • Attend basketball practice
  • Text back a friend about weekend plans
  • Clean your room (it's a mess!)
  • Work on your group project (due next week)
  • Watch a new episode of your favorite show
  • Help a family member with a chore

Part 3: Prioritize It!

Using the concepts of Urgent (needs immediate attention) and Important (helps you achieve goals), categorize the tasks from Part 2. Write each task under the category where it best fits.

Urgent & Important (Do First!):













Important, Not Urgent (Plan for Later):













Urgent, Not Important (Delegate or Minimize):







Neither Urgent Nor Important (Do Last or Eliminate):







Reflection

Which category was the hardest to fill, and why?


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lenny

Discussion

Time Talk: Our Challenges & Strategies

Use these prompts to guide a brief class discussion after students have worked on their Prioritization Worksheet.

  1. Sharing Priorities: Who would like to share one task from their "Urgent & Important" list on the worksheet? What made it fit into that category for you?


  2. Tricky Tasks: Was there any task on the list that was difficult to categorize? What made it tricky to decide where it belonged?





  3. Beyond the Lesson: Besides the strategies we discussed today, what's one time management tip or trick you've heard or tried that either helped you or didn't help you? Why?





  4. Stress Reduction: How do you think applying these planning and prioritization strategies could help reduce stress or feelings of being overwhelmed in your daily life?





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lenny

Activity

Schedule Challenge: Prioritize Your Week!

This activity will help you practice planning and prioritizing the tasks from your Prioritization Worksheet.

Instructions:

  1. Review Your Tasks: Take out your Prioritization Worksheet and review the tasks you categorized.

  2. Step 1: Focus on Urgent & Important. Imagine you have a blank schedule for the next few days. Which of your "Urgent & Important" tasks would you tackle first? Briefly jot down when you would do them below.






  3. Step 2: Plan for Important, Not Urgent. Next, consider your "Important, Not Urgent" tasks. When would be a good time to schedule these so they don't become urgent later? Write down some potential times.





  4. Step 3: Reflect and Prepare to Share. Think about the process of scheduling and prioritizing. Was it easy or hard to decide? What was the most challenging part? Be ready to share one insight or challenge you faced during this activity with your group or the class.











lenny
lenny

Activity

Schedule Challenge: Prioritize Your Week!

This activity will help you practice planning and prioritizing the tasks from your Prioritization Worksheet.

Instructions:

  1. Review Your Tasks: Take out your Prioritization Worksheet and review the tasks you categorized.

  2. Step 1: Focus on Urgent & Important. Imagine you have a blank schedule for the next few days. Which of your "Urgent & Important" tasks would you tackle first? Briefly jot down when you would do them below.






  3. Step 2: Plan for Important, Not Urgent. Next, consider your "Important, Not Urgent" tasks. When would be a good time to schedule these so they don't become urgent later? Write down some potential times.





  4. Step 3: Reflect and Prepare to Share. Think about the process of scheduling and prioritizing. Was it easy or hard to decide? What was the most challenging part? Be ready to share one insight or challenge you faced during this activity with your group or the class.











lenny
lenny