Lesson Plan
Tracking Time Step-by-Step
Guide a 7th-grade student to systematically record daily activities, analyze time-use patterns, and develop personalized strategies for improved self-management.
Cultivating awareness of personal time habits and planning skills empowers students to manage tasks efficiently and build lifelong self-management competencies.
Audience
7th Grade Student
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Step-by-step guided reflection
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Familiarize yourself with the objectives in the Time Insights Presentation
- Preview the layout and sections of the Daily Time Log
- Read through the questions in the Reflection Q&A Prompts
- Understand the criteria in the Time Management Self-Check
Step 1
Introduction to Time Tracking
5 minutes
- Explain the purpose and benefits of tracking time daily
- Show key slides from the Time Insights Presentation
- Highlight how self-management skills improve with awareness
Step 2
Recording Daily Activities
10 minutes
- Distribute the Daily Time Log
- Guide the student to list activities in 15–30 minute increments
- Encourage honest and specific entries for accuracy
Step 3
Analyzing Time Data
10 minutes
- Review the completed log together
- Identify high- and low-value activities using prompts from the Time Insights Presentation
- Note any surprises or patterns in usage
Step 4
Reflecting on Habits
10 minutes
- Use the Reflection Q&A Prompts to discuss what worked well and what didn’t
- Encourage the student to articulate feelings about their time use
- Record insights for goal setting
Step 5
Developing Strategies
10 minutes
- Introduce the Time Management Self-Check
- Have the student set 2–3 specific, measurable time-management goals
- Outline action steps and timelines to implement new strategies
Slide Deck
Time Insights: Understanding Your Daily Minutes
In this session, you will:
- Learn what time tracking is
- Discover benefits of recording your day
- See examples of how to log and analyze data
- Prepare for guided reflection and goal setting
Welcome everyone! Today we'll dive into simple techniques to understand where your time goes each day. This slide sets the stage for our session.
What is Time Tracking?
- A method of recording daily activities and how long each takes
- Uses simple tools like a notebook or worksheet
- Helps you become aware of how you really spend your time
Define time tracking in your own words, then share the slide definition. Emphasize that it’s just noticing and recording activities, not judging them.
Benefits of Time Tracking
- Builds awareness of daily habits
- Identifies where time is well spent vs. wasted
- Increases focus and productivity
- Empowers planning and self-management
Discuss each benefit. Ask: “Which of these would help you in school or at home?”
How to Record Your Time
- Choose consistent intervals (e.g., every 15–30 minutes)
- Note the activity name and start/end times
- Be honest and specific for accurate insights
- Use the Daily Time Log worksheet
Show the Daily Time Log on screen or handout. Walk through an example entry.
Analyzing Your Time Data
- Review all logged entries together
- Categorize activities (school work, leisure, chores)
- Identify high-value (goals) vs. low-value (time wasters)
- Spot surprising patterns or gaps
Explain how we move from raw data to insights. Introduce high-value vs. low-value analysis.
Example Patterns to Look For
- Frequent unplanned breaks or distractions
- Tasks taking longer than expected
- Repeated gaps between focused sessions
- Consistent late starts or unfinished work
Share a brief student example: “Sarah noticed she spent 45 minutes on social media daily instead of homework.” Ask: “What would you do if you saw that?”
Next Steps: Reflection & Goal Setting
- Use the Reflection Q&A Prompts
- Complete the Time Management Self-Check
- Set 2–3 specific time-use goals
- Plan action steps and timelines
Prepare the student for the next steps. Encourage curiosity about their own habits.
Worksheet
Daily Time Log
Instructions:
Record your day in the table below. For each part of your day, write the time range, activity, and any notes. Add more rows as needed to cover all your activities.
| Time Range | Activity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Feel free to extend this table by adding rows or continuing on the back of the page.
Discussion
Reflection Q&A Prompts
Purpose: Use these questions to explore what you learned from your Daily Time Log and set yourself up for better time-management habits.
Instructions: Read each question carefully. Write your response in the space provided. Be honest and detailed—your reflections will help you create realistic goals.
1. Which activity surprised you the most in your time log? Why?
Follow‐up prompts:
- What made this activity stand out?
- Did it take more or less time than you expected?
2. Which activity did you spend the most time on? Do you feel this was a good use of your time?
Follow‐up prompts:
- How did this activity affect your energy or focus?
- Would you like to adjust this in the future?
3. Identify one “high‐value” activity (an activity that helps you reach a goal) and one “low‐value” activity (a time‐waster). What criteria did you use to decide?
Follow‐up prompts:
- How might you increase time spent on high‐value activities?
- What could you do to reduce or replace the low‐value activity?
4. How did you feel when you were most focused? What about when you were distracted?
Follow‐up prompts:
- What clues tell you when you’re in a “flow” state?
- What common distractions did you notice?
5. If you could adjust one thing about your daily schedule, what would it be? What steps could you take to make this change?
Follow‐up prompts:
- What resources or support might you need?
- Which time slot would you shift or shorten?
Rubric
Time Management Self-Check Rubric
Scoring Scale: 4 = Exemplary, 3 = Proficient, 2 = Developing, 1 = Beginning
| Criteria | 4 – Exemplary | 3 – Proficient | 2 – Developing | 1 – Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goal Clarity | Goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) and clearly stated. | Goals are clear and mostly measurable but lack one SMART element or precise timeframe. | Goals are somewhat vague or general, making measurement or achievement difficult. | Goals are unclear, missing key details, or not actionable. |
| Strategy Relevance | Strategies directly address each goal with logical, evidence-based steps. | Strategies relate to goals but lack detail in sequence or rationale for some steps. | Strategies partially address goals but lack coherence or clear rationale. | Strategies are unrelated to goals or absent. |
| Commitment Plan | Action plan includes detailed timeline, resources, milestones, and accountability measures. | Action plan includes a timeline and some resources but has limited milestones or accountability measures. | Action plan exists but lacks clear timeline, milestones, or resource identification. | No clear action plan or commitment measures. |
| Reflection Quality | Reflection demonstrates deep insight into time-use patterns, identifies lessons, and outlines next steps. | Reflection is thoughtful, identifies patterns and lessons learned, but next steps may be general. | Reflection is basic, noting patterns or feelings with minimal insight or next steps. | Reflection is superficial, cursory, or missing. |
How to Use:
- Review each criterion and select the description that best matches your work.
- Record the corresponding score (4–1) for each row.
- Add up your scores to see your overall self-management strengths and areas for growth.
Total Possible Points: 16