Lesson Plan
Morning Routine Map
Students will sequence five familiar morning routine steps using visual aids and sorting cards to strengthen planning and prioritizing skills for daily tasks.
Sequencing familiar routines builds executive function by helping students understand order, make decisions, and manage tasks—skills vital for classroom success and independent daily living.
Audience
2nd Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive mapping and hands-on sorting
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print and cut out all cards from Sequence Sorting Cards
- Load or display Step-by-Step Visuals on the board or projector
- Review questions in Guided Prompt Questions to guide student thinking
- Arrange desks/tables into small groups of 3–4 students
Step 1
Set the Stage
5 minutes
- Greet students and explain that today they’ll decide what to do first, next, and last in a morning routine
- Display Step-by-Step Visuals showing tasks like “Wake Up,” “Brush Teeth,” “Eat Breakfast,” “Get Dressed,” and “Pack Backpack”
- Use a few questions from Guided Prompt Questions to elicit ideas about why order matters
Step 2
Interactive Mapping
8 minutes
- On chart paper or whiteboard, draw five blank boxes in a row
- Invite volunteers to pick one visual and place it in the box they think it belongs (first, second, etc.)
- After each placement, ask a prompt from Guided Prompt Questions (e.g., “Why did you choose that step first?”)
- Rearrange as needed based on student reasoning and consensus
Step 3
Sequence Sort Activity
10 minutes
- Divide students into small groups and distribute one set of Sequence Sorting Cards per group
- Instruct groups to arrange the cards in the order they think their morning routine should happen
- Circulate and ask guiding questions from Guided Prompt Questions to support group discussions
- Encourage students to justify their sequence choices to peers
Step 4
Class Sharing & Reflection
7 minutes
- Invite each group to present their card sequence and explain their reasoning using at least one prompt from Guided Prompt Questions
- Highlight similarities and differences between groups’ routines
- Conclude by asking: “How does planning our morning routine help us during the day?” and record shared insights on the board
Slide Deck
Step-by-Step Visuals: Morning Routine
Today we’ll explore five familiar tasks:
• Wake Up
• Brush Teeth
• Eat Breakfast
• Get Dressed
• Pack Backpack
Welcome students and introduce the goal: to look at each part of a morning routine. Explain that they’ll help decide the correct order for these steps.
Step 1: Wake Up
[Image: Child stretching and yawning in bed]
Display the slide. Ask: “What do you see here? When does this happen in your morning?”
Step 2: Brush Teeth
[Image: Smiling toothbrush cleaning teeth]
Point to the toothbrush. Ask: “Why is this step important? How many teeth do you brush every morning?”
Step 3: Eat Breakfast
[Image: Bowl of cereal and spoon]
Show the bowl of cereal. Ask: “What do you like to eat for breakfast? How does breakfast help you during the day?”
Step 4: Get Dressed
[Image: Child choosing and putting on clothes]
Highlight putting on clothes. Ask: “What clothes do you choose for school? How do you decide what to wear?”
Step 5: Pack Backpack
[Image: Backpack with books and supplies]
Draw attention to packing. Ask: “What goes in your backpack? Why do we pack our bag before leaving?”
Let’s Map the Steps
On the board are five empty boxes.
Which task should we place in the first box?
Transition from visuals to the chart mapping activity. Draw five blank boxes on the board. Invite students to decide which step goes first.
Activity
Sequence Sorting Cards
These printable cards help students practice sequencing their morning routine. Each card shows one task with a clear image and label.
Materials for Each Group:
- 5 task cards (print on cardstock, approx. 4×6 inches each)
- Laminating sheets or clear sleeves for durability
Design Notes:
- Cards feature accent borders matching the lesson palette: #f7b267, #f79d65, and #f4844b
- Simple, high-contrast images ensure accessibility for all learners
Cards:
- Wake Up
[Image: Child stretching and yawning in bed] - Brush Teeth
[Image: Smiling toothbrush cleaning teeth] - Eat Breakfast
[Image: Bowl of cereal and spoon] - Get Dressed
[Image: Child choosing and putting on clothes] - Pack Backpack
[Image: Backpack with books and supplies]
Print Layout:
- One set of five cards per sheet (or adjust for your printer)
- Use cardstock and laminate for reuse
Teacher Instructions:
- Print and cut out each card.
- Distribute one full set to each small group.
- Students work together to arrange the cards in the order they think represents the best morning routine.
- Circulate and prompt with questions from Guided Prompt Questions to support their reasoning.
Script
Guided Prompt Questions
1. Set the Stage Prompts
Teacher: "Good morning, friends! Today we’re detectives for our own mornings. We’re going to figure out which thing we should do first, next, and last. Why do you think it matters what order we do these tasks in?"
• Follow-Up: "Can you tell me about a time you forgot something because you didn’t plan?"
• Follow-Up: "How might planning help our whole day go more smoothly?"
2. Interactive Mapping Prompts
After a student places a card on the board:
Teacher: "I see you put ___ in the first box. Why did you choose that step first?"
• Follow-Up: "What might happen if we did ___ before that step?"
• Follow-Up: "Can someone share a different idea for the first step? What makes you choose that?"
Teacher: "We moved ___ to the third box. Do you all agree? Why or why not?"
• Follow-Up: "What clues help us know that one step comes before another?"
3. Sequence Sort Activity Prompts
As groups arrange their cards, circulate and ask:
Teacher: "Tell me how you and your group decided on this order. What makes step 2 after step 1?"
• Follow-Up: "Did anyone in your group disagree? How did you decide who was right?"
• Follow-Up: "Which step was the hardest to place? Why?"
Teacher: "If our mornings were different—like if you ate before brushing your teeth—how would that change your order?"
• Follow-Up: "Would you ever pack your backpack before you get dressed? Why or why not?"
4. Class Sharing & Reflection Prompts
Teacher: "Let’s hear from Group 1! Which step did you choose to start with, and why?"
• Follow-Up: "I notice Group 2 started with something else. Can you compare your order? What’s similar or different?"
Teacher: "We’ve shared lots of ideas. How does planning our morning routine help us during the day?"
• Follow-Up: "Can you think of another routine—like getting ready for bed—that might need planning?"
Use these questions to guide discussion, invite every student’s voice, and help everyone see why planning and prioritizing matter!