Lesson Plan
Initiation Ignition
Students will identify common barriers to task initiation and explore practical strategies to overcome them, improving their ability to start and complete academic tasks.
Understanding task initiation challenges helps students develop self-awareness and equips them with tools to manage their workload more effectively, reducing stress and improving academic performance.
Audience
6th Grade Class
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, direct instruction, and guided reflection.
Materials
Our Starting Struggles Dialogue Cards, The Starting Line Slide Deck, and My Task Tangle Brainstorm (worksheet)
Prep
Prepare Materials
15 minutes
- Review the Initiation Ignition Lesson Plan and all linked materials.
- Print and cut out the Our Starting Struggles Dialogue Cards.
- Prepare to project The Starting Line Slide Deck.
- Make copies of the My Task Tangle Brainstorm worksheet for each student.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Share Your Starting Struggle
10 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "Think about a time you knew you had to start something, but it felt really hard to get going. What was that task? What made it so difficult to start?"
- Allow a few students to share their experiences briefly. Emphasize that this is a common challenge for everyone.
- Introduce the lesson's purpose: to understand why starting can be hard and to learn strategies to make it easier.
Step 2
Introducing Task Initiation
10 minutes
- Use The Starting Line Slide Deck to introduce the concept of task initiation.
- Explain that 'task initiation' means getting started on something you need to do.
- Discuss common reasons why it's hard to start: feeling overwhelmed, not knowing where to begin, distractions, fear of failure, or simply not wanting to do it.
- Encourage students to connect these reasons to their own experiences.
Step 3
Group Discussion: Our Starting Struggles
15 minutes
- Divide students into small groups (3-4 students per group).
- Distribute the Our Starting Struggles Dialogue Cards to each group.
- Instruct groups to discuss the scenarios on the cards, focusing on identifying the initiation barrier and brainstorming possible solutions.
- Circulate among groups to facilitate discussion and offer guidance.
- Bring the class back together and have each group share one or two insights or solutions they came up with.
Step 4
Individual Reflection: My Task Tangle Brainstorm
10 minutes
- Distribute the My Task Tangle Brainstorm worksheet.
- Guide students through the worksheet, encouraging them to identify a specific task they are currently struggling to start and apply the strategies discussed.
- Explain that this is a personal reflection to help them practice applying the strategies.
- Conclude by reiterating that starting is often the hardest part, but with practice and these strategies, it gets easier.
Slide Deck
The Starting Line: Why is Starting the Hardest Part?
Ever felt stuck before even beginning a task? You're not alone! Today, we're going to explore why it's so tough to start, and what we can do about it.
Welcome students and introduce the topic. Ask them to think about why starting can be so hard. Encourage initial thoughts without judgement.
What is Task Initiation?
It's simply getting started on something you need to do.
- Thinking about where to begin.
- Taking that first step.
- Moving from planning to doing.
Define task initiation clearly. Ask students for examples of tasks they have to initiate (homework, chores, projects).
Why Is Starting So Hard?
Sometimes it feels like there's an invisible wall.
- Feeling Overwhelmed: The task seems too big.
- Don't Know Where to Start: No clear first step.
- Distractions: Everything else seems more interesting.
- Fear of Failure: What if I mess up?
- Just Don't Want To: Lack of motivation or interest.
Lead a discussion on common barriers. Ask students if they relate to any of these. Provide simple, relatable examples for each point.
Strategy 1: Break It Down
Big tasks can feel like climbing a mountain. Let's make it a hill!
- Chunking: Divide big tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
- One Step at a Time: Focus only on the very first small step.
Introduce the idea of breaking down tasks. Explain how smaller steps feel less daunting. Give an example like 'writing an essay' -> 'brainstorm ideas' -> 'write intro paragraph'.
Strategy 2: Identify the First Tiny Step
Don't plan the whole journey, just the very first move.
- What's the absolute smallest thing I can do to start?
- Examples: Open the book, write your name on the paper, read the first sentence of the instructions.
Discuss creating a clear first step. Ask students how knowing the 'first tiny step' might help them feel less overwhelmed.
Strategy 3: Clear the Path
Make it easier to start by removing roadblocks.
- Environment: Find a quiet space.
- Technology: Put away your phone, close unnecessary tabs.
- Materials: Have everything you need ready.
Talk about eliminating distractions. Ask students what their biggest distractions are and how they might minimize them.
Strategy 4: The 5-Minute Trick
Commit to working for just 5 minutes. Often, once you start, you'll want to keep going!
- Set a timer for 5 minutes.
- Work only on the task during that time.
- After 5 minutes, you can choose to continue or take a break.
Explain the Pomodoro Technique simply. Emphasize that even a short burst of focus can get the ball rolling.
You Got This!
Starting is often the hardest part, but you have strategies to help.
- Break it down.
- Find the first tiny step.
- Clear your space.
- Try the 5-minute trick.
Which strategy will you try first?
Summarize the key takeaways and encourage students to try these strategies. Link back to the idea that everyone struggles, but these tools can help.
Discussion
Our Starting Struggles: Dialogue Cards
Instructions: In your groups, read each scenario. Discuss what makes it hard to start in this situation (the "starting struggle") and then brainstorm at least two strategies you could use to overcome that struggle. Be ready to share your best ideas with the class!
Card 1: The Mountain of Math
Scenario: Maya has a huge math worksheet with 30 problems. She looks at it and immediately feels a pit in her stomach. It looks like it will take forever, and she doesn't even know which problem to tackle first.
Starting Struggle:
Possible Solutions:
Card 2: The Blank Screen Blues
Scenario: Ben needs to write a paragraph about his favorite animal for science class. He opens his laptop, stares at the blank screen, and suddenly feels like he has no good ideas. He keeps checking his social media instead.
Starting Struggle:
Possible Solutions:
Card 3: The Messy Room Monster
Scenario: Sarah's mom told her she needs to clean her room before she can play outside. Her room is a total disaster—clothes on the floor, books everywhere, and her bed isn't made. She feels overwhelmed and just sits down, doing nothing.
Starting Struggle:
Possible Solutions:
Card 4: The Never-Ending Book Report
Scenario: David has a book report due next week. He finished reading the book last night, but now he has to actually write the report. He keeps telling himself he'll start "later" or "tomorrow," but later and tomorrow never seem to come.
Starting Struggle:
Possible Solutions:
Card 5: The Tricky Group Project
Scenario: Alex is in a group for a social studies project. They decided to divide the work, and Alex's part is to create a timeline. He's not sure how to make a timeline, and he's worried his part won't be as good as his teammates
Starting Struggle:
Possible Solutions:
Worksheet
My Task Tangle Brainstorm
Name:
Date:
Sometimes tasks can feel like a tangled mess, making it hard to figure out where to start. This worksheet will help you untangle one of your own tasks!
1. What's Your Tangled Task?
Think of ONE specific task that you need to do, but you're finding it really hard to start. It could be homework, a chore, studying, or anything else. Describe it here:
2. Why Is It Hard to Start?
Look back at the reasons we discussed today (feeling overwhelmed, don't know where to start, distractions, fear of failure, just don't want to). Which of these, or other reasons, are making it hard for you to start this specific task?
3. Untangling Strategies
Let's apply some strategies to your tangled task:
A. Break It Down (Chunking)
If your task is big, how can you break it into 2-3 smaller, more manageable steps?
- Step 1:
- Step 2:
- Step 3 (if needed):
B. Find the First Tiny Step
What is the absolute smallest thing you can do to start your task (or the first smaller step)? It should be something you can do in 1-2 minutes.
- My first tiny step is:
C. Clear the Path
What distractions can you remove or what can you gather to make it easier to start? (e.g., put phone away, get materials ready, find a quiet spot)
- I will:
D. The 5-Minute Trick
Are you willing to commit just 5 minutes to this task? How do you think you'll feel after those 5 minutes?
- Yes, I will try the 5-minute trick. After 5 minutes, I think I will feel:
4. My Action Plan
Based on what we discussed and what you brainstormed, what is your plan to start this task? Be specific about when and how you will take your first tiny step.
Good luck! You've got this!