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Your Brain's Control Center

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Lesson Plan

Your Brain's Control Center

Students will identify key executive functioning skills and understand how these skills help them manage schoolwork and daily tasks more effectively.

Understanding executive functioning skills empowers students to take control of their learning and personal responsibilities, reducing stress and improving their ability to achieve goals.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and a quick self-reflection activity.

Materials

Executive Functioning Slides, and My Executive Superpowers Worksheet

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: Brain Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Display the first slide of Executive Functioning Slides: 'Your Brain's Control Center'.
    - Ask students: "Have you ever felt overwhelmed with too many tasks? Or forgotten something important you needed to do? Today, we're going to talk about the 'control center' of your brain that helps with all of that!"
    - Briefly introduce executive functioning as the 'manager' of our brains, helping us plan, organize, and focus.

Step 2

What Are Executive Functions?

10 minutes

  • Go through slides 2-4 of Executive Functioning Slides, explaining key executive functioning skills (e.g., organization, planning, self-control, task initiation).
    - For each skill, provide a relatable middle school example (e.g., organizing backpack, planning a project, resisting the urge to check phone, starting homework).
    - Facilitate a brief discussion: "What are some examples of when you use these skills? When do you wish you had used them more?"

Step 3

My Executive Superpowers Activity

10 minutes

  • Distribute the My Executive Superpowers Worksheet.
    - Explain the activity: Students will reflect on one executive functioning skill they feel strong in and one they want to improve.
    - Give students 5-7 minutes to complete the worksheet.
    - Ask a few volunteers to share one 'superpower' they identified or one they want to develop and why.

Step 4

Wrap-Up: Activating Your Control Center

5 minutes

  • Display the final slide of Executive Functioning Slides.
    - Summarize the importance of executive functioning skills.
    - Encourage students to consciously try using one of the skills discussed today in their classes or at home.
    - Collect the My Executive Superpowers Worksheet if desired for further reflection or discussion.
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Slide Deck

Your Brain's Control Center

Ever wonder how you keep track of homework, plan a project, or resist distractions? It's all thanks to your brain's amazing control center: Executive Functions!

Welcome students and introduce the idea of the brain having a 'control center.' Ask them about times they felt overwhelmed or forgot something.

What Are Executive Functions?

These are the mental skills that help you get things done!

They help you:

  • Plan and set goals
  • Focus and pay attention
  • Manage your time
  • Stay organized
  • Control your impulses

Explain that executive functions are like the 'CEO' or 'manager' of our brain, helping us organize, plan, and manage our time and emotions. Keep it simple and relatable.

Key Executive Superpowers

  1. Organization: Keeping your backpack, locker, and notes tidy.
    • Example: Knowing exactly where your math homework is.
  2. Planning: Breaking down big tasks into smaller steps.
    • Example: Figuring out when to start studying for a big test.
  3. Task Initiation: Starting a task instead of procrastinating.
    • Example: Sitting down to start that essay, even if you don't feel like it.
  4. Self-Control: Thinking before acting or speaking.
    • Example: Not blurting out an answer or checking your phone during class.

Give specific examples that resonate with 7th graders for each skill. Encourage them to think about their own experiences.

Activate Your Control Center!

These skills are like muscles – the more you use them, the stronger they get!

  • Be aware: Notice when you're using or not using these skills.
  • Practice: Choose one skill to work on this week.
  • Reflect: How did it go? What helped or what was challenging?

Reinforce that these skills can be developed and practiced. Encourage them to identify one skill they can focus on.

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Worksheet

My Executive Superpowers Worksheet

Name: _____________________________

Executive functions are like the brain's control center, helping us with important tasks like planning, organizing, and focusing. Let's think about your own executive superpowers!

Part 1: My Strongest Executive Superpower

Think about the executive functioning skills we discussed (organization, planning, task initiation, self-control, etc.). Which one do you feel you are really good at?

My Superpower: ____________________________________________________________________




How do you use this superpower in your daily life or at school? Give a specific example!













Part 2: My Next Executive Superpower to Develop

Now, think about an executive functioning skill that you would like to get better at. It's okay if it's challenging – that's why we practice!

Skill I want to improve: _________________________________________________________________




What is one small step you can take this week to start improving this skill?













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