Students will be able to identify key organizational strategies and apply at least one strategy to a personal or academic task.
Good organization reduces stress, improves academic performance, and makes daily life smoother. Learning these skills now will benefit students throughout high school and beyond.
Audience
9th Grade
Time
25 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, practical strategy sharing, and a quick application activity.
Begin by asking students: "How does being organized help you? How does being disorganized hurt you?" - Discuss student responses, highlighting the benefits of organization (less stress, better grades, finding things easily) and the drawbacks of disorganization. - Introduce the lesson objectives.
Step 2
Brainstorming Strategies
8 minutes
Divide students into small groups (2-3 students). - Ask each group to brainstorm 2-3 practical organization strategies they use or have seen work for others (e.g., using a planner, organizing backpack, setting up digital folders, decluttering desk). - Have groups share their ideas with the class. List these on the board/projector.
Step 3
Activity: Organized Workspace
10 minutes
Distribute the Organized Workspace Activity. - Explain that students will apply one of the brainstormed strategies (or their own) to a specific personal or academic task. - Guide students through the activity, encouraging them to think concretely about how they will implement their chosen strategy. - Circulate to offer support and answer questions.
Step 4
Wrap-up & Reflection
2 minutes
Ask students to share one strategy they plan to try or continue using. - Emphasize that organization is a skill that takes practice and small steps lead to big improvements. - Conclude by reiterating the benefits of an organized life.
Slide Deck
Your Organized Life
Why does it matter? Let's find out!
Welcome students and introduce the topic of organization. Ask them to think about how being organized (or disorganized) impacts their daily life and schoolwork. This is a hook to get them thinking about the 'why'.
Today's Mission
Identify key organizational strategies.
Apply at least one strategy to a personal or academic task.
Review the objectives for the lesson. Make sure students understand what they will be able to do by the end of the session.
Brainstorming Power!
In your groups, discuss:
What does 'organized' look like for you?
What are 2-3 practical organization strategies you use or have seen work?
Divide students into small groups. Give them a few minutes to brainstorm strategies. Encourage them to think broadly – school, home, digital organization.
Our Collective Wisdom
Let's share our best organization hacks!
(Teacher: Write student ideas on the board.)
Facilitate a class discussion where groups share their ideas. List them on the board/projector. This creates a shared bank of ideas.
Time to Get Practical!
Today, you'll pick one area of your life to organize.
Introduce the Organized Workspace Activity. Explain that students will choose one area or task to focus on and apply a strategy. Emphasize that 'workspace' can be physical or digital.
Your Next Organized Step
What's one thing you will do to be more organized this week?
Remember: Small steps lead to big changes!
Wrap up the lesson by having students share their chosen strategy and reflecting on the importance of organization. Encourage them to commit to trying their strategy.
Activity
Organized Workspace Activity: Plan Your Perfect Space!
Goal: Choose one area of your life (academic or personal) that could use some organization, and create a plan to get it organized. This could be your backpack, your digital files, your desk at home, a specific subject binder, or even your daily schedule!
Instructions:
Identify Your Focus Area: What part of your life feels a bit disorganized right now? What one area, if organized, would make the biggest positive difference for you?
Why this area? Briefly explain why you chose this particular area to organize.
Current State: Describe how this area is currently organized (or disorganized!).
Choose a Strategy: From our class discussion or your own ideas, what specific organization strategy will you use to tackle this area? (e.g.,
