Executive Functioning Kickoff Lesson Plan Executive Functioning Kickoff
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Duration
30 MIN
OBJECTIVE
Students will be introduced to the concept of executive functioning as the brain's "command center," specifically focusing on how planning and organization skills impact academic success and daily life.
APPROACH
Game-Based Learning Active Learning Restorative Practices
MATERIALS
Post-it notes & Pens
EF Basics Worksheet
Discussion Guide/Slides
Reflection Exit Ticket
Instructional Sequence
5 min
Introduction & Hook
Define Executive Functioning (EF) as the "CEO of the brain."
Explain the importance of planning and organization in high school.
Share lesson objectives: Understand EF basics and practice planning.
10 min
Game: The Party Planner
Organize students into groups of 3-4.
Task: Plan a class party with a $100 budget.Groups must use Post-its to list every step (invites, food, music, cleanup).
Assign one person to each category of task.
Groups must "pitch" their plan to another group for 60 seconds.
5 min
Whole-Class Discussion
Refer to Discussion Guide material.
Focus on the "why": Why did some groups struggle? What made planning easier?
Connect the "Party Plan" to "Biology Homework" or "Sports Practice."
5 min
EF Basics Reinforcement
Distribute "Executive Functioning Basics" worksheet.
Students work individually to codify their learning.
Circulate to check for misconceptions about the definition of EF.
5 min
Closure & Exit Ticket
Recap: EF is a skill that can be trained, like a muscle.
Distribute "Reflection on Learning" ticket.
Collect as the "ticket out the door."
Facilitation Tips
Scaffolding: If students struggle with the party plan, suggest they start with "The Day of the Party" and work backwards.Connection: Remind freshmen that high school involves more "unstructured" time, making EF skills the difference between staying afloat and falling behind. Executive Functioning Basics Worksheet Brain Blueprint
Executive Functioning Basics
Name
Date
The CEO of Your Brain
Executive functioning is like the "command center" of your brain. It helps you manage information, make decisions, and reach your goals. Today, we're focusing on two key parts: Planning (deciding what to do) and Organization (arranging things so you can do it).
1
Define it.
In your own words, what is executive functioning? How does it help you handle school and life?
2
Examples in Action.
List three specific tasks in your daily life (at home or school) that require you to plan and organize.
A.
B.
C.
3
Activity Reflection.
Think back to the group activity. What was one specific challenge your group faced with organization, and how did you overcome it?
Importance of Executive Functioning Slides Command Center
The Importance of Executive Functioning
The "Why" Behind the Skills
"Why do you think planning and organization are important skills?"
In School
Consider deadlines, exams, and keeping track of assignments.
In Personal Life
Consider hobbies, part-time jobs, and social events.
Let's Get Real
"Can you think of a time when poor planning affected your day?"
What actually happened?
How did it feel in that moment?
What would you do differently next time?
Skill > Luck
Organization isn't a "personality trait." It's a set of brain muscles you can train every single day.
Next Step: Practice on the Worksheet
Reflection on Learning Exit Ticket Check Out
Reflection on Learning
Freshman EF Series
Lesson 01
Name
Period
1 What is one new thing you learned about executive functioning today?
Planning (How to set goals and steps)
Organization (How to keep track of things)
Both Planning and Organization
2 How can you apply what you learned today to your schoolwork?
Better time management (using a planner or app)
Improved task organization (cleaning my bag/folders)
Both A and B
One specific goal for this week:
Example: "I will write down all my homework in my planner."
