Breaking schoolwork into smaller steps

Learning goal

Break a task into steps and choose where to start.

Materials

The student page below and a pencil.

Opening question · 3 minutes

“What is one clear first step?”

A school situation · 5 minutes

A pretend student has to make a one-page animal report by Friday. The directions ask for three facts, a picture, and a source. The student writes “do report” on a list but does not know how to begin.

One possible response · 4 minutes

Read the report directions and underline its required parts.

Practice · 10 minutes

What is one clear first step?

1. A report needs an animal name and three facts. The student has not chosen an animal.

2. A student has an animal and two facts but cannot find the approved source for a third.

Possible answers

1. Choose an animal first, then check the school-approved fact source.

2. “Where can I find the source for another fact?”

Student page · 5 minutes

Use the ready-to-print student page at the end of this lesson. Students may write, draw, or give an answer aloud.

Exit question · 3 minutes

“Choose one of the stories. What could the student say or do first?”

Student page to print

Breaking schoolwork into smaller steps

Write, draw, or say your answer. You may pass.

An example

A pretend student has to make a one-page animal report by Friday. The directions ask for three facts, a picture, and a source. The student writes “do report” on a list but does not know how to begin.

What is one clear first step?

One possible response: Read the report directions and underline its required parts.

1. A report needs an animal name and three facts. The student has not chosen an animal.

What is one clear first step?

2. A student has an animal and two facts but cannot find the approved source for a third.

What is one clear first step?

One sentence to keep

Choose one story above. Write the first thing the person could say or do.