Starting one small part of schoolwork

Learning goal

Choose a small first step for a larger assignment.

Materials

The student page below and a pencil.

Opening question · 3 minutes

“What is a small first action?”

A school situation · 5 minutes

Jordan's planner says 'work on science project.' Jordan has a blank document and a list of assignment requirements. Ten minutes pass while Jordan decides whether to find pictures, write a title, or research a topic.

One possible response · 4 minutes

Open the directions and list the required parts before searching for pictures.

Practice · 10 minutes

What is a small first action?

1. A poster needs a title, two facts, and a picture. The student has not started.

2. The title is finished, but the student is unsure which source to use.

Possible answers

1. Write the title and list the two facts still needed.

2. Ask for the approved source before searching at random.

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

Starting one small part of schoolwork

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

An example

Jordan's planner says 'work on science project.' Jordan has a blank document and a list of assignment requirements. Ten minutes pass while Jordan decides whether to find pictures, write a title, or research a topic.

What is a small first action?

One possible response: Open the directions and list the required parts before searching for pictures.

1. A poster needs a title, two facts, and a picture. The student has not started.

What is a small first action?

2. The title is finished, but the student is unsure which source to use.

What is a small first action?

One sentence to keep

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