Home›Lesson Plans›Social-Emotional Learning›Self-Management · Grade 7

Managing My Time

Seventh graders build self-management by learning to manage their time — listing tasks, prioritizing, making a plan, and focusing on one thing at a time — skills that reduce stress and get more done.

Grade 7CASEL: Self-Management40 minutes1 class periodCASEL SELExplicit teaching4 StandardsCASEL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain time management.
  • ✓Prioritize tasks.
  • ✓Order the steps.
  • ✓Make a plan.
Essential Question

Homework, activities, friends, rest — middle school gets busy! Managing your time helps you get things done without the stress. How do you manage your time?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Put in Order · Interactive

Order the Time-Management Steps

Project this and have children put the steps of managing time in order — from listing tasks to taking breaks.

⏱️ Put the time-management steps in order!Try it
Tap the first step!
The Lesson · SEL Flow (Check-In · Learn · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

40 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Check-In — So Much to Do

5 min

Middle school gets busy — how do you get it done without the stress?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Do a check-in.
  • Ask about being busy.
  • Be caring.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Check in.
  • Reflect.
  • Get ready.
2

Learn — Time Steps

10 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain listing and prioritizing.
  • Explain making a plan.
  • Explain one thing at a time.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Learn it.
  • Learn plan.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Order the Steps

11 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Order the Time-Management Steps.
  • Order them.
  • Explain them.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Order them.
  • Explain.
  • Check.
4

Apply — Apply

9 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • List your real tasks.
  • Prioritize them.
  • Make a quick plan.

🎒 Student Actions

  • List them.
  • Prioritize.
  • Plan it.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a time step.
  • Explain prioritizing.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Explain it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CASEL 5 Social & Emotional Learning Competencies.

CASEL
Self-Management

Use organizational and time-management skills.

CASEL
Self-Management

Set priorities and follow through.

CASEL
Self-Management

Show self-discipline.

CASEL
Responsible Decision-Making

Plan and manage tasks.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Step + task cards.
  • Sentence frame: “First ___, then ___.”
  • Use a planner.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with list and plan.
  • Order two at a time.
  • Use a planner.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Make a weekly schedule.
  • Break a big task down.
  • Track your time.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 📅Planners
  • 💻Order the Time-Management Steps
  • 📋A task list
  • ✏️Pens
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

time managementusing your time wellprioritizeto put first things firstschedulea plan for your timetasksomething to dofocusfull attention on one thingdeadlinewhen something is dueplanthe steps you’ll takebreaka short rest
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a good FIRST step in managing your time?
List everything you need to do.
QUESTION 2
What does it mean to prioritize?
To decide what’s most important and do it first.
QUESTION 3
Why work on one thing at a time?
It helps you focus and finish, instead of getting overwhelmed.

Reflect: make a plan.

Have students list their tasks for tomorrow and number them in order of importance. A printable time-management sheet is in the SEL library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Self-Management: Managing My TimeFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Self-Management: Managing My TimeQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Self-Management: Managing My TimePrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: break, deadline, focus, plan, prioritize, schedule, task, time management
  1. when something is due
  2. full attention on one thing
  3. the steps you’ll take
  4. a short rest
  5. to put first things first
  6. using your time well
  7. something to do
  8. a plan for your time

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a good FIRST step in managing your time?
  2. What does it mean to prioritize?
  3. Why work on one thing at a time?
Answer key — Part A: 1) deadline · 2) focus · 3) plan · 4) break · 5) prioritize · 6) time management · 7) task · 8) schedule
Part B: 1) List everything you need to do. 2) To decide what’s most important and do it first. 3) It helps you focus and finish, instead of getting overwhelmed.