Task Initiation for Teens: Executive Functioning Activity
This session includes task initiation activities, helping older students get started on a big assignment instead of feeling stuck by its size. Students explore what makes starting hard, then break an overwhelming project into smaller, manageable steps. They consider a guiding question, discuss where to begin with a large history report, and play a quick game where they weigh a situation and its possible response. The takeaway: a big task feels doable when it starts with one small step.
Extension activity
- Skill
- Self-Regulation
- Goal
- Executive Functioning
- Grade level
- Middle & High School
Get everything you need to teach the skill
These materials are part of a no-prep session designed by our clinical team, with all the structure, scaffolding, and support you need to teach included.
Engaging materials
Video modeling lessonTask Initiation Introduction
Learners are introduced to the concept of 'task initiation' and the skills needed to break larger, overwhelming tasks into smaller, more manageable parts.
- Extension activity
Interactive Worksheet: Task Initiation Essentials
Reinforce the concepts and skills related to task initiation with this interactive fill-in-the-blank activity.
Plus everything you need to teach them
Warm-up
- Video: 4-7-8 Breathing2:13
- Video: Obstacles into Opportunities Visualization1:19
- Video: Yoga Pose Library
Session Opener
Guiding Question: What makes starting a big task difficult?
Practice
- Discussion Question
- Role-Play Activity
- Mini Game
How to use it with your students
- 1Watch Play the video modeling lesson so students see the skill in action.
- 2Practice Try the skill together with a discussion prompt, role-play, or mini game.
- 3Extend Use the extension activity to help students carry the skill further.
What's Covered
In this lesson, students learned about task initiation, which means starting a task on time using a practical, step-by-step approach. They practiced breaking a large assignment into smaller parts and setting a clear goal with a realistic deadline for each piece. Starting with one small step helps build momentum so a big task feels less overwhelming.
Key Terms
- Task Initiation
- Starting a task within a reasonable amount of time using a step-by-step approach. You break a big task into smaller parts and begin one piece instead of waiting until it feels overwhelming.
Sample IEP Goal This Session Supports
-
Executive Functioning
Given a multi-step task, learner will use at least one self-selected organizational strategy (e.g., visual planner, breaking the task into steps, visual timer) to initiate and work through the task with decreasing adult support in 4 out of 5 opportunities independently/given X prompt(s).
Send this tip home to support generalization
When a student feels stuck on something, try asking what the very first small step could be and helping them name a time to start it. Naming one step makes the whole task feel more doable.
Ready to teach Executive Functioning Activity?
Get the video, activity and discussion materials with zero prep.
Get These Materials Free
More Self-Regulation Activities
Frequently asked questions
Is this intervention free?
Yes, this ready-to-teach session on Executive Functioning Activity is free. You can access this intervention free for 14 days through the Everyday Speech Session Library. Every user gets three free sessions, but you can get more or extend your access by sharing the Session Library with friends and colleagues.
What ages is this for?
These materials are designed for middle and high school students.
What's included?
You'll get access to your choice of warm-up videos, a session opener, a core material on Task Initiation Introduction, three practice prompts, and an extension activity, Interactive Worksheet: Task Initiation Essentials.
What skill does this intervention teach?
This ready-to-teach session is on self-regulation - more specifically, executive functioning.
Get access to the full curriculum
A no-prep social skills curriculum with a full scope and sequence that builds student skills over time. MTSS-aligned across every tier, with 400+ whole class lessons and 800+ ready-to-teach sessions.
Start a 30-Day Free Trial
