Helping Kids Break Down Big Assignments (Without the Tears)
Big assignments, such as projects, speeches, and papers, are rewarding and formative, but they can also be overwhelming for students. Here’s how to break them down!
The Pros and Cons of Big Assignments
Some assignments rise above the curriculum. These can include book reports, science fair projects, lab reports, “wax museum” biography speeches, STEM-design challenges, or persuasive speeches.
Often, these large assignments require multiple steps and components, including research, bibliographies, visual aids, speech practice, or group work.
The Pros of Large Assignments
On the plus side, these large assignments are often cross-curricular, blending at least two subjects (such as art and literature) and sparking students’ interest.
Or they may allow freedom of choice in the subjects, giving kids a sense of personal investment.
They are also the “memory makers,” the projects your kids will remember for years to come. “Oh! I remember doing the wax museum! I was Eli Whitney!”
These large assignments often call on students to grow as individuals and develop lifelong skills in planning, creativity, and communication.
The Cons of Large Assignments
As a teacher, large assignments also come with pitfalls.
Because they require a significant amount of time and effort, these assignments often account for a substantial percentage of the grade.
But for kids who struggle with task initiation and procrastination, large assignments can be a sand trap.
Other students simply hear about the assignment and start to panic. They don’t know where to begin, how to complete the steps, and they are simply overwhelmed.
How a Teacher Can Break Down Big Assignments
The key to avoiding the pitfalls of large assignments is to break it down into manageable chunks. How do you do that? We’ve got you covered.
Check out these ways to make working on large assignments smooth sailing.
Do the Project Yourself
As a teacher, it is your responsibility to make sure the project is doable.
If you only have an idea of what the project can be, then you are likely to give nebulous directions.
That leads to confusion (and often tears).
If possible, work through a version of the project yourself before you assign it to students.
Not only will this provide a thorough understanding of the steps involved, but it will also give you an example to share with the class.
Write down the steps of the project and the time it took you to complete those steps.
Depending on the age of your students, multiply that time by two or three to get an idea of how long the steps will take your class.
Look at the Calendar
Large projects take time to complete, often weeks.
If your students have other significant demands on their time, the project will likely be pushed to the end.
Schedule the project away from testing dates, holiday breaks, and midterms.
Break the Assignment into Chunks
Never assign a project in one fell swoop.
Instead, break the assignment into a series of steps, and give each step a mini-deadline.
Not only does this make a large project less intimidating for kids, but it also provides accountability to make sure the project gets done.
Ways to Make Large Assignments More Manageable for Kids
These creative and visual ways will excite kids about their progress in large projects (and keep them from freaking out!).
The Gameboard Method
For younger students, create a black-and-white game board that maps out the steps of the project.
Older students can design their own.
The finish line is the project itself.
As they complete the various steps of the project, they can color in the squares on their gameboard.
The Pizza or Cookie Cake Method
Create a bulletin board display of the project as a giant pizza or cookie cake.
Slice the pizza (or cookie) and label each slice as a step to complete the project.
The toppings on the pizza or cookie cake are the subtasks.
For extra reinforcement, create a similar pizza or cookie cake for the kids to label and color as they complete the project.
The Sticky Note Sculpture
Give each student a set of sticky notes and a piece of paper.
Have them write each step of the project on a sticky note and attach it to their paper.
Break down the project into small steps so the students have at least ten sticky notes (if you have a large class, use the tiny sticky notes).
Collect the papers.
Clear a spot on a wall or use a bulletin board and label places with the students’ names.
As they complete the steps of their project, they can peel off their sticky note and attach it to their space. They create whatever sculpture they like out of the sticky notes!
Pomodoro Technique for Kids
The Pomodoro technique has long helped adults with productivity.
The technique involves 25 minutes of focused time (using a timer to make it exact), followed by a brief break of an enjoyable task.
Kids can use the Pomodoro technique as well, but they typically cannot focus for that long.
The recommended focus time for kids is their age plus one minute.
That means if you have a nine-year-old, they can focus for ten minutes before they need a short break.
Teachers can use this technique for in-class work on the project. Follow each chunk with a fun brain break.
At home, parents can motivate their kids to work on the project with the Pomodoro method and breaks to pet the cat, play a round of an online game, or work on a Lego sculpture.
Color-Coded Project Mapping
Color-coding helps students see the components of a project as distinct tasks (instead of one large, overwhelming project).
Set a color for each stage of the project and use this on anchor charts, assignment-scheduling tools, and bulletin boards.
For example, red could stand for the research stage.
Green could be the writing stage, blue the visual aid stage, and yellow the practice and polish stage.
Digital Tools
Digital tools can help break up large assignments into manageable chunks.
Trello boards enable you to create categories (tasks) and cards within each category (subtasks).
Older students will enjoy checking the subtasks as complete, and you can communicate with one another through notes on the cards.
Sites like MeisterTask allow a teacher to create a master Kanban board (a Japanese task management system) for the class where students can see minitasks, upload documents, and make progress on the large assignment.
Mini-Rewards for Mini-Deadlines
Build momentum and celebrate progress by offering mini-rewards for the mini-deadlines inside the large assignment.
This doesn’t have to break the bank. Keep mini-rewards fun and low-cost. Here are some ideas:
- pencil toppers
- desk pets
- scratch-off tickets
- mini-doughnuts
- time in alternative seating
- stickers for a progress chart
Visual Progress Trackers
Mark progress with something physical, such as paper chains, marbles in a jar, Lego bricks in a tower, or stickers on a chart.
Accountability Buddies
Assign each student an accountability partner.
Allot class time for students to check in with each other and share their progress on individual assignments.
You can have students fill out a checklist for one another during that time.
Breaking Down Big Assignments for Students
Keep your class from panicking over large assignments with thoughtful planning and fun strategies for breaking down big assignments.
Not only will you reap all the benefits of that dynamic project, but your students will be motivated and on track.
