Teacher guide · Real Life Lab · Harder · about 32 min
🗓️ Set a Weekly Schedule
Pupils practise real life thinking and problem solving through "Set a Weekly Schedule": Balance homework, play and chores.
Lesson guide
1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 🗓️ mission title and read the opening: "You have 14 free hours this week. Spend them.". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Coin the Raccoon's line as your prompt: "Smart call. Money and time both count."
3. Do · 10 min
Pairs work through the 3 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"
4. Discuss · 10 min
Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.
5. Reflect · 5 min
Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used real life thinking today.
Discussion questions
- What was the hardest choice in "Set a Weekly Schedule", and why?
- Which hour was hardest to give up — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Where could you use real life thinking outside school this week?
- If you did this again, what would you change?
Adapting it
Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.
Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.
Curriculum links
- National Curriculum: Maths: money, measures and solving real-world problems
- PSHE: Living in the wider world: economic wellbeing — money, saving and choices
- PSHE: Health & wellbeing: keeping safe and everyday responsibilities
Pupil sheet
🗓️ Set a Weekly Schedule
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
1. You have 14 free hours this week. Spend them.
Budget: £14
☐ Homework (4h) — £4
☐ Sport (3h) — £3
☐ Chores (2h) — £2
☐ Screens (3h) — £3
☐ Reading (2h) — £2
☐ Friends (3h) — £3
Total spent: £______
2. Order a good weekday evening.
___ Chores
___ Homework
___ Play
___ Snack
___ Wind down
3. Which hour was hardest to give up?