Executive Functioning Skills Task Cards Activities

Use these 200+ executive functioning skills task cards to teach and practice all areas of executive function! This includes planning, time management, working memory, self-control, organization, task initiation, metacognition, attention and focus, flexible thinking, and perseverance. Just read the cards and discuss together to build these critical brain skills. A page explaining each skill is also included.

All Students Can Build EF Skills

The task cards are aimed to help students at middle and high school students who need help with their ability to plan, organize, pay attention, use self-control, and persevere through tough tasks. ALL students can benefit from building executive functioning skills! These are skills we are all building.

Some students may need more intervention than others. Students who may benefit significantly from executive functioning intervention include students who struggle with organization, managing their time, paying attention in class, thinking before acting, and working through challenges.

How to Use

The task cards in this set can be used as part of a whole class curriculum or small group / individual instruction, based on your students’ needs. Several ideas are listed below:

• CLASS DISCUSSION - Use a card each morning as part of a guided class or small group discussion.
• CENTERS - Set up class centers for each executive functioning skill. Allow small groups to walk around and work at the center until time is up. Then, they can move on to the next executive functioning center.
• MORNING MEETING - This can also be part of a morning meeting. Use one or two cards to start the day.
• PARTNER/GROUP CHATS - Group students up to discuss the task cards. Each group can focus on one particular executive functioning skill. Have the group then share out what they learned about the skill.
• STUDENT CHOICE - Allow students to pick a card and random and discuss in a small group. Let the students run the group discussion.
• INDEPENDENT JOURNAL WRITING - Have students independently read a card and respond in their journal before talking with a partner or group about it.
• BETWEEN TASKS - Put the cards on a ring and read one or two whenever you have a spare minute (between tasks or before a class change).

Why Teach Executive Functioning Skills?

Executive functioning skills are the basis for planning, organizing, initiating, and following through will all tasks, assignments, and problems inside and outside of school. Many students who forget assignments, are disorganized, can’t complete long-term assignments, have trouble focusing, and experience difficulty with change often have weak executive functioning skills. These are the students who need to be taught explicit skills in order to become successful in school and in life after school. Simply put, executive functioning skills are necessary life skills.

Digital and Print Versions

Updated to include digital pages for students to respond to each task card! You can choose to use the entire set all at once, or the set broken into different skills. To access, just open the "digital directions" pdf and click on the links in the blue boxes. A popup will appear asking you to make a copy of the Google Slides pages. That's it!

Note that TWO different digital versions are included! One has 4 task cards per slide and one includes 1 task card per slide. Choose the version that works for your learners!

Three Versions

I've included three separate versions to help you print exactly what you need:

- Colored cards on a white background

- Black/white cards

- Colored cards on different colored backgrounds

Buy the BUNDLE and Save 20%

{ Executive Functioning MEGA BUNDLE }

Target executive functioning and study skills necessary for academic success at the middle and high school level. The bundle includes over 400 pages full of lessons, templates, crafts, and workbook pages to teach study strategies and ways to improve executive functioning skills. It includes a HUGE selection of my executive functioning and study skills materials in one place.

Follow Me!

{ Click here to follow my store! }

Tips for Customers:

• If you have questions, please contact me through Q & A and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!
• Please consider leaving feedback on this resource to receive TpT credits! I always strive for 5 stars and love hearing your feedback.
• Follow my store for notifications about new resources and freebies.

Terms of Use:

© Pathway 2 Success. One license is for the classroom/personal use for one educator and their students. Materials may not be shared with other educators without the purchase of extra licenses. Materials may not be posted on the Internet where they can be publicly accessed. Personal and classroom use only. Please see full terms of use for more information.

Disclaimer: These resources are for supplementary support/education purposes and are not a replacement for education or other necessary supports. Educators, parents, and others who utilize these materials are encouraged to seek out additional support, as needed.