Brain Boss - Why Am I So Disorganised? Executive Function Organisation Lesson

A complete, ready-to-teach Executive Function lesson on organisation, designed to help pupils understand why they lose things, forget equipment and struggle to stay organised — and, most importantly, what they can do about it.

Rather than simply telling children to “be more organised,” this lesson teaches a powerful core idea:

Don’t rely on your memory. Build a system.

Through engaging scenarios, discussion, problem-solving and practical activities, pupils learn that being organised isn’t the same as being perfectly tidy. Good organisation is about creating systems, routines and environments that make everyday life easier.

Pupils explore:
What organisation actually means
Why working memory can become overloaded
The difference between memory and systems
Why we repeatedly lose and forget the same things
How routines reduce the demands on our Brain Boss
How checklists, labels and designated places help
The difference between tidying and organising
Why professionals still rely on systems and checklists
How organisation can save time, reduce stress and make starting tasks easier
How to create an organisation system for a real problem in their own life
Activities include:
Which Bag Would You Choose? – compare different levels of organisation
Lost Property Detective – work out why objects were lost and design systems to prevent it
Freddie’s School Bag Rescue – sort and reorganise a chaotic school bag
Beat the Clock – explore how organisation saves time and brain power
Build a Morning Routine
Chaos at Work – investigate why professionals need organisation systems
The Brain Boss Organisation Toolkit
Fix the Problem – pupils design their own real-life organisation system
The 5-Minute Reset
Reflection and exit-ticket activities
Organisation Toolkit

Pupils leave the lesson with five practical strategies:

Give things a home
Use checklists
Build routines
Use labels and categories
Prepare early

The resource uses the engaging Brain Boss character to make executive-function concepts accessible and memorable for children.

Included:
Full ready-to-teach PowerPoint
Matching student workbook
Practical individual and group activities
Reflection tasks
Exit ticket
Organisation strategies pupils can immediately apply
Black-and-white illustrations suitable for colouring and workbook activities
Suitable for:

KS2 / Upper Primary / SEND / SEMH / PSHE / Personal Development / Executive Function interventions / Form Time / Pastoral lessons

Particularly useful for pupils who struggle with forgetfulness, losing equipment, routines, working memory, task initiation and organisation.

Brain Boss Lesson 5: Organisation – Why Am I So Disorganised?