Break It Down: Task Chunking Workbook for ADHD Students | Activation & Task Initiation

A one-page, print-ready workbook that teaches students how to break overwhelming tasks into manageable micro-steps. Scaffolded to build independence in task initiation - works for any age or subject.

The Problem
Students with ADHD often freeze when facing big tasks - not because they can’t do the work, but because activation is the hardest part. Telling them to “just break it down” doesn’t work if they don’t know how.

What You Get
A beautifully designed, one-page workbook that teaches the chunking process students can use independently. It guides them through:

• Identifying what they’re actually trying to achieve (clarity)
• Breaking the task into tiny, doable steps (activation focus)
• Recognising what helps them start (music, movement, body doubling, pressure)
• Building a personal reward system for starting
• Why It Works
• Reduces activation energy - the first step is under 2 minutes
• Visible & external - removes working-memory burden
• Repeatable framework - students learn to apply it to any task
• ADHD-affirming - it’s not about “trying harder,” it’s about working with ADHD brains
• Print-ready - one page per student, laminate for reuse

How to Use

• 1-on-1: Guide a student through their real task (homework, project, essay) while they fill it in
• Whole class: Introduce the framework during a literacy/project lesson
• Intervention: Keep a laminated copy in your ADHD toolkit for quick-start scaffolding
• Parent communication: Send home so families use the same strategy

Who’s It For?

• Primary & secondary students with ADHD / suspected ADHD
• Students with task avoidance or demand avoidance
• Anyone with executive function difficulties
• High-achieving students who mask ADHD and underperform on projects
• Could be used for students with other Special Educational Needs and Disabilities where task initiation is a challenge