Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Resolution Experiment: Free Printable Planner for Year 9
- ForYear 9
- StageKey Stage 3
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Resolution Experiment is a free printable planner for Year 9 (ages 13 to 14) in Key Stage 3. Children pick one small habit, turn it into a testable hypothesis and track it for 21 days. They then record what really happened, including the days it did not go to plan. It is a screen free PSHE activity, and page 2 gives the adult notes, help ideas, a stretch task and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your teenager and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children choose one small habit and turn it into a hypothesis on day one. They then tick off each day straight after doing it, and fill in a weekly table with the week, the days done out of 7, and what helped or got in the way. Checklist statements remind them to keep the habit tiny and the tracking honest. At the end there are lines for writing up the results and reflecting on what the evidence shows.
- Week
- Days done (out of 7)
- What helped or got in the way
- My habit takes under two minutes and feels almost too easy.
- I tick each day straight after I do it, not later.
- If I miss a day, I note why and carry on the next day.
Why test a habit instead of just promising to change?
A resolution is a decision to do something differently. Many people set big ones, such as getting fit or being more organised, and give up quickly because the goal is vague and the change is large. A small habit is easier to start and easier to measure. Counting days done gives clear evidence, which turns a hopeful wish into something a teenager can test.
You may hear that it takes 21 days to form a habit. In fact, the time varies from person to person and from habit to habit, so 21 days is best seen as a useful test period, not a magic number. That suits this sheet. Children are not trying to prove a rule. They are collecting their own evidence and learning from it, including from missed days.
Skills and curriculum link
- Setting a testable goal
- Tracking progress honestly
- Reflecting on evidence
- Planning for obstacles
- Self awareness
Ideas that help a habit stick
- Keep it tinyA habit that feels almost too easy is more likely to happen on a tired or busy day. Children can always build up later, once the habit is steady.
- Link it to something already in the dayPairing a new habit with an existing routine, such as after brushing teeth or after getting home, gives a clear reminder without needing to remember.
- Tick straight awayRecording the habit as soon as it is done keeps the evidence accurate. Memory at the end of the week is often less reliable than a quick tick.
- Plan for a missed dayMissing a day is information, not failure. Noting why it happened and carrying on the next day shows what gets in the way and what might fix it.
Key words
- ResolutionA decision to do something differently or to keep trying at something.
- HabitSomething you do regularly, often without having to think hard about it.
- HypothesisA prediction about what will happen that you can test.
- EvidenceInformation you collect that shows what actually happened.
- ObstacleSomething that gets in the way of what you are trying to do.
- ReflectTo think carefully about what happened and what it means.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2 for the adult, as it has the notes and answers.
- On day one, talk through the choice of habit together. Check that it is small, clear and something the child can actually tick off.
- Complete the hypothesis on day one, then keep the sheet somewhere visible so the daily tick becomes part of the routine.
- Fill in the table weekly. Ask what helped, what got in the way and what the child might change for the next week.
- After 21 days, write the results and reflect on them. Check against page 2, then talk about what the evidence shows.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Offer sentence starters for the hypothesis, such as "If I do this each day, I think...". Suggest example habits like drinking a glass of water after waking or reading one page before bed. Choose the habit together, then let your child try the table alone.
To stretch confident children
Predict the likely obstacles before starting and plan one response for each. At the end, compare results with a friend who tested a different habit. Ask which habit was easier to keep and what the evidence says about why.
Make it a game
Swap sheets with a partner at the end of week two. Each person reads the other's table and asks one question about what the evidence shows. The owner answers using only what is written on the sheet.
Talk about it
- Why did you choose this habit and not a bigger one?
- What would count as evidence that your habit is working?
- What helped you most on the days you did it?
- What got in the way on the days you missed, and could you change it?
- Is a missed day a failure, or is it useful information? Why?
- What would you test next, and would you change anything about how you test it?
Take it off the page
Habit cue cards
Write the cue for the habit on a card, such as "after I brush my teeth". Place it where the cue happens, like by the bathroom mirror.
Prediction and result
Before week one, write one sentence predicting how many days out of 7 you will manage. Compare it with the real figure at the end of each week.
Family experiment
Each family member tests a different tiny habit. Share what helped and what got in the way at the end, and talk about what you notice.
Who it is for
Parents
Help your teenager choose a habit that is theirs, not yours. Ask questions rather than checking up each day. Be curious about the evidence, especially the missed days. Let them lead the writing at the end.
Teachers
Use it as a PSHE starter at the beginning of a term, with a check in at the end of each week and a plenary after 21 days. Pair students to swap sheets and question each other's evidence. Page 2 supports mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Start the experiment at the beginning of a week so the table lines up with the calendar. It fits well alongside wider PSHE work on health and wellbeing, and can be repeated later with a new habit.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children will often have set simple goals and thought about routines in PSHE. They may also have met the idea of a fair test in science, where you change one thing and record what happens.
After this sheet, children can test a different habit, set a goal with more than one step or compare results with others. Looking at evidence honestly is a skill that carries into revision, study habits and decisions about health and wellbeing.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Resolution Experiment for?
It is written for Year 9 (ages 13 to 14), in Key Stage 3. Older or younger children can use it too, as long as they can choose a small habit and write short reflections.
- What will children practise?
Children practise turning a personal goal into a testable hypothesis and reflecting honestly on the results in PSHE. They also practise tracking progress with a daily tick and a weekly table.
- How do I use it?
Complete the hypothesis on day one, fill in the table weekly, and write the results after 21 days. Keep the sheet somewhere visible so the daily tick does not get forgotten.
- What if my child misses a day?
That is fine and the sheet expects it. Children note why they missed the day and carry on the next day. The reason is useful evidence about what gets in the way.
- Is 21 days the time it takes to form a habit?
No. The time varies from person to person and habit to habit. Here, 21 days is a useful test period. Children collect their own evidence rather than trying to prove a fixed rule.
- Is it free, and do I need colour printing?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. No colour is needed. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, and you can print it again for brothers, sisters or a second experiment.
- Can teachers and home educators use it?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, homework task or table activity with no preparation beyond printing. Home educators and tutors can use it alone or as part of a wider PSHE plan.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.