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Teaching with Jennifer Findley

Upper Elementary Teaching Blog

Free Assignment Checklists for Google Classroom

Keeping your students’ assignments organized each week can be easier said than done. Using these FREE assignment checklists for Google Classroom (with spots for reminders and messages) will hopefully make your life (and your students’ and parents’ lives) a little easier while teaching in a digital classroom.

Using Assignment Checklists in Google Classroom™

Google Classroom™ is not super intuitive as a learning platform. When posting multiple assignments a day/week, it can be tricky for 8-10 year olds to stay organized and find what they need.

One solution that many teachers use is to have an assignment checklist slide to help students find the assignments and keep track of which tasks have been completed.

To help you implement this with your digital learning, I have some FREE assignment checklists for you (available for download in the section titled Download the FREE Assignment Checklists for Google Classroom™ Here).

There are several versions of the digital weekly assignments for you to choose from. Variations are included for different amounts of assignments, different subject areas, and even different color schemes. I recommend saving a master copy of all of the slides and then making copies of the ones you want to use.

Here are some of the versions:

• Weekly Assignment Checklists
• Daily Assignment Checklists (with Today and with Days of the Week)
• Subject-Specific Assignment Checklists (Math, ELA, Reading, Writing, Science, Social Studies)

Each slide comes with editable spaces to list assignments and link to them right in your Google Drive or Classroom page. There are also sticky notes to add reminders, inspirational messages to your students, or additional links. This would be a great spot to post a fun challenge, extension, or early finisher activity.

To keep your students even more organized, there are moveable checkmarks to keep track of which assignments they have completed as they make their way through the week.

Linking Classroom Assignments to Digital Assignment Checklists

After you have uploaded any necessary files to your Drive and posted all of your assignments and materials to your Classroom, you’re ready to link everything to the checklist slide!

Choose the assignment you want to link to. Click on the three dots and select “Copy link” from the dropdown menu options.

Select the text you want to link the assignment to. You can change the name of the assignment and then click “Insert link.” A window will pop up. Paste the link into the space provided.

Assigning Weekly Checklists in Google Classroom™

When your Weekly Checklist is complete with assignments, links, and notes, you are ready to share it with your students in Classroom!

Step 1: Create a new assignment.

Step 2: Title it something like “Assignment Checklist for Week of April 27th” and add instructions as needed. (That way, you can create a new one each week and stay organized.)

Step 3: Add the file from Google Drive and choose “Make a copy for each student” (since they will be editing it by dragging checkmarks over to completed assignments).

Step 4: Add a due date. (I recommend the end of the week/day that the checklist is for.)

Step 5: Click “Assign” and you’re all set!

Quick Checklist for Posting to Google Classroom™

• Upload any files needed for the week’s assignments to Drive
• Post assignments for the week to Google Classroom
• Link to each assignment on the assignment checklist
• Link to other important sites or pages from the sticky notes on the page
• Upload the linked assignment checklist to your Google Classroom as an assignment (and make sure you make a copy for each student!) and set due date as the end of the week

Download the FREE Assignment Checklists for Google Classroom™ Here

Download the free assignment checklists AND a printable/downloadable guide to using them by clicking HERE or on the image shown.

More Digital Learning Resources

Blog posts and free guides.

How to Assign Google Forms

How to Create Google Form Assignments

Viewing and Analyzing Responses in Google Forms

How to Assign Google Slides

How to Have Students Show Their Math Work Digitally – Free Student Google Slides Guide

Tips for Distance Learning Planning

Digital Learning Activities

Google form – reading activities.

Reading Review Activities – These include 8 forms and each form focuses on one specific skill.

Main Idea Differentiated Practice – These are perfect for assigning differentiated reading practice (texts at two levels to your students). 

Text Structure Differentiated Practice – Another option for differentiating your reading practice easily.

Reading Test Prep Task Cards –  This is perfect for reading review! It includes 8 Google Forms in all (with 8 mixed skill questions per form).

Google Slides – Math Activities

4th Grade Math Test Prep Review

5th Grade Math Test Prep Review

4th Grade Math Differentiated Skill Sheets

5th Grade Math Differentiated Skill Sheets

Math Choice Boards (Grades 3-5 Available)

5th Grade Math Skill Posters

5th Grade Math Journal Prompts

Decimal of the Day Review

Find the Error Math Tasks (Grades 3-5 Available)

Google Slides – Literacy Activities

4th & 5th Grade Reading View

Color by Reading Activities

Reading Interactive Notebook

Color Coding Text Evidence Printables

Reading Intervention Passages with Read Aloud Audio

4th & 5th Grade Reading Flipbooks

Theme Activities – Printable and Digital Versions

Inference Activities – Printable and Digital Versions

5th Grade Language Review

5th Grade Language Posters

Finish the Story! Engaging Narrative Writing Center

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Reader interactions, 23 comments.

April 29, 2020 at 2:35 pm

Hi! I tried using your checklist but it’s looking a bit messy because the URL’s that I’m copying from google classroom are very long. Is the URL supposed to show when I paste it to the text box? Thanks!

September 4, 2020 at 5:02 pm

No – click the hyperlink button after you highlight the TEXT.

April 29, 2020 at 2:37 pm

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS! It is going to help my fifth graders sooooo much. Much appreciated.

April 29, 2020 at 6:27 pm

OMG!!! This is pretty awesome. Thank you for sharing this with us!! I was just looking for a checklist.

April 30, 2020 at 1:32 pm

Is there any way that I can change the title of the slide? I teach Wellness and just want to change the Weekly to Quarter 4. Thank you, Patty

May 2, 2020 at 3:43 pm

Thank you these wonderful resources!

May 3, 2020 at 5:52 pm

Is it possible to change the titles and colors of that header?

Do you have the double-column available that has an editable title, or can you make an ELA and Math that have two columns of six assignments?

May 4, 2020 at 11:24 pm

This is so neat, and so wonderful, and I am actually so excited to use it! Thank you for posting such a great resource for us to use!

May 19, 2020 at 2:37 pm

Is there a way to use this agenda so that when I child clicks on a link to the assignment it will take them directly to “their copy” of the assignment. If I made an assignment in which each student will have their own copy when opened, will this agenda work?

May 19, 2020 at 2:38 pm

Hi, i love this agenda…

Can it be used when a google classroom make a new copy for each student. If I put the link for the assignment in the agenda, will it take the child directly to “their copy”?

July 14, 2020 at 4:15 am

Can you make one where we can change out the title? I’d like to make it Engineering Weekly assignments.

August 6, 2020 at 4:40 pm

Thank you so much! I’m excited for my students but also for myself to have some organization! I love this, thank you for sharing!

August 24, 2020 at 6:33 am

You are so creative! I love your blog and your ideas!

Thank you for this!

August 31, 2020 at 8:36 am

Boy, did I need this! Thank you so much.

September 1, 2020 at 3:52 pm

Hi Jennifer I was trying to make a copy of this checklist and it kept giving me a google error is there any way you can send me a link to it! Thank you so much! Your resources are saving my life!

September 19, 2020 at 11:07 pm

Thank you! This checklist is just what I was looking for.

September 22, 2020 at 12:52 pm

Hi Jennifer. I love the Weekly Assignment checklist, but I was wondering of there is a way to edit the weekly heading to add the dates of the week. Thank you,

September 26, 2020 at 7:32 pm

I have used these both online and in print with elementary students, including with my students with moderate to severe disabilities. Cute without being visually overwhelming. Thanks!

November 13, 2020 at 11:29 pm

Is there a way to create a checklist that when the student submits the assignment it automatically checks it off?

November 18, 2020 at 6:45 am

Thank you so much. I have been looking for a kid friendly and parent friendly way for my students to keep up with assignments that are due. You are awesome for sharing this for free!

November 18, 2020 at 12:30 pm

I teach high school and this is going to be a game changer for keeping my struggling students organized! Thank YOU!

January 11, 2021 at 10:37 am

These are awesome! Thank you so much for these!

October 7, 2021 at 2:09 am

Oh my goodness, just what I was looking for. Thank you!!

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Welcome Friends!

I’m Jennifer Findley: a teacher, mother, and avid reader. I believe that with the right resources, mindset, and strategies, all students can achieve at high levels and learn to love learning. My goal is to provide resources and strategies to inspire you and help make this belief a reality for your students.

15 Checklist, Schedule, and Planner Templates for Students

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Templates are extremely useful for business documents, but for students they can be lifesavers.

You have enough to think about during the school year, so using a template can save a ton of time. Put your mind on your classes and use these helpful checklist and planning templates for the rest.

1. Homework Checklist

For a plain and simple homework checklist, this template from TeacherVision is great for younger students, but can work for any age. Each subject is in its own spot with days of the week and check boxes to mark off as you complete assignments.

2. Printable Homework Planner

This next homework planner from TidyForm lets you easily plan your assignments for each day of the week and even the weekend. Instead of listing out the subjects, you can enter them yourself for the day and include details with due dates for each.

Note: you will need a PDF editor to make changes to the template on your computer.

3. Homework Schedule

Another planner from TidyForm breaks down your days into time blocks. Each hour slot is along the left side of the sheet with the seven days of the week across the top. This one is great for assignments, but you could use it for class schedules or work shifts to plan your entire week ahead of time.

It is a basic template, but a useful one.

4. Class Schedule and Planner

If you need a more detailed planner, this schedule is intended for classes. However, it can also be used for more. It uses time blocks like the TidyForm planner, but breaks them down into increments that you choose. Adjust the start time and interval minutes and the sheet automatically updates. You can add your classes, pop in your homework time, and add shifts for work all in one place.

5. Assignment Schedule

This template from Vertex42 is another with time blocks in 30-minute increments. And, this one has even more detail. On one side of the template, you can list out classes with assignments, dates, and times.

On the other side, you can add your class schedule or plan your homework and projects. The workbook also includes a Homeschool tab for parents homeschooling their children. Overall, it's a good dual-purpose option.

6. Multiple-Task Planner

If you are a OneNote user, check out this option from OneNoteGem. You can quickly fill out subjects and assignments for five days of the week. This is ideal for classes that have many tasks on the same day.

For example, you may need to work on a group project, research a paper, and finish an assignment in one day. The template has a good amount of room for those to-dos.

7. Student Notebook

Also, for OneNote you can download an entire student notebook template. Just scroll further down on the OneNoteGem templates page for this option.

What's nice about this template is that the notebook includes sections for planners, five classes, and research along with note-taking tips.

8. Class Schedule

For a neat and flexible class schedule template, this one is available for Excel, OpenOffice, and Google Sheets. It is basic with time slots broken into 15-minute increments on one tab and 30-minute increments on another. Plus, it includes seven days of the week, unlike many others. For college students, this is a terrific class schedule template.

9. Student Planner

With a student planner that lists your subjects by week, you can stay on track every single day. Vertex42 has two templates to pick from that offer different layouts.

One option has the subjects down the left side with days of the week across the top. The other template is the reverse of that. Each has spots for to-dos and notes and is available for either Excel or as a PDF.

10. All-in-One Schedule and Budget

For an all-in-one workbook for college, this Excel template has sheets for classes per term, course credits, a college budget, and textbooks. You can keep everything in one place. You can also track your overall progress and your current GPA.

11. Student Calendar

Another planner from Microsoft Office is this 12-month student calendar. There is a tab for each month, spots for a weekly schedule, and a section for assignments. The year cell is editable making it reusable for your entire college career.

This template makes planning study time and homework a breeze.

12. Dorm Room Checklist

If you are heading to a dorm room for college, there is no better way to make sure you have everything than with this checklist template. You can add box numbers for packing and checks when you pack the items.

The template gives you sections such as kitchen supplies, electronics, computer equipment, safety items, and more.

13. Back to School Checklist

For parents with kids in elementary or middle school, this checklist is perfect for back-to-school time. One column has tasks to take care of like verifying immunizations and obtaining a school supply list. The second column has items to purchase from clothes and a backpack to school supplies.

If you have a youngster getting ready for a new school year, this is the template for you.

14. College Budget

When you need to keep an eye on your college budget, this template is just for it. The top section is for your funding and income with the bottom for your expenses. The most common types of college-related items are included, making this a convenient template for college students.

15. Monthly College Budget

This monthly budget tracker from Microsoft Office gives you a simple way to view your cash flow. You can glance at the pie charts at the top to get an overview of your income and expenses by month. Change the values below to add your items and the charts change automatically.

It's one simple sheet with everything you need to budget each month.

Time for Class!

For classes, assignments, budgeting, supplies, course credits, and all that goes with these things, make sure you are prepared when the bell rings or classroom door closes. Now that you have these 15 awesome template options, you are on your way to starting the school year off right.

You might also check out these essential Windows apps for students to help with school.

Image Credits: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

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Daily Assignment Checklist

Keep your students on track with a Daily Assignment Checklist. View in spreadsheet, card, or calendar format. Easy to customize and update on any device.

• Checklist Templates

No matter the size of your classroom, easily keep track of students’ daily assignments in a professional spreadsheet with Jotform’s free Daily Assignment Checklist! To get started, fill out the attached form with student and assignment information — then update the spreadsheet as you go, monitoring completion dates, assignment descriptions, and even including file uploads of finished assignments straight to your spreadsheet.

With Jotform’s easy-to-use interface, you can quickly add new rows and columns, include extra tabs to separate information for different classrooms, or update label names and colors for a personalized touch. You can even download your checklist as a PDF, CSV, or Excel file in a single click, or automatically sync your spreadsheet with other accounts like Google Drive, Dropbox, and more. Better manage student assignments and due dates online with a free Daily Assignment Checklist — and enjoy more time to focus on teaching your students.

Construction Checklist

Keep track of construction projects and tasks in a free spreadsheet. Easy to customize, download, and share. Great for managers or independent contractors.

Employee Training Checklist Template

Keep track of employee training and progress. Free online checklist for employers. Easy to customize, download, and share. Works on all devices. No coding.

Donation List Template

Streamline your online donation process with an all-in-one donation management solution. Collect and store donations, donor info, and leads online. Easy to customize.

Furnished Rental Inventory Checklist

Keep track of items in your rental properties with a free Furnished Rental Inventory Checklist. Great for real estate agencies and landlords. Easy to customize.

Task Checklist Template

Keep track of your tasks with this free task checklist template. Easy to customize and share. Works great on any device. No coding required.

Bill Pay Checklist

Keep track of bill payments with this free online checklist template. Easy to customize, download, and print. Works on all devices. No coding required.

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Feel free to use this checklist to guide you through the stages of assignment design.

• Is the relevance of this writing assignment obvious (to other writing assignments, to course objectives, and to the discipline/field)? Students will likely be more motivated to complete a task that has obvious relevance to course goals and/or personal goals.
• Have you helped students focus their writing by clarifying its primary purpose ? Are you, for example, primarily asking them to argue a position? Provide information? Express themselves? Explore an issue? If you have more specific expectations, it may help to clarify their writing task. For instance, you might ask students to apply a theory to specific data, critically evaluate a text, solve a problem, synthesize disparate ideas, analyze data by scrutinizing specific aspects separately or apply theories to new contexts. Additionally, is it clear whether you’re asking students to work backward (using the assignment to prove what they’ve already learned) or work forward (expanding their learning)? 
• Where possible, have you moved beyond assigning a “topic” and provided students with an authentic scenario , problem-solving scenario, or inquiry question? Authentic prompts can inspire ideas, motivate writers, and deter students from writing what John Bean calls the “all about paper” or the “data dump.
• If this is a longish assignment, have you broken it into manageable tasks ? If you’re working with a complex and lengthy assignment, you’ll want to build smaller assignments backward from the end product.
• If you’ve not already made it apparent, have you specified what sort of reader or audience your students should address? Writing to designated or selected audiences allows students to make important decisions about how much background knowledge they can assume on the part of their reader and what sorts of evidence, logic, and tone they should use. Specifying an audience allows students to write toward authentic communication with a reader for a purpose, rather than simply proving to you that they are fulfilling course expectations.
• Have you described what sorts of evidence student writers are expected to rally? Are they to back ideas using their own logic/experience, or are they conducting traditional research? Is there a type of scholarly source you’re expecting students to use, or is the choice theirs to make? Likewise, are you looking for a specific citation style?
• Have you described your aims using a limited number of comprehensive rather than abstract verbs? For example, “support a position with evidence” or “describe a process so that it can be replicated” are likely more actionable directives than “consider,” "explore," or "discuss."
• Is the wording and are the cultural references inclusive ? If the assignment uses idiomatic language (expressions), do you provide an explanation for the benefit of non-native English speakers? Does the assignment use generic language and acknowledge different lived experiences?
• Is the assignment accessible ? Does the format and document structure (use of headings and subheadings) of the assignment work with adaptive technologies?
• Where appropriate, have you described the organization of the finished product you envision in adequate detail, including elements of format and appearance? This includes length, margins, organizational sequencing, format, style, and documentation specifications.
• Have you provided your grading criteria and conveyed their relative weight or importance? And, are these criteria relevant to the assignment’s purpose and disciplinary discourse rather than generic writing attributes?
• Have you scheduled instances of feedback into the process? These include responses from peers or the instructor on topic ideas, proposals, thesis ideas, or drafts.
• Have you indicated what resources might be useful to students as they write and revise? Examples include model papers, resource books, writing consultation services.
• Have you balanced freedom with guidance and structure ? Have you successfully avoided intimating that the only successful responses to this assignment will be those that approach the target question/problem exactly as you would? Can students make choices related to topic, argument, form, audience, research, or mode? If so, how and when will you check in to ensure that they make workable choices? For high-stakes, lengthy assignments, you’ll want to check in early.
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Assignment Tracker Template For Students (Google Sheets)

6-minute read

• 18th May 2023

If you’re a student searching for a way to keep your assignments organized, congratulate yourself for taking the time to set yourself up for success. Tracking your assignments is one of the most important steps you can take to help you stay on top of your schoolwork .

In this Writing Tips blog post, we’ll discuss why keeping an inventory of your assignments is important, go over a few popular ways to do so, and introduce you to our student assignment tracker, which is free for you to use.

Why Tracking Is Important

Keeping your assignments organized is essential for many reasons. First off, tracking your assignments enables you to keep abreast of deadlines. In addition to risking late submission penalties that may result in low grades, meeting deadlines can help develop your work ethic and increase productivity. Staying ahead of your deadlines also helps lower stress levels and promote a healthy study-life balance.

Second, keeping track of your assignments assists with time management by helping prioritize the order you complete your projects.

Third, keeping a list of your completed projects can help you stay motivated by recording your progress and seeing how far you’ve come.

Different Ways to Organize Your Assignments

There are many ways to organize your assignment, each with its pros and cons. Here are a few tried and true methods:

• Sticky notes

Whether they are online or in real life , sticky notes are one of the most popular ways to bring attention to an important reminder. Sticky notes are a quick, easy, and effective tool to highlight time-sensitive reminders. However, they work best when used temporarily and sparingly and, therefore, are likely better used for the occasional can’t-miss deadline rather than for comprehensive assignment organization.

• Phone calendar reminders  

The use of cell phone calendar reminders is also a useful approach to alert you to an upcoming deadline. An advantage to this method is that reminders on your mobile device have a good chance of grabbing your attention no matter what activity you’re involved with.

On the downside, depending on how many assignments you’re juggling, too many notifications might be overwhelming and there won’t be as much space to log the details of the assignment (e.g., related textbook pages, length requirements) as you would have in a dedicated assignment tracking system.

• Planners/apps

There are a multitude of physical planners and organization apps for students to help manage assignments and deadlines. Although some vow that physical planners reign superior and even increase focus and concentration , there is almost always a financial cost involved and the added necessity to carry around a sometimes weighty object (as well as remembering to bring it along with you).

Mobile organization apps come with a variety of features, including notifications sent to your phone, but may also require a financial investment (at least for the premium features) and generally will not provide substantial space to add details about your assignments.

• Spreadsheets

With spreadsheets, what you lose in bells and whistles, you gain in straightforwardness and customizability – and they’re often free! Spreadsheets are easy to access from your laptop or phone and can provide you with enough space to include whatever information you need to complete your assignments.

There are templates available online for several different spreadsheet programs, or you can use our student assignment tracker for Google Sheets . We’ll show you how to use it in the next section.

How to Use Our Free Writing Tips Student Assignment Tracker

Follow this step-by-step guide to use our student assignment tracker for Google Sheets :

• Click on this link to the student assignment tracker . After the prompt “Would you like to make a copy of Assignment Tracker Template ?”, click Make a copy .

Screenshot of the “Copy document” screen

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2. The first tab in the spreadsheet will display several premade assignment trackers for individual subjects with the name of the subject in the header (e.g., Subject 1, Subject 2). In each header, fill in the title of the subjects you would like to track assignments for. Copy and paste additional assignment tracker boxes for any other subjects you’d like to track, and color code the labels.

Screenshot of the blank assignment template

3. Under each subject header, there are columns labeled for each assignment (e.g., Assignment A, Assignment B). Fill in the title of each of your assignments in one of these columns, and add additional columns if need be. Directly under the assignment title is a cell for you to fill in the due date for the assignment. Below the due date, fill in each task that needs to be accomplished to complete the assignment. In the final row of the tracker, you should select whether the status of your assignment is Not Started , In Progress , or Complete . Please see the example of a template that has been filled in (which is also available for viewing in the Example tab of the spreadsheet):

Example of completed assignment tracker

4. Finally, for an overview of all the assignments you have for each subject throughout the semester, fill out the assignment tracker in the Study Schedule tab. In this tracker, list the title of the assignment for each subject under the Assignment column, and then color code the weeks you plan to be working on each one. Add any additional columns or rows that you need. This overview is particularly helpful for time management throughout the semester.

There you have it.

To help you take full advantage of this student assignment tracker let’s recap the steps:

1. Make a copy of the student assignment tracker .

2. Fill in the title of the subjects you would like to track assignments for in each header row in the Assignments tab.

3. Fill in the title of each of your assignments and all the required tasks underneath each assignment. 

4. List the title of the assignment for each subject and color code the week that the assignment is due in the Study Schedule .

Now that your assignments are organized, you can rest easy . Happy studying! And remember, if you need help from a subject-matter expert to proofread your work before submission, we’ll happily proofread it for free .

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Assignment Design: Checklist

Careful planning and implementation of assignments will help your students produce what you expected. Consider using this checklist as a tool to trouble-shoot your assignment design and identify possible areas to refine. Other considerations may be required for your specific assignment, but this will give you a great start, no matter what type of assignment you plan to give.

Stage one: Planning

When planning the assignment, decide how it can.

• Fit with main learning objectives for the course, term, and program
• Relate to previous work done in this course and past courses
• Be new and different from the type of assignments given in this course and other courses(e.g., seek alternatives to the proverbial term-paper or problem set)
• Benefit from an audience other than yourself (e.g., peers, community professionals, liaison librarian, politicians)
• Use current topics and current resources
• Be broken into a series of smaller assignments to avoid overwhelming students
• Be completed – in groups, pairs, or individually
• Be completed – in the online environment
• Build on students’ previous experience and current skill set
• Develop important skills for students, both for your course work and beyond (e.g., skills for the workplace, skills for life)
• Require a reasonable amount of work and be successfully completed in the allotted time, given other courses and demands outside of school
• Have value to you (e.g., will be interesting to grade, lead to a research project)
• Require a level of commitment you can meet (e.g., student support, grading)

Also, prepare by considering the support demands students may have

• Identify types of assistance students will require to complete the assignment
• Contact liaison librarian, community professionals, or other people who can assist you and your students in completing the assignment
• Arrange guest lectures relevant to assignment process (e.g., liaison librarian, community professional, colleagues)
• When possible, use class time for activities to help students complete the assignment (e.g., discuss how to write an annotated bibliography, run lab activities to demonstrate a requisite skill, discuss material related to assignment topic)
• Decide if students are required to meet with you or your teaching assistants (TAs) as they complete the assignment and set times and policies for availability to help students avoid procrastinating

Then, make evaluation decisions by choosing the

• Assignment length limitations and due dates
• Type of feedback to give – written, oral, anonymous
• Evaluators – you, peers, community professional, liaison librarian
• Type of grade required (e.g., check mark, pass/fail, numeric grade)
• Parts to evaluate – effort, research process, thinking process, progress, sequence of assignments, drafts, final products
• Weighting of components – how much is each part worth
• Turnaround times for marking to make the assignment meaningful for students
• Policies for possible problems – late or incomplete assignments, missed meetings, poor group work practices, plagiarism

Stage two: Implementing

Prepare an assignment description or handout that.

• Comprises the key parts  –  situation  (background information, audience, relevance),  task  (what to do),  stages  (a timeline for completing key stages of the assignment), and  evaluation criteria  (specific grading scheme, special policies)
• Uses plain language – avoids jargon
• Provides advice from past experiences with the assignment
• Explains proper referencing and acceptable sources for information – be specific and expect to be taken literally

Have a colleague (preferably someone not familiar with your course) read the handout and identify any unclear instructions and jargon, then revise accordingly. As well, do your assignment before giving it to students whenever possible, so you can identify problems before they do. And when you distribute the handout in class, take time to discuss it and allow for questions and clarifications about the task.

Consider giving ongoing support

• Share useful student feedback with the class and TAs
• Keep in touch with support people (i.e., liaison librarian)
• Ask for mid-assignment feedback since no news is not necessarily good news
• Have a backup plan for areas identified as difficult to complete (i.e., if a document is hard to get, have a copy available for reserve) – but take care not to modify the assignment too much from the handout because this confuses students

And when the assignments are all submitted and returned

• List 5 strengths and 5 weaknesses of the assignment and suggest changes for next time
• Ask for evaluative feedback from students and support contacts – find out what worked well, what could be improved, where students had the most difficulty, and how you can better facilitate the process next time
• Use feedback and experiences to modify assignment plan for the next time

If you would like support applying these tips to your own teaching, CTE staff members are here to help.  View the  CTE Support  page to find the most relevant staff member to contact. 

This Creative Commons license  lets others remix, tweak, and build upon our work non-commercially, as long as they credit us and indicate if changes were made. Use this citation format:  Assignment Design: checklist. Centre for Teaching Excellence, University of Waterloo

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Checklist Worksheet Templates

Customize checklist templates.

If you're assigning this to your students, copy the worksheet to your account and save. When creating an assignment, just select it as a template!

What are Checklist Templates?

These templates serve as valuable tools to facilitate organization, planning, and tracking of various tasks, activities, and processes related to teaching, learning, and administrative responsibilities. They provide educators, students, and administrators with a structured framework to ensure that essential steps are completed and important elements are not overlooked.

A checklist template is a pre-designed format or framework that serves as a guide for creating checklists. It provides a structure and set of categories or items that can be customized based on specific needs or requirements. It offers a standardized format that can be used repeatedly for various tasks or projects.

Checklist templates in education can take various forms depending on their specific application. With a daily or weekly track list template, students or teachers can use it to track their tasks. For instance, teachers may use lesson plan checklist templates to outline and track the essential components of a well designed lesson, including learning objectives, instructional strategies, materials, assessment methods, and differentiation strategies. These templates enable teachers to ensure that they have considered all the necessary elements for an effective situation.

Similarly, this is a student daily checklist template that is used to organize their study routines, homework assignments, projects. This ensures that students allocate sufficient time to each subject and stay on track with their learning goals. There are also varieties of free templates you can use for your tasks.

A checklist template can be used by teachers, students, or educational institutions to create checklists for different purposes. For example, a teacher may use a template to design a grading rubric for assessing student assignments or to create a list of criteria for evaluating group projects. Similarly, students can utilize the assignment checklist template to keep track of their study materials, prepare for exams, or organize their research process. This template has a blank checklist template that can be designed based on your to do list. Also, with a printable checklist template that you can print it out.

Why Are They Important and How Are They Best Used?

A checklist can be modified to fit any project or need. Students can use them to help them keep track of which section of an assignment is due and when, along with progress notes. Teachers can use these to keep track of students' progress on large assignments, or as organizers for daily, weekly tasks, or monthly administrative tasks. Checklist templates such as: daily checklist template, weekly checklist template, and monthly checklist template can be modified to suit student needs.

Checklist templates are important in the educational context for several reasons:

• Ensure Completion of Tasks: With a checklist, educators can ensure that all necessary tasks are completed. It helps them keep track of what they have done and what they need to do.
• Reducing Errors: They can help educators reduce errors by providing a clear to do list to follow. This ensures that no steps are missed, and all necessary actions are taken.
• Consistency: With a checklist, all educators can follow the same steps and procedures to achieve the same results.
• Time-Saving: Checklists can save time by streamlining processes and reducing the need for redundant steps. This enables educators to focus on more important tasks.
• Accountability: By using a checklist, people are able to ensure that they have completed all necessary tasks, and can track their progress overtime.

Checklist templates are important in the educational context for ensuring the completion of tasks, reducing errors, consistency, saving time and accountability. To best use them, it is important to define the purpose, make it comprehensive, endeavor to keep a simple template, regularly review and update, provide training, and encourage feedback.

Checklist Worksheets

Checklist worksheets are educational tools that help students organize and track their progress as they work through a task list or assignment. They are essentially checklists that can be printed or distributed electronically, and provide a list of steps or items that the students need to complete in order to successfully complete the task.

For example, a project checklist template may provide a teacher with a checklist worksheet to help guide students through a research project or a writing assignment. The worksheet may include tasks such as choosing a topic, conducting research, creating an online, drafting the paper, and revising and editing.

Custom Checklist

A custom checklist is a list of tasks or items that you create specifically for a particular task or project. It can be used to help you stay organized and on track, and to ensure that you don't forget anything important.

Custom checklists can be created for a variety of tasks, such as:

• Planning a trip
• Moving to a new house
• Preparing a meal
• Giving a presentation
• Completing a project at work
• Running a marathon

Here are some tips for creating effective custom checklists:

• Keep your checklists short and concise.
• Use clear and concise language.
• Use headings and subheadings to organize your checklist.
• Use bullets or numbers to list your tasks.
• Use a consistent format throughout your checklist.
• Use colors and fonts to make it visually appealing.
• Use symbols or icons to represent different tasks.
• Include a space for notes or comments.
• Proofread carefully before using it.

How to Make a Checklist Worksheet

Choose one of the premade templates.

We have lots of templates to choose from. Take a look at our example for inspiration!

Click on "Copy Template"

Once you do this, you will be directed to the storyboard creator.

Give Your Worksheet a Name!

Be sure to call it something related to the topic so that you can easily find it in the future.

Edit Your Worksheet

This is where you will include directions, specific questions and images, and make any aesthetic changes that you would like. The options are endless!

Click "Save and Exit"

When you are finished with your worksheet, click this button in the lower right hand corner to exit your storyboard.

From here you can print, download as a PDF, attach it to an assignment and use it digitally, and more!

Student Checklist Template

A student checklist template is a tool designed specifically for students to help them stay organized, track their progress, and manage items effectively. It provides a structured format with a list of items or categories that students can use to keep track of their academic responsibilities, assignments, deadlines, and other important tasks related to their studies.

The student checklist template can be customized based on individual preferences and requirements. Students can add or remove sections, modify the items, or personalize the template to suit their specific needs and study routines. Digital platforms or applications, such as online task management tools or mobile apps, can also be utilized to aid in time and task management.

Checklist Examples

Here are a few checklist samples that students can use in their educational context:

Daily Planner

• Wake up on time
• Attend all classes
• Complete assigned readings
• Review lecture notes
• Work on assignments
• Study for upcoming exams
• Review and update schedule for the next day

Assignments

• Understand the assignment requirements
• Break down the task into smaller steps
• Research and gather relevant resources
• Create an outline or plan
• Write the first draft
• Revise and edit assignment
• Proofread for errors and formatting
• Submit the final assignment before the deadline

Exam Preparation

• Review class notes and lecture slides
• Create a study schedule
• Identify key concepts and topics
• Make flashcards for important terms and conditions
• Practice solving questions or past papers
• Seek clarifications on difficult topics from the instructor
• Take break and practice self care during study lessons

Free Online Checklist

A free online checklist refers to a digital tool or platform that allows users to create, manage, and track checklists without requiring any payment or subscription fees. These tools are accessible via the internet and can be used on various devices such as computers, smartphones and tablets.

Free online checklists provide a convenient and efficient way to organize tasks, responsibilities, and workflows. They offer features such as creating multiple checklists, adding and editing items, setting due dates and reminders, marking items as completed, and collaborating with others. A typical example of a free online checklist is Storyboard That.

Checklist Maker

A checklist maker is a tool or software that allows users to create customized checklists quickly and easily. It provides a platform where users can input their desired tasks or items and generate a format based on their specific needs.

How to Make a Checklist

To make a checklist, follow these steps:

By following the above steps, you can create a checklist that helps you stay organized, track progress, and ensure most important tasks are not overlooked.

Other Templates for Use

• Weekly Planner Templates : These are tools that provide a pre-designed structure for organizing and planning activities and events on a weekly basis. These templates typically consist of a weekly calendar layout with spaces or sections allocated for each day of the week.
• Task Card Template : A task card template is a pre-designed layout or format that provides a structure for creating task cards. Task cards are small, individual cards or prompts used in educational settings to engage students in various learning activities. They are typically used to reinforce concepts, practice skills, promote critical thinking, or assess understanding.
• Frayer Model Maker : A Frayer model maker is a tool or template that helps create Frayer models. The Frayer model is a graphic organizer used in education to enhance vocabulary understanding and develop critical thinking skills. It consists of a four-square grid that allows students to explore and analyze the meaning, characteristics, examples, and non-examples of a given concept or word.
• Organizer Templates : An organizer template, also known as a graphic organizer or visual organizer template, is a pre-designed layout or framework that helps organize and present information in a structured and visual manner. It serves as a guide or framework for arranging and categorizing ideas, concepts, data, or other information.
• Outline Template Worksheets : An outline template worksheet is a pre-designed document that helps individuals organize and structure their thought, ideas, or content in a hierarchical manner. It serves as a framework or guide for creating outlines, which are hierarchical structures that outline the main points or supporting details of a topic or subject.

Happy Creating!

Frequently Asked Questions About Checklist Worksheets

Are there any free checklist templates available.

Yes, you can find templates right here on Storyboard That! We have lots to choose from.

What to include in a checklist?

When creating a checklist, it is important to include the following elements:

• Clear and specific items or tasks
• Sequential order
• Checkbox or marking space
• Additional notes or comments
• Date and signatures

What is the best format for a checklist?

The best format for a checklist depends on your specific needs and preferences. However, a simple and straightforward format is often recommended. Some popular formats include:

• Bulleted List Format
• Table format
• Spreadsheet format

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Creating Your Assignment Sheets

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In order to help our students best engage with the writing tasks we assign them, we need as a program  to scaffold the assignments with not only effectively designed activities, but equally effectively designed assignment sheets that clearly explain the learning objectives, purpose, and logistics for the assignment.

Checklist for Assignment Sheet Design

As a program, instructors should compose assignment sheets that contain the following elements.

A  clear description of the assignment and its purpose . How does this assignment contribute to their development as writers in this class, and perhaps beyond? What is the genre of the assignment? (e.g., some students will be familiar with rhetorical analysis, some will not).

Learning objectives for the assignment .  The learning objectives for each assignment are available on the TeachingWriting website. While you might include others objectives, or tweak the language of these a bit to fit with how you teach rhetoric, these objectives should appear in some form on the assignment sheet and should be echoed in your rubric.

Due dates or timeline, including dates for drafts .  This should include specific times and procedures for turning in drafts. You should also indicate dates for process assignments and peer review if they are different from the main assignment due dates.

Details about format (including word count, documentation form) .  This might also be a good place to remind them of any technical specifications (even if you noted them on the syllabus).

Discussion of steps of the process.  These might be “suggested” to avoid the implication that there is one best way to achieve a rhetorical analysis.

Evaluation criteria / grading rubric that is in alignment with learning objectives .  While the general  PWR evaluation criteria  is a good starting place, it is best to customize your rubric to the specific purposes of your assignment, ideally incorporating some of the language from the learning goals. In keeping with PWR’s elevation of rhetoric over rules, it’s generally best to avoid rubrics that assign specific numbers of points to specific features of the text since that suggests a fairly narrow range of good choices for students’ rhetorical goals. (This is not to say that points shouldn’t be used: it’s just more in the spirit of PWR’s rhetorical commitments to use them holistically.)

Canvas Versions of Assignment Sheets

Canvas offers an "assignment" function you can use to share assignment sheet information with students.  It provides you with the opportunity to upload a rubric in conjunction with assignment details; to create an upload space for student work (so they can upload assignments directly to Canvas); to link the assignment submissions to Speedgrader, Canvas's internal grading platform; and to sync your assigned grades with the gradebook.  While these are very helpful features, don't hesitate to reach out to the Canvas Help team or our ATS for support when you set them up for the first time. In addition, you should always provide students with access to a separate PDF assignment sheet. Don't just embed the information in the Canvas assignment field; if students have trouble accessing Canvas for any reason (Canvas outage; tech issues), they won't be able to access that information.

In addition, you might creating video mini-overviews or "talk-throughs" of your assignments.  These should serve as supplements to the assignment sheets, not as a replacement for them.

Sample Assignment Sheets

Check out some examples of Stanford instructors' assignment sheets via the links below. Note that these links will route you to our Canvas PWR Program Materials site, so you must have access to the Canvas page in order to view these files: 

See examples of rhetorical analysis assignment sheets

See examples of texts in conversation assignment sheets

See examples of research-based argument assignment sheets

Further reading on assignment sheets

Checklist Template Word and Excel

There is no reason to create a checklist template from scratch. Save your time and money and download any of our 32 free checklist templates . You are sure to find a format that you love!

If you are not sure how to create a checklist in Word then use our free ready-made checklists. Each free editable checklist template in Word is available in different formats. Select the layout that will best suit your needs. The text is editable so select according to the layout and not according to the titles.

We also offer an Excel checklist template for various purposes.

• Click on “Word” to open the Microsoft Word checklist template.
• Click on “PDF” to open the editable PDF checklist version.
• Click on “Excel” to open the checklist Excel.

Free Checklist Template Word

Daily checklist template.

These are blank checklist templates that can be used for any purpose. You can type the list of items in both the Word and the editable PDF version. For example, if you want to make a task list template, you can type your list of tasks before you print it. You can also print a blank list template and fill in the list of tasks by hand.

Checklist Word (15 Lines)

This is a blank list template with 15 lines.

Word | Editable PDF | Excel

Editable Checklist Template Word (20 Lines)

Each checklist template PDF format is editable.

Word | Editable PDF

This is a simple to-do list.

Simple Checklist Template Word (Two Columns)

Blank Checklist Template (10 Lines)

Word | Editable PDF | Excel | Image

Mark each task as high or low priority. Once a task is complete, strike it out. This template doesn’t have a complete box for those who love to strikeout a complete task because it is so satisfying 🙂

Mark each task as high or low priority. When complete, mark it as done or delegated. If you delegate a task, you can mark it as delegated. Once you confirm it is complete, then mark the “done” box as well. This check-off list has a done box to mark completed tasks. The previous one doesn’t.

Weekly Checklist Template

This weekly to-do list printable has one section for each day and one section for weekly tasks. One version starts on a Sunday and the other one starts on a Monday. This is a great tool for priority management. When you plan your entire week it is easier to take your priorities into account.

From Sunday to Saturday.

From Monday to Sunday.

This weekly checklist will keep you focused and balanced. Each day you set three tasks that you must get done and three tasks that you would like to get done. It also reminds you to focus on your accomplishments and draw conclusions for the future. We often set too many goals and land up getting nothing done. This weekly task list will help you prioritize and be effective.

Sunday Start: Editable PDF | Word | Image | Excel

Monday Start: Editable PDF | Word | Image | Excel

The following templates have a list of your weekly projects and weekly tasks. Those are the projects you want to complete that week. Once you have decided on the projects, you will write the tasks required to complete each project. Assign each task to the day you would like to complete it. If there are tasks that will only be done the next week then add them to next week’s weekly task list (the bottom right corner).

Select a free printable weekly to-do list template with a blank background (Word or PDF) or with colored backgrounds to fit any sized planner. Each weekly to-do list enables you to see a week at a glance. You can plan your week effectively and ensure that everything you need to do gets done.

From Sunday to Saturday

PNG | Editable PDF | Bullet Journal Version

From Monday to Sunday

Monthly Checklist Template

Image | Editable PDF | Word | Excel

This is a bill checklist but since the text can be edited it can be used for any purpose if you want to track monthly tasks. Fields: Bill, due date, January to December. See more bill checklist templates.

Fields: Checkbox (to mark when a task is complete), tasks, January to December.

To Do List Template Word

Editable PDF | Word | Image | Excel

Things to do, places to call, people to call, and things to buy.

Editable PDF | Word | Image

Word | Excel | Editable PDF | Image

If you want to change the titles then select the Word to-do list template and edit the text.

To-Do List Template Excel

This Excel checklist template comes in various formats and layouts depending on your specific project.

Project and Task Checklist

This Excel template lists two projects and the tasks required to complete or work on the project. Each task is assigned a priority and status from a drop-down list. You enter the due date, the owner and add notes if you have any. You can auto-sort the tasks to list them according to the due date or priority. There is a column to assign tasks to people. If you don’t delegate then you can hide the column with the tasks “owner”. To do this, select the F column by clicking on the mouse from the owner header. Right-click on your mouse and select hide. If you do delegate tasks then go to the owner tab and list the people you delegate your tasks to. They will then appear in a drop-down list under owner. If you do use this spreadsheet for a team project and delegate some of the tasks then you might want to save it in Google sheets to share the document so that everyone can keep track of your progress. When you select “completed” from the status column, the task appears as complete (via strike-through text).

Word | Editable PDF | Excel | PNG

This project checklist is similar to the one above but the tasks are organized per project. If you have more than two projects you can duplicate the tab or save each spreadsheet under a different name to create a document for each project.

Word | Editable PDF | PNG | Excel -> Shows the Percentage Complete

The Excel checklist automatically calculates the percentage complete of the project each time a task is marked as complete.

Action Item Template

This is an action item list to track action items , who they were assigned to, due date and priority.

Homework Checklist

If you select the Excel version then there is a dropdown list to select the subject, priority and the status. You can edit the list of subjects under the “subjects” tab. Each subject is automatically assigned a color code.

This homework planner  can track your homework assignments, the subjects, due dates, and the status of each assignment. There is a dropdown list to select the subject and each subject will be marked with a different color. To change the list of subjects, go to the subject tab and list each subject. The priority can be either urgent, high, normal or low. The status is either “to do” or “done”. You can change the priority or the status in the tabs.

Why Use a Checklist

A checklist lists everything that you need to get to do so that you don’t forget anything and it helps you prioritize your tasks.

When you check off a task you get a feeling of satisfaction which inspires you to complete your list of tasks and check them all off. A check off list is so satisfying 🙂

A checklist is one of the most effective tools to get organized, to be productive, and to get things done. However, if your list includes tasks that do not align with your goals then it might have the opposite effect and actually cause you to be ineffective. The following tools will help you use a to-do list to become more productive and to reach your goals.

One of the biggest advantages of offloading your task list onto your checklist is getting it off your mind. Your mind should be used to process information and not to store information. When you store your list of tasks in your head instead of on paper you create a mental load that disturbs you even if you are not aware of it.

According to Brian Tracy, author of the “ Eat That Frog ” book, productivity improves by 25% when you work from a list. You save a lot of time when you don’t have to decide what to do.

How to Create a Checklist

Decide how often you want to start a new task list. We have generic blank checklist templates and those that are for specific periods such as a day, week, month or even year. Decide what will work for you.

Instead of dividing tasks per period, you can divide them according to specific areas in your life. For example, we offer the following:

• Grocery List
• Camping Checklist
• Travel Checklist
• Party Planning Checklist
• What to Pack in Hospital Bag
• Baby Registry Checklist

Select any template and print it. To see how it is going to look, see the checklist example above the download links.

If you have tasks that are required to complete assignments that you repeat often then create a new checklist for each assignment. For example, to publish an article you will need to conduct research, write the article, get images, edit, etc. Create a checklist that will include a list of tasks for each stage required.

Checklists can be very effective in the workplace if certain tasks repeat themselves. For example, in a restaurant, you might want to create a checklist with the list of tasks required to close, clean, and lock up each day. This will ensure that nothing falls between the cracks.

How to Make a Checklist in Word

If you are not sure how to create a checklist in Word, you can use any ready-made checklist in Word format on this page and adapt it to your needs. Use the checklist format that is closest to what you would like to create.

Select a layout that you like and click on “Word” to open the Microsoft Word version.

If you prefer to start from scratch or you want to add the list to another document, then open any layout and copy the list you want. To copy, select the list and then click on control and C. Go to the place where you want to paste your list and click on control and V to paste the previously copied list.

This page is for people looking for a printable blank checklist. If you prefer to use a printable checklist template with any of our 101 backgrounds, then please check these checklists .

How to Make a Checklist in Excel

With our free templates, you don’t even need to know how to use Excel to know how to create a checklist in Excel. Simply select any Excel checklist template from the selection above and download it to your PC. There are many different layouts and designs available.

How to Make a Checklist with Google Docs

Google Docs is a free alternative to Microsoft Office. You can access Google Docs both online and offline. You can also share your checklists with others. They can view and edit them. This is really helpful when you create a shopping list, grocery list , or chore list and different people can access the list online or offline. At work, you can create and use to-do lists when working with others on a project.

You can install the Google Docs app on your phone and then access the checklist anywhere.

You don’t need to create a checklist with Google Docs from scratch. You can download any of our free checklist templates and open them with Google sheets or Google Docs.

If you prefer to create a checklist from scratch then see the instructions below.

• Open your web browser.
• Go to Google Docs.
• Open a blank new document or download one of our checklist templates and open it. You can also download any of our Word checklist templates.
• Add a title.
• Click on the “bulleted list” in the toolbar.
• You will see a visual list of the available bullets. Select the square bullets.

7. A checklist bullet will appear on your blank page.

8. Add the task description.

9. When you have completed your checklist you can mark off items once they are complete. To do this, you click on the checklist icon and the task will be marked complete.

10. Share the link with others and let them add tasks to the checklist template or mark them as done.

How to Make a Checklist with Google Sheets

• Go to Google Sheets.
• Open a blank new document or download one of our Excel checklist templates and open it.
• To add a checkbox, go to “Insert” and click on “Checkbox”.
• Add the task description.
• When you have completed your checklist, you can mark off items once they are complete. To do this, you click on the checklist icon and the task will be marked complete.
• Share the link with others and let them add tasks to the checklist template or mark them as done.

Digital Checklist

If you prefer to use a digital checklist then check out our online checklist . If you register, then you can access it from any device. You can also install the Google Docs app on your phone and then access your checklist anywhere. It’s a free app and will enable you to access your checklists online and offline and to share them with others.

How To Use a Checklist

Once you have selected your template you will want to add your task list. You can either type your list before you print or write it after you print.

• Start with a brain dump . We offer a free printable brain dump template to complete this step. A brain dump is basically a process to get all tasks off your mind and onto paper. Write down as much as you can and you can always eliminate items at a later stage.
• Take out your list of goals and reread them. If you don’t have a list of your goals then you will want to print our free printable goal planner . This will help you set goals for each area in your life.
• Go through each item on your checklist and decide if it is aligned with your goals or not. If completing that task will bring you closer to reaching any of your goals then keep the task on your list. If the task is not something that has to be done and will not bring you closer to any of your tasks then this goal is simply a distraction and should be taken off your task list.
• Once you have a list of tasks that you want to get done see if there are any tasks that can be completed in 2 minutes or less. If you can complete any task in this time frame then do it now. I read this rule in David Allen’s bestselling book “Getting Things Done,” and it has made me a lot more productive.
• Move your final to-do list to the to-do list template that you chose to use. Add the list in your order of priority. If anything needs to be done by a specific date then add the due date. I personally like to distinguish between tasks I must get done and tasks I would love to get done (but usually don’t 😊). If you like this distinction, then select a template that offers similar sections. We have a few of those on this page. Remember, if you are using a Word template then you can always change the titles to make it perfectly meet your needs.
• Keep your checklist manageable. Don’t add more than you can actually do to your weekly checklist. Add a reasonable number of tasks and get them done. If you add too many you will become overwhelmed and land up getting less done.
• Now start completing your tasks and marking them off on your list. Structure your list logically. For example, if you have three things that you have to do at the mall then put them all together. You don’t want to get home only to find that there was one more thing that you didn’t get done there.
• When you add new tasks to your list, don’t forget to check if they are aligned with your goals to ensure you don’t waste your time being unproductive.

How to Make your Checklist More Effective?

Set a deadline for each task on your checklist.

Your to-do list will be even more efficient if you use the 80/20 rule , also called the Pareto Principle. According to the 80/20 rule, every list of 10 tasks should include 2 that are much more important than the others. Focus on those 2 important tasks. A common mistake is to focus on the easy tasks first (the 80%) and procrastinate on the 20% that really matters. The Eat That Frog book refers to these tasks as “frogs” and suggests you “eat” them first. In order to determine which of the tasks on your checklist should be completed first, the author, Brian Tracy suggests the ABCDE method. According to the ABCDE method, you assign each task a letter from A to E.

• Tasks marked with an A are the highest priority.
• Tasks marked with an E are the lowest priority.

A tasks, are often the most challenging. The author calls them your frogs and suggests you eat them first! Keep working on these tasks until you complete them. Getting your A tasks completed is the key to success.

7 thoughts on “Checklist Template Word and Excel”

Thank you – it’s just what I needed! 🙂

Thank you so much for creating these. It saved me a lot of time.

I cant belive i disscovered this website just now ! it saved me so much moeny that I used to spend on planners that didnt acyually worked for me ! thank you so much !!!

Thank you so much. I am grateful

This is a great checklist template! I’m going to start using it for my blog posts.

Amazing thank you!!

Thank you creating and sharing

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How A Simple Checklist Can Improve Learning

Used effectively, checklists can improve learning by helping students develop awareness processes, goals, and priorities.

This Simple Checklist Can Improve Learning

by TeachThought Staff

From reminding us of what to pack for a trip to helping doctors perform surgery, checklists are crucial for projects that require sequential steps or a series of tasks.

As Atul Gawande points out in his book ‘ Checklist Manifesto ‘ (affiliate link), checklists break down complex tasks and also ensure consistency and efficiency if more than one person is working on a project. If checklists are so effective for airline pilots, skyscraper construction teams, and heart surgeons, why shouldn’t students use them as well?

For younger students, simple, task-based checklists can help them become accustomed to following steps, adding order to the relative chaos of learning, and offering a pathway to accomplishing complex tasks. For older students, they can do all of the above, and also serve as memory aids as they work on unfamiliar or complicated tasks.

Checklists help students feel in control and hold them accountable by removing obstacles to success such as “I didn’t know we were supposed to do that,” or “I forgot to do that part.”

See also 14 Questions To Guide Curriculum Mapping And Lesson Design

Checklists can keep students on task. Rather than losing focus and forgetting where they left off or abandoning the task altogether, a list of (hopefully) actionable items help students know where they are in a task or project. Checklists can also help communicate the details or goals of an assignment or project to other teachers, parents, or relevant community members.

The Benefits Of Using Checklists In The Classroom

Organization and structure

Checklists provide a clear and structured framework for learning. They help break down complex tasks or concepts into smaller, manageable steps, making it easier for learners to understand and follow the learning process.

Focus and attention

By using a checklist, learners know what they’ve done and where to go and what to do next, thus are prompted to pay attention to specific details and important elements of a subject or task. This helps them stay focused on the relevant information and reduces the chances of overlooking key points.

Retention and recall

Checklists can enhance memory and retention of information. When learners engage with a checklist, they actively review and reinforce their understanding of the material. The act of checking off completed items also serves as a form of reinforcement, making it easier to recall the information later.

See also 27 Ways To Improve Retention In Your Students

Progress tracking

Checklists provide a visual representation of progress, allowing learners to see how far they’ve come and how much more they have to do. This sense of accomplishment can boost motivation and encourage learners to continue their efforts.

Confidence building

Checklists provide learners with a sense of structure and guidance, reducing uncertainty and increasing confidence. As learners complete items on the checklist, they gain a sense of accomplishment, which further boosts their confidence in their learning abilities.

Improving Metacognition

Education specialist Dr. Kathleen Dudden Rowlands believes checklists are more than just a way for students to stay organized and on-task. As she explains in “Check It Out! Using Checklists to Support Student Learning,” checklists can aid students in developing metacognitive awareness of their own learning process.

“Used effectively, checklists can help students develop metacognitive awareness of their intellectual processes,” Rowlands explained. Metacognitive awareness is essentially people’s understanding of both the process of learning and how they can optimize their learning of certain knowledge or skills.

“Metacognitive research consistently suggests that students who know how to learn, know which strategies are most effective when faced with a problem or a task, and have accurate methods of assessing their progress, are better learners than those who don’t,” Rowlands noted.  She also discussed checklists’ role in the process of fostering strong metacognitive awareness: “

By articulating and labeling operational steps, checklists scaffold students’ metacognitive development.”

Error prevention

Checklists act as a safeguard against errors and oversights. They serve as a reminder to complete all necessary steps or consider important factors, reducing the risk of making mistakes or skipping crucial information.

Time management

Checklists help learners prioritize tasks and manage their time effectively. By breaking down larger goals into smaller, actionable steps, learners can allocate their time more efficiently and make progress in a systematic manner.

10 Resources To Use Checklists In Your Classroom

This turbo-charged tool allows users to collaborate on shared lists, turning it into a project management tool. You can create simple ‘to do’ lists or different lists (subtasks) based on more complicated tasks. It syncs across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, Windows, and web browsers and its powerful templates and teamsharing make it one of the top notes and checklist tools available.

There is a usable free version and others with more options starting at $8/mo.

2. Overstrike

An app designed for easy checklists with the ability to create reminders and due dates, perform drag and drop sorting, and change backgrounds to fit the nature of your checklist.

3. Smart Task

You can do a search on Pinterest and find a variety of checklist resources. Search on ‘checklist classroom’ and find simple, pre-made checklists such as the ‘Dismissal Checklist,’ a list of tasks to help young students prepare for leaving school at the end of the day. A writing checklist for older students helps them make sure they are taking the necessary steps to successfully write essays and compositions. Other checklists include ‘end of the year,’ ‘field trip,’ and ‘active listening.’

5. ToodleDo

5. Templates

From the simple ‘Homework Checklist’ for young students to more in-depth rubrics for older students, there are countless checklists for both teachers and students across the internet. Even if you don’t find quite what you need here, you’ll discover plenty of ideas that you can incorporate into your own custom checklists.

You can start by searching several templates available from Microsoft and Adobe .

Other Checklist Resources

6. App: Google Keep (browser, Android, and iOS)

7. App: Microsoft To-Do (browser)

8. App: Checklist+ (iOS)

9. App: Productive (iOS)

10. Book: The Checklist Manifesto (affiliate link)

Any checklist you use in the classroom should be a flexible document that adapts to the needs of your students. Remember to visit your checklist with a critical eye frequently to make sure it’s still working for you and your class. As you work through your checklist and realize ways to make it better, take the time to do so. Ask for feedback from your students as you implement new checklists to ensure that they are working as effective learning tools.

They might surprise you.

Kristin Marino writes about education for several websites, including onlineschools.com . She has a bachelor’s degree in English composition from the University of Nevada, Reno; How A Simple Checklist Can Improve Learning; How A Simple Checklist Can Improve Learning

TeachThought is an organization dedicated to innovation in education through the growth of outstanding teachers.

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• Academic Writing Checklists | Free & Interactive

Academic Writing Checklists | Free & Interactive

Published on September 18, 2017 by Koen Driessen . Revised on September 14, 2022.

These interactive checklists help you improve your essay , research paper , thesis , or dissertation .

Table of contents

College essay topic checklist, college application checklist, college admissions essay checklist.

• Is my source credible?
• Academic writing
• Essay introduction
• Research paper
• Statement of purpose
• Plagiarism prevention
• Dissertation
• Introduction
• Research results
• Recommendations
• Formal email contact

Frequently asked questions about Scribbr checklists

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: Choosing Your College Essay Topic | Ideas & Examples

My topic is focused on me, not on someone else.

My topic shares something different from the rest of my application.

My topic is specific and original (not many students could write a similar essay).

My topic reflects positively on my character and behavior.

If I chose to write about a traumatic or challenging experience, my essay will focus on how I overcame it or gained insight.

If I chose a common topic, my essay will have a surprising story arc, interesting insight, and/or an advanced writing style.

Good topic!

It looks like your topic is a good choice. It's specific, it avoids clichés, and it reflects positively on you.

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: How to Apply for College | Timeline, Templates & Checklist

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

I’ve researched schools and made my college list.

I’ve done on-campus and/or virtual visits to prospective schools.

I’ve chosen application plan deadlines for each school.

I’ve organized deadlines and requirements in a college application tracker.

I’ve filed my FAFSA.

I’ve submitted scholarship applications.

I’ve taken my standardized tests.

I’ve written my college application essays .

I’ve created accounts on application portals.

I’ve filled out my personal information, extracurriculars, and awards.

I’ve requested my test scores be sent to the correct colleges.

I’ve requested my transcripts be sent to the correct colleges.

I’ve requested recommendation letters.

I’ve paid application fees or applied for application waivers.

I’ve checked that my application has all the necessary documents and information.

Congratulations!

It looks like your application is ready to submit. Good luck with getting accepted!

I’ve organized my essay prompts and created an essay writing schedule.

I’ve done a comprehensive brainstorm for essay topics.

I’ve selected a topic that’s meaningful to me and reveals something different from the rest of my application.

I’ve created an outline to guide my structure.

I’ve crafted an introduction containing vivid imagery or an intriguing hook that grabs the reader’s attention.

I’ve written my essay in a way that shows instead of telling.

I’ve shown positive traits and values in my essay.

I’ve demonstrated self-reflection and insight in my essay.

I’ve used appropriate style and tone .

I’ve concluded with an insight or a creative ending.

I’ve revised my essay , checking my overall message, flow, clarity, and grammar.

I’ve respected the word count , remaining within 10% of the upper word limit.

It looks like your essay ticks all the boxes. A second pair of eyes can help you take it to the next level – Scribbr's essay coaches can help.

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: What Are Credible Sources & How to Spot Them | Examples

Checklist: Is my source credible?

My source is relevant to my research topic.

My source is recent enough to contain up-to-date information on my topic.

There are no glaring grammatical or orthographic errors.

The author is an expert in their field.

The information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I have checked that it is supported by evidence and/or verifiable elsewhere.

My source cites or links to other sources that appear relevant and trustworthy.

There is a way to contact the author or publisher of my source.

The purpose of my source is to educate or inform, not to sell a product or push a particular opinion.

My source is unbiased, and offers multiple perspectives fairly.

My source avoids vague or grandiose claims, and writing that is too emotive or subjective.

[For academic journals]: My source is peer-reviewed and published in a reputable and established journal.

[For web sources]: The layout of my source is professional and recently updated. Backlinks to other sources are up-to-date and not broken.

[For web sources]: My source’s URL suggests the domain is trustworthy, e.g. a .edu address.

Your sources are likely to be credible!

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: Checklist: Academic writing

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Checklist: academic writing.

I avoid informal terms and contractions .

I avoid second-person pronouns (“you”).

I avoid emotive or exaggerated language.

I avoid redundant words and phrases.

I avoid unnecessary jargon and define terms where needed.

I present information as precisely and accurately as possible.

I use appropriate transitions to show the connections between my ideas.

My text is logically organized using paragraphs .

Each paragraph is focused on a single idea, expressed in a clear topic sentence .

Every part of the text relates to my central thesis or research question .

I support my claims with evidence.

I use the appropriate verb tenses in each section.

I consistently use either UK or US English .

I format numbers consistently.

I cite my sources using a consistent citation style .

Your text follows the most important rules of academic style. Make sure it's perfect with the help of a Scribbr editor!

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: Checklist for academic essays | Is your essay ready to submit?

Checklist: Essay

My essay follows the requirements of the assignment (topic and length ).

My introduction sparks the reader’s interest and provides any necessary background information on the topic.

My introduction contains a thesis statement that states the focus and position of the essay.

I use paragraphs to structure the essay.

I use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph.

Each paragraph has a single focus and a clear connection to the thesis statement.

I make clear transitions between paragraphs and ideas.

My conclusion doesn’t just repeat my points, but draws connections between arguments.

I don’t introduce new arguments or evidence in the conclusion.

I have given an in-text citation for every quote or piece of information I got from another source.

I have included a reference page at the end of my essay, listing full details of all my sources.

My citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required citation style .

My essay has an interesting and informative title.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (e.g. font, page numbers, line spacing).

Your essay meets all the most important requirements. Our editors can give it a final check to help you submit with confidence.

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: How to write an essay introduction | 4 steps & examples

Checklist: Essay introduction

My first sentence is engaging and relevant.

I have introduced the topic with necessary background information.

I have defined any important terms.

My thesis statement clearly presents my main point or argument.

Everything in the introduction is relevant to the main body of the essay.

You have a strong introduction - now make sure the rest of your essay is just as good.

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: Checklist: Writing a Great Research Paper

Checklist: Research paper

I have followed all instructions in the assignment sheet.

My introduction presents my topic in an engaging way and provides necessary background information.

My introduction presents a clear, focused research problem and/or thesis statement .

My paper is logically organized using paragraphs and (if relevant) section headings .

Each paragraph is clearly focused on one central idea, expressed in a clear topic sentence .

Each paragraph is relevant to my research problem or thesis statement.

I have used appropriate transitions  to clarify the connections between sections, paragraphs, and sentences.

My conclusion provides a concise answer to the research question or emphasizes how the thesis has been supported.

My conclusion shows how my research has contributed to knowledge or understanding of my topic.

My conclusion does not present any new points or information essential to my argument.

I have provided an in-text citation every time I refer to ideas or information from a source.

I have included a reference list at the end of my paper, consistently formatted according to a specific citation style .

I have thoroughly revised my paper and addressed any feedback from my professor or supervisor.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (page numbers, headers, spacing, etc.).

You've written a great paper. Make sure it's perfect with the help of a Scribbr editor!

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: How to Write a Statement of Purpose | Example

Checklist: Statement of purpose

My statement of purpose clearly responds to the prompt.

I have introduced my academic, professional and/or personal background.

I have described any relevant experience and shown my development over time.

I have highlighted key achievements that demonstrate my talents.

There is a clear connection between my previous experience and my future plans.

I have explained how the program will help me achieve my goals.

I have mentioned specific aspects of the program, department and institution that appeal to me.

Every paragraph focuses on one central idea.

The paragraphs are organized in a logical order and tell a clear, coherent story.

You're on the way to a successful application. To maximize your chances of getting accepted, a Scribbr editor can help you improve your language, style, and structure.

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: How to Avoid Plagiarism | Tips on Citing Sources

Checklist: Plagiarism prevention

When using someone else’s exact words, I have properly formatted them as a quote .

When using someone else’s ideas, I have properly paraphrased , expressing the idea completely in my own words.

I have included an in-text citation every time I use words, ideas, or information from a source.

Every source I cited is included in my reference list or bibliography .

I have consistently followed the rules of my required citation style .

I have not committed self-plagiarism by reusing any part of a previous paper.

I have used a reliable plagiarism checker as a final check.

Your document should be free from plagiarism!

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: Checklist: Writing a dissertation

Checklist: Dissertation

My title page includes all information required by my university.

I have included acknowledgements thanking those who helped me.

My abstract provides a concise summary of the dissertation, giving the reader a clear idea of my key results or arguments.

I have created a table of contents to help the reader navigate my dissertation. It includes all chapter titles, but excludes the title page, acknowledgements, and abstract.

My introduction leads into my topic in an engaging way and shows the relevance of my research.

My introduction clearly defines the focus of my research, stating my research questions and research objectives .

My introduction includes an overview of the dissertation’s structure (reading guide).

I have conducted a literature review in which I (1) critically engage with sources, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of existing research, (2) discuss patterns, themes, and debates in the literature, and (3) address a gap or show how my research contributes to existing research.

I have clearly outlined the theoretical framework of my research, explaining the theories and models that support my approach.

I have thoroughly described my methodology , explaining how I collected data and analyzed data.

I have concisely and objectively reported all relevant results .

I have (1) evaluated and interpreted the meaning of the results and (2) acknowledged any important limitations of the results in my discussion .

I have clearly stated the answer to my main research question in the conclusion .

I have clearly explained the implications of my conclusion, emphasizing what new insight my research has contributed.

I have provided relevant recommendations for further research or practice.

If relevant, I have included appendices with supplemental information.

I have listed every source in a reference list at the end of my dissertation.

I have consistently followed the rules of my chosen citation style .

I have followed all formatting guidelines provided by my university.

The end is in sight—your dissertation is nearly ready to submit! Make sure it's perfectly polished with the help of a Scribbr editor.

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: How to Write an Abstract | Steps & Examples

Checklist: Abstract

The word count is within the required length, or a maximum of one page.

The abstract appears after the title page and acknowledgements and before the table of contents .

I have clearly stated my research problem and objectives.

I have briefly described my methodology .

I have summarized the most important results .

I have stated my main conclusions .

I have mentioned any important limitations and recommendations.

The abstract can be understood by someone without prior knowledge of the topic.

You've written a great abstract! Use the other checklists to continue improving your thesis or dissertation.

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: Tables in your dissertation

Checklist: Tables

Each table has a number.

Each table has a clear, descriptive title.

All tables are consistently formatted according to my style guide or department’s requirements.

The content of each table is clearly understandable in its own right.

I have referred to each table in the main text.

I have correctly cited the source of any tables reproduced or adapted from other authors.

Your tables look great! Use the other checklists to improve your thesis or dissertation.

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: How to Write a Thesis or Dissertation Introduction

Checklist: Introduction

I have introduced my research topic in an engaging way.

I have provided necessary context to help the reader understand my topic.

I have clearly specified the focus of my research.

I have shown the relevance and importance of the dissertation topic .

I have clearly stated the problem or question that my research addresses.

I have outlined the specific objectives of the research .

I have provided an overview of the dissertation’s structure .

You've written a strong introduction for your thesis or dissertation. Use the other checklists to continue improving your dissertation.

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: How to Write a Results Section | Tips & Examples

Checklist: Research results

I have completed my data collection and analyzed the results.

I have included all results that are relevant to my research questions.

I have concisely and objectively reported each result, including relevant descriptive statistics and inferential statistics .

I have stated whether each hypothesis was supported or refuted.

I have used tables and figures to illustrate my results where appropriate.

All tables and figures are correctly labelled and referred to in the text.

There is no subjective interpretation or speculation on the meaning of the results.

You've finished writing up your results! Use the other checklists to further improve your thesis.

Checklist: Discussion

I have concisely summarized the most important findings.

I have discussed and interpreted the results in relation to my research questions.

I have cited relevant literature to show how my results fit in.

I have clearly explained the significance of my results.

If relevant, I have considered alternative explanations of the results.

I have stated the practical and/or theoretical implications of my results.

I have acknowledged and evaluated the limitations of my research.

I have made relevant recommendations for further research or action.

You've written a great discussion section. Use the other checklists to further improve your thesis or dissertation.

Checklist: Recommendations

The client can implement the recommendations/measures in the short term.

The recommendations clearly indicate what should be done and by whom.

Each recommendation contains active verbs.

All recommendations are formulated in the same style.

Each recommendation is presented individually and briefly justified.

There are at least three and no more than seven recommendations.

The recommendations are backed by evidence that demonstrates how they will solve the problem.

Even if the recommendation itself is new, the rest of the information is not.

Your recommendations look great! Use the other checklists to further improve your thesis.

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: How to Write a Thesis or Dissertation Conclusion

Checklist: Conclusion

I have clearly and concisely answered the main research question .

I have summarized my overall argument or key takeaways.

I have mentioned any important limitations of the research.

I have given relevant recommendations .

I have clearly explained what my research has contributed to my field.

I have  not introduced any new data or arguments.

You've written a great conclusion! Use the other checklists to further improve your dissertation.

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: Research Paper Appendix | Example & Templates

Checklist: Appendix

All appendices contain information that is relevant, but not essential, to the main text.

Each appendix starts on a new page.

I have given each appendix a number and clear title.

I have assigned any specific sub-components (e.g., tables and figures) their own numbers and titles.

My appendices are easy to follow and clearly formatted.

I have referred to each appendix at least once in the main text.

Your appendices look great! Use the other checklists to further improve your thesis.

The article this checklist belongs to can be found here: Email contact with your dissertation supervisor

Checklist: Formal email contact

Use an appropriate salutation. Example:  Dear Dr. X,

Explain the purpose of your email. Example: I am writing in follow-up to our meeting on Monday.

Be brief and clear about exactly what you want to say or ask. Example:  I have made the changes that we agreed on. Could you please check and confirm them?

Express your appreciation in advance. Example:  Thanks in advance for your help.

Use an appropriate closing. Example: Sincerely,

Your email looks appropriately formal.

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Assignment Design Checklist

Use this very simple checklist to assess your assignment design. 

• What is the assignment asking students to do?
• Does what the assignment asks match the author’s purposes (given the nature of the class, etc.)?
• Is there a discernible central question or task?
• Is the assignment clear? 
• Are there words or phrases that might be confusing or unclear to the intended audience?
• Is the assignment itself separate from thought questions or process suggestions?

Format and Organization:

• Look at the layout on the page. Is there a long narrative of unbroken text?
• A long series of questions?
• How is it organized?
• Do the layout and order help the audience understand the assignment?
• Can it be broken into steps or paragraphs?
• Are suggestions separated from the assignment itself?
• If the assignment is a major essay, are there any steps or process work assigned along the way to the final draft?

Adapted from Gail Offen-Brown, College Writing 300, UC Berkeley, Fall 2005

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Create a Checklist in Canvas

Canvas Teaching Tips are distributed by the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences Online and Academic Technology Services office and offer SHORT helpful tips about Canvas, online learning, and academic technology.

Click here for more Canvas Teaching Tips

Did you know you can create a checklist in Canvas using the Quizzes tool?

Checklists work great for:

A course Getting Started list

Steps to complete an assignment

Student acknowledgment of completed items in a module

A list of items to view and turn in each week

Create a quiz selecting the “Classic” quiz option

Create multiple choice quiz questions

For each question include a “To do” item

In the answer for each question create two responses (such as done/not done, complete/incomplete)

For the quiz settings:

Include instructions so students understand how to take the quiz and that they can come and go in the quiz until they complete all items and are ready to submit them (see the example quizzes below for wording)

Do not include a time limit

Select “Allow Multiple Attempts” and choose to keep the “Highest” quiz score

Click here to view an example of a "Getting Started" checklist in Canvas

Click here to view an example of a "Module Content" checklist in Canvas

Canvas help is easy to find and always available. Click the Help button in the Canvas global navigation for 24 hour support and great help guides.

Click here to view a guide on using Canvas Help

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If you'd like to learn more about this Canvas tip, or Canvas in general, please contact our office at 405.325.5854 or [email protected] .

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Free Task List and Checklist Templates

By Kate Eby | July 19, 2016

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In this article, we’ve gathered the most comprehensive list of downloadable task and checklist templates to keep your personal and professional endeavors on track.

Included on this page, you’ll find a variety of free templates in Word, Excel, and PDF formats, such as a weekly task list template , project task template , event to-do list template , and more. 

Team Task List Template

Use this template to keep your team organized and cut wasted time in status meetings. Create a centralized view of all team member's responsibilities across multiple projects.

We’ve also included pre-built templates from Smartsheet, a work execution platform that empowers you to better manage checklists and deadlines with real-time collaboration and project visibility.

‌   Download Excel Template Try Smartsheet Template   ‌

Project Management Guide

Your one-stop shop for everything project management

Ready to get more out of your project management efforts? Visit our comprehensive project management guide for tips, best practices, and free resources to manage your work more effectively.

View the guide

Gantt Chart Task List Template

Get a visual picture of your scheduled tasks with this Gantt chart template. Often used in project management, a Gantt chart shows the duration of each task as a horizontal bar that spans start and end dates. Thus, it’s easy to see the different phases of a project, identify dependencies, and prioritize tasks. A Gantt chart can be useful for managing any task list that spans a set period of time.

Task Tracker Template

This task tracking template documents the progress of each item on your list, so it’s easy to assess the status of individual tasks or an entire project. There is space to list start and end dates, as well as to mark completed tasks. This template keeps things simple by providing only essential tracking information, but there is also space for notes in case you need to include further details or instructions.

Project Task Template

This template is designed for project management, and it can be used in both a business or personal setting. The template provides sections for project tasks, priority, deadlines, assignees, and deliverables, and it allows you to track project costs and compare estimated to actual hours. This is a detailed template that can easily be edited to match the exact needs of your project.

Weekly Task List Template

This weekly task list schedule includes columns for assigning a category to each item, along with deadlines and completion status. The default weekly calendar runs Sunday to Saturday, but  you can also choose the starting date for the week. If you need a combined calendar and task list, this template offers an easy solution.

Daily Task List Template

You can use this daily task list template to schedule tasks throughout the day while also planning ahead for an entire week. Choose the starting time for each day, as well as the starting date for your weekly calendar view. You can also adjust the time interval of each task, which allows you to break down each hour into incremental tasks, if needed.

To-Do List with Drop-Down Menus Template

This simple to-do list template includes drop-down menus for indicating priority and status on each item. When a task is marked as complete, the row changes color; this enables you to quickly spot which tasks are still in progress or have yet to be started. This task template could be used for a broad range of applications, from organizing homework assignments to planning an event or tracking work projects.

Prioritized Task List Template

This template is a step up from a basic to-do list, as it allows you to rank your tasks with the highest-priority items first. There is also a section for notes where you can elaborate on your tasks or add reminders. This template offers a simple way to stay organized while ensuring that you don’t overlook high-priority tasks.

‌   Download Word Template Try Smartsheet Template   ‌

Yearly Calendar Template (2024)

Use this 12-month calendar for a high-level look at your schedule and upcoming tasks. The template displays a standard January-to-December calendar, so you can view your long-term projects and tasks at a glance.

‌   Download Excel Template

Basic Task Checklist Template

This task checklist offers a basic outline with checkboxes for each item on your to-do list. It also has sections to note the due date and status of each task to assist with planning. After downloading this template, save a blank version so that you have a master copy ready to print and use any time you need to create a new task checklist.

‌   Download Word Template

Task Analysis Template

Use this task analysis template to determine the resources and time required to successfully complete a given task. The template includes sections for delineating the steps involved in a task, the resources (human, mechanical, or monetary) required for each step, and the time spent on each item. This provides a detailed analysis of a task, which can be useful for training purposes or for any situation where you need to evaluate a process.

Action Item List Template

Help your team stay organized and on task with this action item list for Word. The template includes a tracking number for each action item, start and due dates, the assigned owner for each task, and a notes section for adding updates or resolving issues. By defining and scheduling tasks as actionable items, you can track individual and team progress — and in the process, create a useful communication tool for all team members.

‌   Download Template in Word Try Smartsheet Template   ‌

Password Log Template

This template is designed to help you keep track of the passwords to all of your various accounts. List each account, and then fill in the columns for website URL, email address, username and password, security questions and answers, and any additional notes. Save the form to your computer or print a hard copy — remember, though, to store the information in a safe place and and not to share your passwords with anyone.

Download Password Log Template:

Excel  |  Word  |  PDF

Event To-Do List

This template can help you stay organized when planning an event, such as a dinner party, a baby or bridal shower, a wedding, or a birthday party. Simply list each task and the person responsible, and assign a priority level to the task so you and your team can prioritize the many moving pieces. Additionally, note the due date and date completed — any discrepancy between the two dates will help you more accurately plan the timeline for your next event.

Family To-Do List

This template, available in Word and PDF, is ideal for families who want a central resource to organize family tasks. The template provides separate tables for each family member to list their individual tasks, and then register due dates and notes, along with a column to mark completion. Of course, you can add or delete tables as needed.

Download Family To-Do List:

Word  |  PDF

Household Chores Task List Template

This chore list template allows you to create a weekly schedule for all of your household tasks. Create a list of tasks and assign each item to an individual for any day of the week. With a simple format, this template is easy to use, so you can streamline the planning process and start organizing your home. Additionally, you always have the option of saving the template as a PDF and printing a copy to share with others.

Project Punch List Form

In the construction industry, a punch list is a document that you complete toward the end of a project. In it, the contractor or property owner lists any work that has been done incorrectly or does not meet the specifications outlined in the original contract. The construction team then uses this punch list as a reference to complete or repair the work items before the project is officially closed. This punch list form provides a separate table to list each work item that needs repair or attention. Save the PDF form, print it, and fill it out by hand for easy use.

Project Closeout Template

Use this checklist to ensure you have completed all necessary tasks in a project. This template is designed with construction projects in mind, but you can edit the categories to reflect the needs of any multidimensional project, whether it pertains to building, real estate, or business — or even as a termination checklist if you are ending an association, an agreement, or a hiring arrangement. Simply list each task, the quantity requested (if applicable), specific requirements, and any notes. This easy-to-use form serves as a final check so you don’t overlook any requirements as you prepare to officially close a project.

Risk Assessment Matrix

Before you embark on a project, you should perform a risk assessment. While you can’t control or prevent every possible risk, taking the time to assess the possible threats to your project will help you plan for and mitigate some hazards. This matrix allows you to perform a qualitative risk assessment, gauge the probability, and predict how each could affect your project budget, scope, and timeline. The template also provides space for you to list events that could trigger each risk, designate a respondee, and make notes for a response plan.

Download Risk Assessment Matrix:

Excel  |  Word  |  PDF  | Smartsheet

Customer List

This simple form allows you to list contact details for each customer or client. This list includes columns for the company; the name, title, email, and phone number of your contact; and any comments. You can or remove columns as necessary, and highlight or flag certain customers who you need to follow up with.

Inventory and Equipment Checklist

Use this template to keep track of inventory or equipment you either need or have newly acquired for a project. List each item number and name, followed by a description, date of purchase, cost, and other notes. Additionally, you can track initial value, loan details, and depreciation amounts for each piece of equipment in your inventory.

New Hire Checklist

This template is designed for human resources to ensure that a new employee (and other internal teams) complete all necessary onboarding tasks. The Excel spreadsheet includes columns for completing new hire paperwork and sending it to the appropriate parties, but you can edit the form to include any tasks that your organization requires of new hires. In addition, there is space to assign tasks to employees, to set due dates, and to list contact information.

Grocery List

Use this basic template to make a shopping list; you can fill it out on your computer or print and complete it by hand. In addition to providing an easy-to-read table, the template includes a checkbox column where you can mark off each item as you obtain it, as well as a column for individual items and total cost. This template is created with grocery shopping in mind, but you can edit it for retail, gifts, and other consumer needs.

‌Download Grocery List: 

Weekly Staff Meeting Template

Use this template to prepare for a recurring meeting. Note your agenda, attendees, action items, and whether or not the associated tasks have been completed. The template is designed with weekly meetings in mind, but you can edit the dates for a monthly, quarterly, or annual gathering.

Business Trip Checklist Template

Preparing for a business trip may include managing staff adjustments at work, making schedule changes with family members or caregivers at home, and taking on extra work to prepare for the trip — plus, packing everything you’ll need on the road. Use this business trip checklist template to help make the process more manageable and reduce the likelihood of forgetting a vital task or travel item. Edit the template to reflect your agenda, and then mark each item off your checklist as it’s completed. For personal use, you can also edit this template with relevant details for solo, family, or group travel.

‌ Download Excel Template Try Smartsheet Template   ‌

Student Planner Template

Students can plan for the week by using this free template to keep track of classes and assignments. The template includes columns for listing the due date and status of each assignment, which helps students stay organized, prioritize their workload, and meet deadlines with less stress.

Day Planner Template

This detailed day planner template provides multiple sections for planning various aspects of your day, from shopping needs to meals and appointments. There is also room for a general task list and a section to add items to be accomplished on another day. Customize the template by applying new labels to sections to match your daily routines.

Business Plan Checklist

Use this simple business plan template to organize project tasks. The template is divided into phases so you can list tasks chronologically; it also includes columns for start and end dates and duration. Plus, a simple checkbox allows you to clearly mark which steps have been completed so you know your exact progress.

Group Project Task List

This template is ideal for organizing the basics of a group project or any assignment that involves multiple people. Simply list each task, a description, an assignee, a due date, and any notes in the columns provided, and add more columns if needed. This template does not have project management capabilities, but will give you an overview of every individual task and who is responsible for it. For more full-scale project management templates, visit “ Top Project Management Excel Templates .”

Job Task Analysis Template

A job task analysis can be used to determine which actions are critical for a certain job. Identifying tasks in this manner can help determine the scope of a job, appraise employee performance, inform training methods, and improve work processes. On this template, you can list the tasks that are required to complete a job, then rate the importance of each task, along with how frequently the actions are performed. You can also document your source of information for each task.

‌ Download Word Template

Brainstorm and Collaboration Worksheet

Use this form to record information from a brainstorm or collaboration session. The template includes space to list ideas, their pros and cons, and the originator. In addition, there is a column for each team member to rank each idea. While this template doesn’t assist with idea generation, it enables you to keep all brainstorm information in one place so you can more easily compare ideas when it’s time to make a decision.

Download Brainstorm and Collaboration Worksheet:

Internal Audit Checklist

Use this template to prepare for a financial audit. The simple template includes rows for every required document in a standard audit (general ledger, balance and financial statements, tax reports, etc.) and a checkbox to note if an item has been reviewed and is attached. Add or subtract rows to include every document that your audit requires. To learn more about how best to prepare for a financial audit, read this  article .

Contact List

This Excel template can be used as a contact list for a variety of personal use cases, including for classes, group memberships, event attendees, or emergency communications. The template includes columns for phone, email, and address, as well as to note the preferred mode of contact. The form is fully customizable, so add or subtract sections as needed.

Download Contact List:

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Eberly Center

Teaching excellence & educational innovation, creating assignments.

Here are some general suggestions and questions to consider when creating assignments. There are also many other resources in print and on the web that provide examples of interesting, discipline-specific assignment ideas.

Consider your learning objectives.

What do you want students to learn in your course? What could they do that would show you that they have learned it? To determine assignments that truly serve your course objectives, it is useful to write out your objectives in this form: I want my students to be able to ____. Use active, measurable verbs as you complete that sentence (e.g., compare theories, discuss ramifications, recommend strategies), and your learning objectives will point you towards suitable assignments.

Design assignments that are interesting and challenging.

This is the fun side of assignment design. Consider how to focus students’ thinking in ways that are creative, challenging, and motivating. Think beyond the conventional assignment type! For example, one American historian requires students to write diary entries for a hypothetical Nebraska farmwoman in the 1890s. By specifying that students’ diary entries must demonstrate the breadth of their historical knowledge (e.g., gender, economics, technology, diet, family structure), the instructor gets students to exercise their imaginations while also accomplishing the learning objectives of the course (Walvoord & Anderson, 1989, p. 25).

Double-check alignment.

After creating your assignments, go back to your learning objectives and make sure there is still a good match between what you want students to learn and what you are asking them to do. If you find a mismatch, you will need to adjust either the assignments or the learning objectives. For instance, if your goal is for students to be able to analyze and evaluate texts, but your assignments only ask them to summarize texts, you would need to add an analytical and evaluative dimension to some assignments or rethink your learning objectives.

Name assignments accurately.

Students can be misled by assignments that are named inappropriately. For example, if you want students to analyze a product’s strengths and weaknesses but you call the assignment a “product description,” students may focus all their energies on the descriptive, not the critical, elements of the task. Thus, it is important to ensure that the titles of your assignments communicate their intention accurately to students.

Consider sequencing.

Think about how to order your assignments so that they build skills in a logical sequence. Ideally, assignments that require the most synthesis of skills and knowledge should come later in the semester, preceded by smaller assignments that build these skills incrementally. For example, if an instructor’s final assignment is a research project that requires students to evaluate a technological solution to an environmental problem, earlier assignments should reinforce component skills, including the ability to identify and discuss key environmental issues, apply evaluative criteria, and find appropriate research sources.

Think about scheduling.

Consider your intended assignments in relation to the academic calendar and decide how they can be reasonably spaced throughout the semester, taking into account holidays and key campus events. Consider how long it will take students to complete all parts of the assignment (e.g., planning, library research, reading, coordinating groups, writing, integrating the contributions of team members, developing a presentation), and be sure to allow sufficient time between assignments.

Check feasibility.

Is the workload you have in mind reasonable for your students? Is the grading burden manageable for you? Sometimes there are ways to reduce workload (whether for you or for students) without compromising learning objectives. For example, if a primary objective in assigning a project is for students to identify an interesting engineering problem and do some preliminary research on it, it might be reasonable to require students to submit a project proposal and annotated bibliography rather than a fully developed report. If your learning objectives are clear, you will see where corners can be cut without sacrificing educational quality.

Articulate the task description clearly.

If an assignment is vague, students may interpret it any number of ways – and not necessarily how you intended. Thus, it is critical to clearly and unambiguously identify the task students are to do (e.g., design a website to help high school students locate environmental resources, create an annotated bibliography of readings on apartheid). It can be helpful to differentiate the central task (what students are supposed to produce) from other advice and information you provide in your assignment description.

Establish clear performance criteria.

Different instructors apply different criteria when grading student work, so it’s important that you clearly articulate to students what your criteria are. To do so, think about the best student work you have seen on similar tasks and try to identify the specific characteristics that made it excellent, such as clarity of thought, originality, logical organization, or use of a wide range of sources. Then identify the characteristics of the worst student work you have seen, such as shaky evidence, weak organizational structure, or lack of focus. Identifying these characteristics can help you consciously articulate the criteria you already apply. It is important to communicate these criteria to students, whether in your assignment description or as a separate rubric or scoring guide . Clearly articulated performance criteria can prevent unnecessary confusion about your expectations while also setting a high standard for students to meet.

Specify the intended audience.

Students make assumptions about the audience they are addressing in papers and presentations, which influences how they pitch their message. For example, students may assume that, since the instructor is their primary audience, they do not need to define discipline-specific terms or concepts. These assumptions may not match the instructor’s expectations. Thus, it is important on assignments to specify the intended audience http://wac.colostate.edu/intro/pop10e.cfm (e.g., undergraduates with no biology background, a potential funder who does not know engineering).

Specify the purpose of the assignment.

If students are unclear about the goals or purpose of the assignment, they may make unnecessary mistakes. For example, if students believe an assignment is focused on summarizing research as opposed to evaluating it, they may seriously miscalculate the task and put their energies in the wrong place. The same is true they think the goal of an economics problem set is to find the correct answer, rather than demonstrate a clear chain of economic reasoning. Consequently, it is important to make your objectives for the assignment clear to students.

Specify the parameters.

If you have specific parameters in mind for the assignment (e.g., length, size, formatting, citation conventions) you should be sure to specify them in your assignment description. Otherwise, students may misapply conventions and formats they learned in other courses that are not appropriate for yours.

A Checklist for Designing Assignments

Here is a set of questions you can ask yourself when creating an assignment.

• Provided a written description of the assignment (in the syllabus or in a separate document)?
• Specified the purpose of the assignment?
• Indicated the intended audience?
• Articulated the instructions in precise and unambiguous language?
• Provided information about the appropriate format and presentation (e.g., page length, typed, cover sheet, bibliography)?  
• Indicated special instructions, such as a particular citation style or headings?  
• Specified the due date and the consequences for missing it?
• Articulated performance criteria clearly?
• Indicated the assignment’s point value or percentage of the course grade?
• Provided students (where appropriate) with models or samples?

Adapted from the WAC Clearinghouse at http://wac.colostate.edu/intro/pop10e.cfm .

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Checklist Templates

8+ assignment checklist templates – samples, examples.

Numerous tasks pile up on us every day. We have house chores, work, exercise and more. With everything that’s happening, we usually think that we can’t get any busier. However, we end up making a new checklist from time to time, especially when those in power give us new assignments.

Checklist Template Bundle

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Assignment Checklist Template

Student Assignment Checklist Template

Teacher Assignment Checklist

School Assignment Checklist

Assignment Task Checklist

How to Write an Assignment Checklist

• To think of it like writing a training checklist template . This will make the checklist short and concise, avoiding confusion.
• Prioritize the assignments nearing their due date and put them on the top of the list.
• Write specific details regarding each assignment.

How to Submit an Assignment Checklist

• Email – This is the fastest way of submission usually in checklist template in PDF, thanks to the Internet.
• Snail Mail – If it is the preferred method of submission, then you can definitely snail mail your checklist.
• In Person – You can also visit their office and personally deliver the checklist to them.

Assignment Checklist for Course

Assignment Submission Checklist

Assignment Checklist for Project

Daily Assignment Checklist

Guidelines for Assignment Checklist

• Context is coherent and purpose is definitively evident.
• The arrangements must be properly organized, similar to how project checklist templates look.
• Columns, boxes, diagrams and examples are necessary and should be used aptly.
• Avoid making irrelevant descriptions, specifications or information.
• Must summarize the main idea, major points and averts in proposing new ideas that may come in conflict with the context.

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