As a teacher, knowing how to create a lesson plan is at the core of your job. You have to be organized, know what you're going to teach, and be able to adapt on the fly if necessary.
A lesson plan ensures you can cover all necessary material effectively and confidently. It's a lot to keep track of, but luckily, there are some tried and true methods for creating a great lesson plan.
Are you a new teacher? Or are you looking for fresh ideas? Creating a lesson plan can be daunting. But with a little organization and creativity, it can be surprisingly easy.
Learn everything you need to know about why a lesson plan is important and how to create effective and engaging lesson plans for your students.
What is a Lesson Plan?
A lesson plan is a detailed guide describing an individual lesson's course of instruction. This document helps teachers organize their thoughts and outlines a lesson's goals, objectives, and activities. It also assists teachers in preparing for a class, including what materials and resources they will need before the lesson begins. And it provides a means for teachers to assess how well the lesson went after it was taught.
What is the Purpose of a Lesson Plan?
Implementing a lesson plan is one of the critical factors in ensuring students receive the best education possible. A lesson plan maps out a detailed set of steps that ensure students get the most out of the lesson.
Without a plan in place for instruction, students may become either frustrated or uninterested in the material. Also, the quality of teaching declines due to needing help to keep students on track.
Benefits of Creating a Lesson Plan
Taking the time to create a well-thought-out lesson plan offers the following benefits.
1. Keeps teachers on track, organized and focused on what needs to be accomplished.
2. Allows teachers to manage their time effectively and avoid last-minute scrambling.
3. Ensures that students are engaged and learning the material.
4. Helps teachers reflect on their instruction and identify areas that need improvement for students to get the most out of class time.
How to Create an Effective Lesson Plan
You should create a lesson plan before class begins to ensure your lesson stays on track and covers all the necessary material. This framework should allow for flexibility for changes if something isn't working.
Teachers can follow a set curriculum or develop an original lesson plan to structure their classes. Most teachers use a mix of both methods. Teachers often use their creativity and unique ideas to find new, exciting ways to explain a concept and make a lesson more engaging.
Learn how to make a lesson plan template you can follow for each lesson by including the following components.
Outline Learning Objectives
Learning objectives give your lesson focus and ensure that your students are learning the right skills and information. Follow these steps on how to write an objective for a lesson plan.
1. Start by brainstorming a list of objectives you want your students to achieve by the end of the lesson.
2. Group your objectives based on similarities and rewrite them in a specific and measurable way.
3. Review your objectives and make sure they are achievable and realistic.
4. Add your objectives to your lesson plan and refer to them often throughout the lesson.
Plan Your Learning Activities
To decide what learning activities will be most effective for the students, consider various factors, such as the group of students' overall age and ability, the lesson's content, and the desired outcomes.
Some general tips for planning learning activities include the following.
- Make sure the activities are aligned with the lesson objectives.
- Choose activities that will engage and motivate the students.
- Consider the amount of time available and plan accordingly.
- Be prepared to adapt the activities if necessary.
- Make sure the activities are safe and appropriate for the students.
Map Out Time for Activities
Mapping out time for activities keeps the lesson flowing smoothly and ensures each activity is given the appropriate amount of minutes. Follow these easy steps to create a schedule or timeline for the lesson.
1. Determine the total amount of time the lesson will be.
2. Divide this time based on the number and types of activities that will be taking place.
3. List the activities in order.
4. Designate and note the start and end times for each.
5. Stick to this schedule as closely as possible during the lesson.
Put Time Aside to Test Student Learning
During your lesson, provide activities that test student learning to ensure your lesson plan is effective and that students comprehend the concept being taught.
Promote a more engaging and interactive learning environment by asking questions throughout the lesson and calling on different students to answer. Also, a short quiz at the end of the lesson can identify any areas that need to be reviewed.
These quick assessments provide real-time information about student understanding and should inform instructional decisions. Plus, they help students identify their strengths and weaknesses and can encourage them to take more responsibility for their learning.
Conclude the Lesson by Emphasizing Key Points
Emphasizing the key points at the end of the lesson helps students remember the most important information and better understand the material. Review the material with the students by discussing the lesson or assigning a summary of the material. A practice activity related to the lesson will also help them to apply what they have learned.
Free Sample Lesson Plan Templates
Sample lesson plan templates will save you time and energy by organizing the information you need quickly and easily. Use the following lesson plan templates to your advantage by finding one that works for you and customizing it to fit your needs.
- Bookwidgets Teacher Blog offers a printable universal lesson plan template and a digital version.
- Twinkl.com has an editable lesson plan template download when you sign up for a free account on their teacher resource site.
- Teachers Pay Teachers offers a broad collection, including this free high-rated lesson plan template.