The Easiest Guide to Creating a Lesson Plan Template
Teachers have a lot on their plates when it comes to creating lesson plans for their students. Not only do they have to be knowledgeable in the subject matter, but they also need to plan out the various activities for student engagement. In this blog post, learn how to create a lesson plan template for your lessons so that you can quickly and efficiently put together monthly & yearly class plans.
Why should you create a lesson plan template?
To start off, what is a lesson plan?
A lesson plan is a detailed document that lists down everything that is going to happen in the course of a lesson, which includes:
- Goal of the lesson
- Teaching strategies
- Materials needed for the lesson
- Potential roadblocks
- Mode of evaluation/assessment
Lesson plan templates are also beneficial because it prepares to teach the lesson effectively. This includes having a lesson plan template that can help keep everything organized, from what resources you need to what you’re going to teach. It even has space for notes that you may want to take throughout the process of creating your lesson plan.
How to create an effective lesson plan template for your classroom?
The most common way to create a lesson plan template is to use the four-step approach that focuses on form, content, process, and evaluation.
Related Reading: Classroom Organization Ideas to Make Teaching Productive
Form
Set lesson goals & objectives
- Each lesson plan that you create should have set goals that you want students to achieve at the end of the lesson. The best goals are specific, measurable, easy to understand & achieve and are time-bound.
Examples of measurable goals could be – Have the students learned to solve addition & subtraction equations? Are my students able to color in between the lines? Goals for every grade level & every lesson will differ. - Identify time constraints and check off major points.
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To the point content
You want to present the information in a clear and concise way. Your lesson content should build connections between the lessons in order to build a growth mindset in students.
Process
Set out a path for clear execution
- Your lesson plan should outline the steps of your lesson in an easy to follow manner. Briefly outline the main points of the lesson.
- Identify resources you will use (e.g., books, videos, etc.)
- Identify steps you will take to engage students (e.g., games, activities)
- Identify materials you will need (e.g., writing supplies, paper, computer equipment)
- Identify methods you will use to present your lesson (e.g., demonstrations, handout)
- Identify the dates when you will present this lesson
Evaluation
Check if your lesson plan works or not
- Identify methods you will use to check for understanding (e.g., class discussion, exit slips, mini-lesson)
By following these steps, you will have a well-organized lesson plan that is easy to read and provides a frame of reference for your thoughts and teaching methods.
Things to consider when creating a lesson plan template
Assessments
One of the most important things to consider when creating a template are the different types of assessments that you might have. Create one for each type of assessment, then change the number on it according to how many times you will offer that assessment during your course.
Related Reading: How to Use Scaffolding Strategies in the Classroom
Structure & Flow
- Your template should be organized in a clear, easy to follow manner.
- The most important thing that you need to consider is how your lesson plan will flow. When you are deciding on what information should be included in your template, think about what information students need to know while you’re teaching it. Include the number of hours the lesson should take, the materials needed for the class, and so on.
- When creating a template, you should consider what types of lessons you’ll be making. If your lessons are sequential, it may be worth starting with the first one and following through to the last lesson. If your lessons are not sequential or if they are all the same type, it may be worth starting chronologically.
- You should also think about what details will need to go on each page. Will there need to be a header? What information do you want to be included? Do you need space for questions or comments?
Making the template look professional
A good template will make your lesson plan look neat and organized with minimal effort. You can start by creating a grid or table for all of your sections so you know where to go when you’re teaching a lesson. Don’t forget to include a section for the materials needed and a section for any handouts or visual aids that may be needed.
Free Lesson Plan Templates
Lesson plan templates are a great way to save time and add consistency to your teaching. Lesson plans can be costly, so it is important to know where you can find free templates to use for your classes.
Here are some links where you can customize and download some lesson plan templates for free:
1. SplashLearn
2. Canva
3. Class templates
4. Teacher planet
5. Twinkl
6. Teachers pay teachers
7. Visme
Conclusion
A lesson plan template is a great tool at a teacher’s disposal to maxizime learning for students. Download these weekly, monthly & more detailed lesson plan templates by SplashLearn & make your students fearless learners!
