How to Write a Basic Lesson Plan for a Creative Project for non-teachers

When I first became a teaching artist, I had very little experience with actual teaching. Over time and with some professional development workshops, I learned a basic framework for writing lesson plans that are exciting and fun to use in a classroom. This article is intended to be a basic guide for volunteers and teaching artist without formal teaching experience.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• paper and pencil
• Or, computer
• creative project idea
• place to teach

1. First, brainstorm what you have to offer to a classroom. Are you really good at mixing colors? Playing percussive beats? Rapping? Narrow down your idea and type/write onto you paper at the top. This will help you focus while you write your lesson.

2. Make sure you research the age group you will be working with and that group's limitations and needs. For instance, if you want to teach kids how to draw, make sure the age group you will be working with have the dexterity to accomplish the activity. Challenging your students is good, but make sure it is within the realm of possibility to do what you ask.

3. Make a running list of materials and environmental needs. Will you need a sink? Sneakers? A microphone?

4. After all of this brainstorming, narrow down your objective. What are you actually trying to teach? The color wheel? Creative writing? Basic yoga stretches?
   
   Write your objective in one clear, concise sentence.

5. Then, decide in as few steps as possible, HOW you will accomplish your objective.
   
   Make each step as simple as possible. This may take several drafts, but will be worth it.

6. Keep referring back to your objective. Does each step support this objective, or are your going on a tangent?

7. Next to each step, write down what materials you need.

8. Make sure to have a set-up and clean-up plan. This will make your time run more smoothly if you plan ahead.

9. 
   Fiber art moment with students

   At the end of your simple lesson plan, make a list of related activities, or information that you can tap into spontaneously if the children get done early, or if the students become interested in a specific aspect of your project. This way, you can think on your feet with notes :)

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you teach what you are passionate about. It will help the students be more interested in what you are bringing to them!
• Simplify, Simplify, Simplify!
• For visual art projects especially- Bring examples to show, but be careful that the students don't just copy them.