How to Make a Lesson Plan

Before every class, teachers need to plan their approach to that day's lesson. Construct the lesson plan carefully to identify the topic of the presentation, the teaching method, learning outcomes and assessment techniques for the presentation. Without this lesson plan, a teacher seems disorganized and unprepared.

Instructions

1. Write out the specific topic you are teaching. Make sure your topic is narrow enough to fit into a single lesson. For example, rather than using the topic "Birds," use the topic "Nesting patterns of birds." The more specific you make your topic, the easier it is to plan.

2. List the learning outcomes of the lesson. Be specific. Make sure that each statement finishes this sentence. "I want my students to __________." For example, "I want my students to understand the migratory patterns of birds."

3. Identify the prerequisites for the lesson. If it is an introductory lesson, you might not have any. However, if this is a more advanced concept, you want to cover the prerequisite material first.

4. Decide how you wish to deliver the material. Lecturing works well for short periods of time, but studies show that most students stop listening to a lecture after about 10 minutes. If lecturing is your primary means of teaching, consider breaking you lecture with activities.

5. Determine what materials you will need for your lesson. Too many materials overwhelm students. Also, make sure that the materials are appropriate for the students.

6. Consider your assessment technique. Quizzing and testing provides some information, but there are other techniques that provide students a better learning opportunity. Think-pair-share allows students to collaborate to understand the material better. To do this, give the students a topic and allow them to answer it. Then partner students and have them discuss their responses.

7. Type this lesson plan, and file it away. Many school districts require teachers to turn in lesson plans. In addition, if you need to arrange for a substitute, he will have your lesson plan to teach the material.

Tips & Warnings

• Studies show that students retain more information if they take ownership of the material. Find active teaching strategies, such as games, hands-on experiences, discussion and peer teaching.

• Websites such as the National Teaching and Learning Forum offer additional assessment techniques.

Resources

• Classroom assessment techniques