writing lesson plans

Introductory Page

Dr. Stephen D. Holtrop

Huntington University

Updated 8.31.09

There are only a few essential elements of a lesson plan:

Objectives--what students will be able to do as a result of the lesson
Standards--which state content and developmental standards are addressed in the lesson
Procedures--what the teacher will do to get the students there
Assessment opportunities--what the teacher can do to see if the lesson was taught effectively: watching students work, assigning application activities, getting feedback, etc. (Can include both formal and informal assessment and both formative and summative evaluations.)
Modifications/accommodations for any special needs students in the class

Additionally, many lesson plans also include:

Materials needed for the class period and any special equipment
Time estimates
Procedural subpoints

A Starting Point

Madeline Hunter lesson plan format:

(Seven-element format: just one way to structure a lesson; developed for math classes)

Anticipatory Set (setting the stage)--attention-getter and focuser
Statement of Objectives--tell students what they'll be able to do as a result of the lesson
Instructional Input--lecture, but not necessarily lecture: demo, explanation, instructions
Modeling--demonstrate, show what you tell
Check for Understanding--watch faces, ask questions
Guided Practice--help students start practicing new skills, applying new knowledge
Independent Practice--turn them loose to work on their own, homework assignment, etc.

Click here to see a sample history lesson plan (scaled down) and its seven labeled parts.

Other Lesson Formats:

Discovery Lesson

(e.g., lab)

Equipment
Set the stage
Don't state objectives yet
Give instructions
Check for understanding
Guided practice (lab)
Discussion, regrouping
Statement of objectives
Independent practice (e.g. lab journal)
Assessment

Group Work

(e.g., coop learning)

Equipment
Set the stage
State objectives
Give instructions
Check for understanding
Group work
Guided practice
Discussion
Regrouping
Summary
Assessment

Mini Cycles

(e.g., vocabulary lesson)

Equipment
Set the stage
State objective
Cycles:
- Instruction
- Check for understanding
- Guided practice
- Instruction
- Check for understanding
- Guided practice
- etc.
Independent practice
Assessment

Other stuff quality lessons include:

Bloom's Taxonomy and Critical Thinking Knowledge—recall Comprehension—understand Application—use, practice Analysis—dissect, generalize Synthesis—create, combine Evaluation—appraise, value	Multiple Intelligences (Howard Gardner) Verbal Mathematical Spatial Musical Kinesthetic Interpersonal Intrapersonal	Instructional Scaffolding (Jerome Bruner; Langer & Applebee) Ownership--wish to learn Appropriateness--right level Support--structured guidance Collaboration--coaching Internalization--independent practice
Click here for sample lesson plan with Bloom's Taxonomy levels labeled.	Click here for sample lesson plan with Multiple Intelligences labeled.	Click here for a sample lesson plan with Instructional Scaffolding components labeled.

Links to other Lesson Planning pages:

Anatomy of a Lesson Plan: Seven Elements of a Lesson Plan (Hunter)

Anatomy of a Lesson Plan: Critical Thinking (Bloom's Taxonomy)

Anatomy of a Lesson Plan: Multiple Intelligences--7 Ways of Knowing (Gardner)

Anatomy of a Lesson Plan: Instructional Scaffolding (Bruner; Langer & Applebee)

Teachers' Roles: What happens to learning with different teacher behaviors?

Seating Arrangements: How do different classroom arrangements affect learning?

Sailing Lessons: See how teaching sailing is broken down into lesson components

Spoonfeeding: Don't!

You can do a Google search on "lesson plans" (millions of sites!). So narrow your search; e.g., "chemistry lesson plans". Or click on one of the lesson plan web sites below:

Lesson ideas, any subject, Teachnet

The Educator's Reference Desk

(Be sure to give credit for borrowed ideas if you're doing lesson plans for a class!)