Lesson Plan Development

The Outline

A guide that enables you to present logically organized instruction, identify the purpose of the class and your objectives. There are as many as six parts to a lesson plan:

Introduction

  1. Capture the students’ attention.
  2. Statement about yourself to establish credibility.
  3. Needs statement: show a problem exists; set up students’ need to learn.
  4. Thesis statement; tell the objectives and content of the lesson.
  5. Preview of main points; briefly state the topical areas the lesson will cover.
  6. Tie in other instruction.

Body

  1. Contains all the main points and sub-points.
  2. All the information you plan to teach.
  3. Includes illustrations and examples.
  4. Shows how you will convey your information.
  5. Questions to ask the students.
  6. Questions to start discussions.
  7. When to use teaching aids.
  8. Notes to yourself.
  9. Show when the information meets your lesson objectives.
  10. Sequence objectives logically.
  11. Supply sufficient supporting materials.
  12. Include practical exercises.

Summary

  1. Restates your objectives and content.
  2. Reviews major topical areas covered.
  3. Can include motivating statement on lesson’s value.
  4. Contains only information already covered.
  5. Allows time for questions.
  6. Should be brief and to the point.
  7. Regain student attention.
  8. Summarize key learning elements.
  9. Check for understanding.
  10. Include effective closing statements.

Practice or exam

  1. Guided practice.
  2. Independent practice.
  3. Multiple choice, essay or quiz.

Bibliography

  1. List all the sources used in developing the information portion of the lesson plan.

Attachments

  1. Copies of overheads/power point slides.
  2. Originals of each handout.

Is your lesson complete?

After developing your lesson plan, ask yourself the following questions to ensure it is complete. You should be able to answer yes to each of the following:

  • Does the lesson deal with the major topic only?
  • Can the class master the material in the time allotted?
  • Are the facts meaningful to the students?
  • Is the goal of the lesson clearly stated?
  • Does the lesson include at least two new ideas?
  • Do you capture their interest immediately?
  • Are your objectives at the correct level of difficulty?
  • Can the student see where this lesson may lead?
  • Is this teaching method the best one for this topic and this class?
  • Are plans made for the use of effective teaching aids?
  • Have you planned for ample class participation?
  • Does the lesson tie-in with practical problems?
  • Have you planned time to evaluate performance?