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If you’re new to the game of teaching, you might be wondering where to start when it comes to lesson structure and how to build a good lesson plan. Lesson planning doesn’t have to take hours of endless research and time spent printing carefully laminated resources, in fact, it can take as little as 5 minutes to throw a great lesson together – with the right focus. In this article, I’ll outline some quick and easy points to remember when you’re building a lesson plan. And don’t forget to download the free 5-Minute Lesson Plan PDF you’ll find at the end of this blog.
Before you start putting pen to paper, start with the biggest goal in mind. This will usually be the curriculum learning objectives all students are expected to attain by the end of the year. Understandably, not all students are likely to achieve every learning objective because not all learners have the same knowledge, experience and skillset, so the big goals will need to be personalized for your learners. Predictive grades are good indicators to get you started on what the “big picture” is for each of your students.
Once you have your big goal in mind, break down the goal into smaller, attainable steps such as:
By breaking up your big picture into smaller goals, you’ll be able to get a realistic view of what’s achievable overtime.
Walk into every lesson with clarity on your desired learning outcomes. Again, these will need to be differentiated by what’s realistic for every student. A good way to map out learning objectives is by breaking them up like this:
Make sure that your learning objectives are geared toward the application of understanding, rather than simply knowledge sharing.
You may also want to ask students to create their own personal objectives once you’ve introduced the lesson activities and topic. This is a great way for students to take more autonomy over their own learning.
As we know, not only is it a rarity to find students with the same skill sets, but it’s also rare to find a full class with identical interests, learning styles and social capabilities. Consider what you will do each lesson to engage all types of learners, paying extra attention to the ones who are often caught yawning, fidgeting or zoning out. Some tried and tested means for engaging learners are to:
Keep it fresh – instead of repeating the same types of tasks every lesson, surprise your students and keep things interesting. Don’t be too predictable!
Include a “hook” at the start of your lesson BEFORE introducing your objectives.
For example, say you’re starting a unit on a murder mystery novel, you could corner off a section of the room with yellow tape and chalk out an outline of a body on the floor. Place objects around the room with clues attached to them that students will need to find in groups and make predictions about what their new unit is going to be about. Mystery objects and scavenger hunts are a great way to peak student interest!
Hooks can also be as simple as an interesting short video at the start of a lesson or a crack-the-code starter task.
Think about where each lesson fits into the next as you’re planning it to ensure stickability. Scaffolding is an important part of any scheme of work, so try to ensure each lesson becomes a stepping stone to the next set of skills on the way to the big picture. Students will always remember the lessons they have a positive emotional response to and some key ways you can engage this is to:
A good lesson considers all learners, no matter where they are academically, socially or personally. It’s important to always differentiate between the following types of students:
Some easy ways to differentiate for these types of students are:
Another important point to note is to always remember that Maslow’s comes before Bloom’s – students cannot learn on a hungry stomach, when they’re in pain or when they feel unsafe. Build a supportive nurturing environment that respects students’ basic human needs and stay alert to ensure student well-being doesn’t go unnoticed.
Now break your lesson up into purposeful chunks that inadvertently guide students toward the ultimate learning outcome of each lesson. It’s a good idea to scaffold lessons so that you start with the easier tasks first before moving on to the more complex ones. Key parts of a good lesson typically include:
Ultimately planning a good lesson leads to better learning outcomes. To plan your next lesson quickly, download our free printable 5-Minute Lesson Plan PDF!
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