planning lessons

planning lessons

1. parts of an effective lesson

   • introductory activities
     • introduce content
     • capture student attention and interest
     • set stage for developmental activities
     • relate lesson to students' lives
     • review key points from previous lesson
     • stating objectives and purpose
     • students' prior knowledge
     • helps students...
       • understand what they will be studying
       • how lesson is related to previous lessons
       • how lesson fits into larger framework of course content
   • developmental activites
     • address content
     • are the vehicles for student learning
     • instructional strategies
       • lectures
       • questions
       • practice
       • group and discussion methods
       • inquiry and discovery approaches
     • must help students be successful in meeting objectives
   • closing activities
     • summarize lesson's content
     • allow students time to prepare to leave classroom
     • content closing
       • summary of main points
       • helps reinforce content covered
       • helps students see how content fits
     • procedural closing
       • involves actions that help students get ready to move on to next subject/class

2. lesson plan formats

   • template that has a separate section to record all types of standard information needed for lesson plan
     • curriculum standards
     • instructional objectives
     • materials and technology needed
     • how to introduce lesson objectives and content
   • 5-E instructional model
     • recommended by science educators
     • builds on the learning cycle model
     • 5 teaching phases
       • engage
       • explore
       • explain
       • elaborate
       • evaluate

3. sections of a lesson plan

   • course information
     • name of teacher
     • course title
     • grade level
     • room number
     • name of unit
     • lesson topic
     • date
     • length
   • standards
     • number
     • title
     • description
   • objectives
     • statement of intended learning outcomes
   • materials
     • textbooks
     • handouts
     • DVDs
     • computer equipment
     • maps
     • pictures
     • posters
     • globes
     • charts
     • supplies
   • possible questions
   • beginning of lesson
     • describe how you will capture and focus students interest and attention
     • induction activities
     • 3-5 minutes
     • daily/weekly reviews
   • middle of lesson
     • developmental activities
     • identify/describe instructional strategies to be used
       • age appropriate
       • align with objeectives
       • consider.....
         • student characteristics
         • nature of instructional activities
         • instructional setting
         • physical environment
         • complexity of task
         • degree of student engagement
         • amount of time required
   • end of lesson
     • provide summary
   • other possible parts
     • rationale for the lesson
     • outline of subject matter
     • list of key points
     • assignment of homework or other requirements
     • timetable
     • special notes or reminders
     • evaluation of the lesson

4. additional lesson planning issues

   • how detailed?
   • ongoing changes

5. tips for daily planning

   • use a template
   • select regular day/time to prepare weekly/daily plans
   • seek help from other teachers
   • tie objectives directly to unit/course goals
   • each instructional activity addresses lesson objective
   • plan for a variety of instructional activities within each lesson
   • varied use of media
   • motivational strategies built into lesson
   • plan plenty of time for each activity
   • provide extended practice activities
   • additional backup plans