Lesson Plan Examples

Lesson Plan #1

Here is an example of one of my more successful lesson plans. What made this lesson plan and activity so successful was the time and detail that went into preparing for the lesson. Due to all of the hard work and preparation beforehand, I was able to put my best foot forward for my students to give them a meaningful activity. Throughout the classes, this lesson plan tended to work well and serve its purpose in running a successful activity. Due to all of the preparation beforehand, I very rarely needed to look at the lesson plan as I was able to memorize most of the information which allowed myself to be much more engaging and hands on with the students, rather than “reading off a piece of paper”.

Lesson Plan #2

Here is another example of one of my more successful lesson plans that I’ve created. What specifically made this lesson plan one of my more successful ventures is due to the level of detail that went into the planning process of the lesson. Generally speaking, the more detail that goes into a lesson plan, the more prepared the teacher is for the lesson resulting in a successful and structured class. From this particular lesson plan, the class ran smoothly with little disruptions throughout the class, greatly due to the fact that I came into the class prepared and ready to instruct.

Lesson Plan #3

This is one of my least successful lesson plans, as this happens to be the first lesson plan I created when venturing out to teach at the local high schools during the WSU Physical Education Program. Looking back on this lesson plan, it’s clear how much information and detail is lacking on portions of the introduction, lesson body, and closure. I remember that due to the lack of detail there were times while teaching that we had to “improvise” on the flow which is a very dangerous game when teaching students. As teachers we need to provide as much structure and quality as possible. I think reflecting on our lesser successful lesson plans and activities is a crucial part of becoming our “best selves” in terms of teaching. Being able to recognize what did and didn’t work is a great tool to perfecting our craft.

Lesson Plan #4

This is one of my lesson plans that went a little sideways and not as expected. Going into this lesson I had high expectations on the quality of the lesson, and what the students would be able to take from the content presented. However, when I actually started teaching the lesson things immediately went sideways due to the math that was required in order to find their personalized target heart rate. From the get-go the students had a hard time following along with the math which delayed that actual participation of the activity. While the students were eventually able to participate in the activity and find their target heart rates, the lesson did not live up to my personal expectations which created a great lesson learned from the experience. Looking back, this was a great opportunity to learn from my mistakes in order to adapt and smooth out the little “knots” of the lesson to make it more manageable and meaningful for the students.

Overview On Lesson Plans

I believe that lesson planning is crucial for numerous reasons. Firstly, lesson plans are crucial for maintaining class and lesson structure, especially for “relatively inexperienced teachers”. Generally speaking, lesson plans help break down ideas and concepts to physical form making creativity a reality. When “relatively inexperienced teachers” begin their journey in teaching, there is often a period of adjustment from schooling/learning to teaching in which there can be uncertainty in the lessons and activities being taught due to inexperience. Lesson plans help reinforce the material being taught and can act as a “safety-belt” for teachers when teaching comfort has not been fully developed yet. The reality is that the art of teaching takes time and experience to perfect, making lesson plans and class structure that much more important.

It is also important to note that lesson plans allow teachers the opportunity to break down their lessons and ensure that each activity/lesson is meeting state and national standards. This process is crucial for ensuring the students are receiving a positive learning experience across the board.

When I personally create lesson plans, I tend to follow a few different methods in order to create the best possible results. As a general rule of thumb, whenever I create a lesson plan I try to have the mindset, “if I were to give this lesson plan to another teacher, would they be able to teach the lesson?” This question helps ensure that the proper level of detail is being included in the lesson plan so that in dire situations the students can receive a positive learning experience.

With that being said, in terms of my “lesson planning process” I most often use two different methods in creating effective lesson plans. One of these methods I tend to use is in “direct order” of finding the state education standards, and creating/revolving my lesson plan around the appropriate standards of the class. The other method I tend to use is more “backwards thinking” where I think of different kinds of activities that would fall under the category of the class, and then adapt/modify the concept of the lesson based on the appropriate state education standards.

However with all of that being said, lesson plans are a crucial element of both the teaching and learning process as they help ensure class and lesson structure across the board. When quality and detailed information is implemented into lesson plans, teachers are able to reinforce the material being taught and help develop their teaching comfortability when practice and experience hasn’t yet been fully developed. At the end of the day, lesson plans help ensure the best possible learning experience for the students involved.