Lesson Plan--How to Write One

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Lesson Plan--How to Write One

John Invernizzi, Ph.D.

Class: Social Studies (or Period 2)

Grade Level: 2

Teacher: Ms. Temprament

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Topic: Maps

Standards:

State Standards: Geography 7.1.3-A. Identify geographic tools and their uses. Characteristics and purposes of different geographic representations-Maps and basic map elements.

Objectives:

As a result of today's lesson, the students will be able to locate the United States on a World map.

[What should the student be able to accomplish as a result of this lesson? Use Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives--"locate" is from Level 1-Information or knowledge]

Anticipatory Set:

"Have any of you ever looked at a road map when traveling with your relatives?" "Can anybody tell us why locating places on a map would be helpful?" "People plan before they take trips, and a map is part of the planning process." (Connection to prior knowledge)

[This is sometimes called a "hook" to grab the student's attention.]

Teaching--Modeling:

Locate the U.S. for students on the demo map in front of the class.

[Once the material has been presented, the teacher uses it to show students examples of what is expected as an end product of their work.]

Teaching--Checking for Understanding:

If any of the students don't understand, the concept/skill should be re-taught before practice begins.

[Determination of whether students understand before proceeding.]

Questioning Strategies:

Does anybody know what countries border the United States? Is Mexico larger or smaller than the United States?

[Asking questions that go beyond recall to probe for the higher levels of understanding. Some lessons are basic, like this Map lesson plan, but we continue to build on this lesson to get to a higher level.]

Guided Practice:

Move around the room while each student colors the United States map blank with a pencil.

[An opportunity for each student to demonstrate grasp of new learning by working through an activity or exercise under the teacher's direct supervision.]

Closure:

Review location and point out neighboring countries of the U.S.

[Those actions or statements by a teacher that are designed to bring a lesson to an appropriate conclusion. ]

Independent Practice:

Have students discuss today's lesson with a family member or friend (homework).

[Once pupils have mastered the content or skill, it is time to provide for reinforcement practice, e.g., home work, group or individual work in class.]

Accommodations:

Test the classroom sound enhancement system.

[Do you have students that need special equipment to see or hear the lesson? Have you made provisions for ELL students and/or any students with special needs?]

Materials:

"Our World Today"-textbook, world blank map, colored pencils

[List materials for this lesson.]

Time Period:

20 minutes

[The amount of time needed to complete this lesson. Will it take more than one class?]

Evaluation/Assessment:

Demonstration (individual)

[How will I check for learning? Test, Quiz, Project, Demonstration. Will it be group, individual, team?]

Follow-up/Reflections: (write this after you complete the lesson)

Allocate more time and use an interactive map. Review this material before starting the next lesson.

[Any corrections or modifications to this lesson. "What would I do differently?" What would make this lesson better? What lessons will follow?]

Class: Social Studies

Grade Level: 2

Teacher: Ms. Temprament

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Topic: Maps

Standards: State Standards: Geography 7.1.3-A. Identify geographic tools and their uses. Characteristics and purposes of different geographic representations-Maps and basic map elements.

Objective(s): As a result of today's lesson, the students will be able to locate the United States on a World map.

Procedure: 1. Introduce the lesson by showing the children a large map projected on the screen

2. Ask if any of the students know where the United States is located on the World map. Have them raise their hands to confirm.

3. Have the students follow on their textbook map, p.508 "World Map."

4. Pass out a world map blank.

5. Have each student locate the United States on the map. First have them try individually (with clues), then have them pair up if some

cannot locate.

6. Have them color-in the United States with colored pencils. Make sure to point out the location of Alaska and Hawaii.

7. More details....

8. Other details......

Materials: "Our World Today"-textbook, world blank map, colored pencils

Time: 20 minutes

Evaluation/Assessment: At the end of class, every student should be able to locate (point out) the United States on the projector map in front of the class.

Follow-up: Review this lesson tomorrow, and then proceed with locating other countries.

Basic Lesson Plan (with content that could be modified or changed; lesson plans can vary by grade level, subject, school district)

This is a simple example for illustration purposes.

More Detailed Lesson Plan- There are many variations. You should use the format your district requires. If permitted to use you own, you can modify this form to match your needs.

You can use some of the information from the basic plan (above) to continue to develop this plan.

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there." ~Cheshire Cat

A lesson plan comes in handy, reminding us what we need to bring to class to accomplish our goals. It is a map of where we need to go and how to get there. Even an experienced traveler, who has been to a place many times, sometimes needs reminded of where to go, why we are going there, and how much time we have to get there. Lesson plans give us structure and keep us on task.

Sometimes there are unexpected interruptions when teaching a class, and even an experienced teacher can get off track. A lesson plan can help guide us through the lesson, and remind us what to cover when we need it, i.e., specific learning objectives that are measurable and in line with district and state standards.

Student teachers and new teachers need more detail in their plans. As you gain experience and confidence, you will probably include less. But don't forget about the substitute teacher who fills in for you when you are absent. More details are helpful and appreciated.

Although you will probably want to custom make your lesson plans, there are many free commercial lesson plans that you can use. You can use them as is or modify them to fit your particular topic/subject. Look at different plans to get some ideas and to compare.

APA Style: Invernizzi, J. (2011). "Lesson Plan." Retrieved December 2, 2011, from EducationDx, USA. Web site: http://www.educationdx.com/lesson-plan.html.

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