Lesson Planning Template Examples

Some schools or districts ask for a consistent approach, while others allow flexibility for teachers to outline their lessons as they see fit. We have outlined several examples of lesson plan templates below to spark ideas and conversation. We hope they inspire you to create a lesson plan template that will meet your needs!

Here is an example of the full lesson planning view in Atlas

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Please note that the following examples show the templates in the Lesson Details. If you use standards, they will appear next to your Lesson Details while planning.

Lesson Planning Template Library

While unit plans serve as a basis for the curriculum, lesson plans play a key role in breaking down learning into smaller pieces that guide instruction. Lesson plans can come in many different forms, but we hope the following examples will provide some inspiration, ideas, and guidance.

Backwards Planning

Planning with the end in mind is a common approach for both unit planning and lesson planning. Some teachers might use an Understanding by Design (UbD)-inspired template for lesson planning, while others might use an adapted version. Below you can find two ideas to get you started!

*template adapted from Golden Apple STEM Institute’s “Backward Design” Lesson Plan Template

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework

Some schools opt to build standards-specific lesson planners, beyond just aligning to standards. For example, the C3 framework is organized into four dimensions embodying the four steps in the Inquiry Arc, which is reflected in the lesson planner attached to this section.

5E Lesson Planner

The 5Es are an instructional model encompassing the phases Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. While the model is typically used to support science instruction, it can also be very useful with any subject or discipline to encourage students to make discoveries and process new content in engaging ways.

* Inspired by the template from the Next Generation Science Standards

Hunter Decision-Making Model for Planning Direct Instruction

The Madeline Hunter method is a kind of direct instruction model and most often used at the lesson planning level. This model includes several elements:

Objectives; standards; anticipatory set;
Teaching (input, modeling, and checking for understanding)
Guided practice; closure; and independent practice.

* template adapted from Hunter Decision-Making Model for Planning Direct Instruction taken from Mastery Teaching by Madeline Hunter

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

Many schools use their Atlas lesson planning template to emphasize the three dimensions of the NGSS and by using the 5 Es of Science Instruction Model.

* Inspired by the template from the Next Generation Science Standards

Project Based Learning (PBL)

Many schools use their Atlas lesson planning template to emphasize the three dimensions of the NGSS and by using the 5 Es of Science InstructionModel.

* Inspired by PBL Works

Weekly Lesson Plans

Many teachers, especially at the elementary level, create an outline of their lesson plans on a weekly basis. This can allow for a smooth transition from the unit plan to daily learning goals. Here you will see a simple example for outlining daily objectives and experiences, as well as an outline for tracking group work, such as leveled reading groups, math groups, or centers.

Aspiring Curriculum Design

If you have technical questions about adding or adjusting your lesson plan template, please visit our support manual or reach out to our Support team. Contact our Professional Development team to learn how we can assist you in using your customized lesson plans to better support units of instruction. And if you aren’t (yet) a client, learn more about the platforms we offer here.