Lesson Plan Tips

Writing an Effective Instructional Plan

• The lesson plan format you choose should be simple and flexible. If you choose a preprinted format, please remember you might need to change the times to meet the schedule you follow in your classroom and that all formats can be manipulated to meet your specific curriculum needs.
• The information contained in the plan should be detailed enough for someone other than yourself or your assistant to follow. This is your only documentation of what you do in your classroom. Include names of books, songs, dances, etc. However, the details should be simple enough that you don’t spend hours of time during the week completing the lesson plan.
• Lesson plans should be complete for the current day/week before your day/week with the children begins.
• Be flexible! You don’t have to do every single thing that you have listed on your plan for the day. Always plan more so you will be prepared for unexpected down times! It is okay to carry over an activity to the next day. It is also okay to drop your plan for the day and go along with a child’s current interest or go along with an unexpected interest in the classroom, center or school.
• Remember, your assessment and your daily lesson plan should go hand in hand. You have to plan for assessment on most occasions. Of course, center time and outside time are always additional times to record spontaneously. Assessment is hard work. If you aren’t planning for it, you will get behind. Think of assessment daily as you begin your day – ask yourself this question, “What am I going to do today for assessment?” You may have to make notes in your plans as a reminder: Maybe to take your clipboard outside to get some physical notes, reminder to take your camera to your small group area or to collect a work sample from some area where you have set up an activity during center time. If you are planning for it – you won’t get behind!

Items to include in your daily lesson plan:

• Include changes to the learning environment and learning centers. Include props/activities you added related to your current topic or interest and items you may have rotated or changed in a learning area. This can be done daily or weekly or as often as your current topic or interest changes. Your learning areas should change as frequently as your current interest or topic. These changes can be recorded on the lesson plan format, a teacher developed form, as jot notes, on a provided curriculum form, etc.
• Include opportunities for music and movement with name of the music and movement activity and the props to be used.
• Consider documenting the choices of activities that children have during outside time. You can include planned activities, choices of learning materials and large motor equipment and activities accessible.
• Have a definite beginning and ending to your day with a greeting and closing activity.
• Include an instructional activity or activities after rest time.
• Remember to plan a daily phonological awareness activity. Include the name of the activity.
• Include multiple opportunities for children to read and discuss children’s literature daily.
• Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards should be included on daily plans with all instructional activities. Over the course of a week, at least one activity for each of the seven learning domains (Language & Literacy, Math, Science, Creative, Health & Physical, Social Emotional, and Social Studies) should be planned.
• Include field trip details and changes to the learning areas. Pre and post field trip activities, changes to learning areas and environment related to the field trip, activities set up as follow-up to a field trip and Early Learning Standards or other curriculum objectives you are meeting.
• Consider including activities that are directed at individual children to meet individual children’s developmental needs. Center time and small group time are the prime opportunities to focus on the needs – the ones who need challenging, as well as the ones who need additional help.