Though necessary, lesson planning can take up a sizable chunk of teachers’ time. For example, according to one study, lesson planning can take up so much time that the average district allows elementary teachers about one class period per day (47 minutes) for lesson preparation and planning, roughly 10% of their scheduled workday. Many more educators are using artificial intelligence (AI) to help develop their lesson plans and save time. Educators recognize this potential for saving time, and HMH’s 2023 Educator Confidence Report results found that that 48% of educators noted lesson plan creation could benefit from AI.
Regardless of whether written traditionally or created using AI, effective lesson plans are undoubtedly important. In this article, we will share lesson plan examples for elementary classrooms. But first, let’s delve into the elements of effective lesson plans.
Elements of an effective lesson plan
Effective lesson plans use the available classroom time for more than just delivering the lesson, such as allowing time for students to put into practice what they have learned. Additionally, lesson plans should contain all the steps teachers must take to complete the lesson, along with the time each step should take. Finally, effective lesson plans consider students’ backgrounds and incorporate different senses.
Many lesson plans feature a combination of the following elements:
- Title
- Duration
- Standard(s)
- Grade level
- Subject
- Topic(s)
- Objectives/learning goal(s)
- Materials
- Vocabulary
- Introduction
- Steps
- Modeling
- Practice
- Differentiation option(s)
- Homework
- Suggested assessment(s)
Sample lesson plans for elementary school
Whether you are a new teacher or just looking for fresh lesson plan ideas, we have plenty of examples. For example, our lesson plan on the Native American oral history of the Oregon Trail displays some of the elements of an effective lesson plan mentioned before.
The lesson plan includes the lesson objectives, an introduction, vocabulary, practice opportunities, and questions for formative assessment.
Many programs allow educators to customize pre-made lesson plans. For example, below is an editable weekly lesson plan from a first-grade Into Reading lesson. The template includes sections for what teachers could cover in foundational skills, vocabulary, assigned reading, and writing workshop sections.
Lesson plans can be customized based on the classroom. For example, teachers can use a differentiated lesson plan to account for the needs of various learners. Download the differentiated lesson plan templates below.
We have provided plenty of math-specific lesson plans on our site. The lesson plans include elements such as standards covered, materials, prerequisite skills and concepts, preparation, additional steps to cover, wrap-up, and assessment ideas. Please see three examples below.
Teach students about the different types of polygons in mathematics, which can be described as flat, closed figures with three or more sides.
A place-value system is one in which the position of a digit in a number determines its value, and a place-value chart is a way to make sure digits are in the correct places.
When teaching students about dividend, divisor, and quotient in division, introduce algorithms that will allow them to divide larger numbers.
Though technology will never replace teachers, it can support making lesson plans. Lessons developed using generative AI tools like ChatGPT might need a bit of tweaking afterward but can provide a solid foundation. Plus, technology can aid lesson planning in other ways, too, such as using assessment data to know where to focus, incorporating interactive polls, playing videos or video games, and much more.
More lesson plan resources
For more guidance on creating lesson plans, free lesson plans, and lesson plan templates, please see the below resources:
Teach students the skills needed for success in and out of the classroom with these social and emotional activities and SEL lesson plans.
Find free teaching resources. Explore fun classroom activities, lessons plans, downloadables, and videos for Grade K–12 kids to keep learning and growing at grade level.
Learn how to create a lesson plan. Having a lesson plan prepares you for class by providing a clear outline for the day.
Share your favorite lesson plans
Do you have a tried-and-true sample lesson plan for elementary school that you especially love? Share your elementary lesson plan examples with us via email at shaped@hmhco.com or reach out on Instagram or Facebook.
***
This article was adapted from a blog post initially developed by the education technology company Classcraft, which was acquired by HMH in 2023. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of HMH.
Be the first to read the latest from Shaped.
