Lesson Planning

Created By: Jillian LeJeune

Imagine This:

You walk into your classroom on the first day of school and your students are looking at you, waiting for you to get started.... but

You have NO lesson plan.

What happens next?

Take a minute and imagine this scenario. How would you feel? What might go wrong without a plan?

That’s why lesson planning is so important, it’s the foundation for an effective, engaging classroom.

Learning Targets:

Define lesson planning in elementary schools
Explain why lesson planning is needed in elementary schools
Describe an elementary school that has successfully implemented lesson planning in their classroom

What is Lesson Planning and why is it important?

Lesson planning in elementary schools is the process where teachers organize, develop, and create instructional activities for the students that align with their learning objectives, while also meeting the diverse development needs of each student. According to Richards and Bohlke (2011), lesson planning allows teachers to "anticipate potential difficulties, sequence activities logically, and prepare materials in advance" (p. 24). Elementary schools need lesson planning for not only the teachers to help with time management, but also for the students because it keeps the children on a routine, engaged, and gives them appropriately aged activities based on their needs. Similarly, Kay (2018) emphasizes that lesson planning in elementary classrooms supports student engagement by integrating hands-on learning, collaboration, and assessment strategies appropriate for young learners. Lesson planning is important and needed in elementary schools because it has many positive aspects. It provides organization, creates diverse learning activities, and time management for teachers, but also gives the students routine, direction, structure, diverse learning, and engagement. According to Richards and Bohlke (2011), careful planning allows teachers to anticipate difficulties, sequence learning logically, and prepare materials in advance, which supports smoother classroom instruction. Without lesson planning then teachers couldn’t give the support students need to receive to keep them engaged and interactive with activities and learning. Kay (2018) notes that thoughtful planning helps teachers select strategies and resources that keep students motivated and actively participating. Lesson planning also helps with classroom management, which is important to elementary classes because without it the teachers would be burnt out and students wouldn’t be learning. When teachers plan in advance, they can maximize instructional time, reduce disruptions, and provide clear expectations for students (John, 2006).

Pictured is a teacher sitting at her desk trying to figure out how to plan a lesson around the cycle of butterflies for her second graders to make it inviting and fun for all of her students. She is taking the time after work hours before the next school day to plan out how she wants to explain it to help them understand the information being taught but also make it hands-on and fun, so it is engaging for second graders.

Please Watch this video below:

The video focuses on how teachers can write effective lesson objectives. It emphasizes that well-written objectives are a key part of lesson planning and are often examined in classroom observations.

How she brought her lesson plans to life in the classroom:

She gave each kid coloring pages of the life cycle and made a very engaging/colorful PowerPoint going over the life cycle of a butterfly. It kept the kids engaged by giving them a hands-on activity in front of them, such as the coloring for the art concept. She also gave bright visuals to keep them focused on the topic and made it like it was a storytelling comic.

A look inside Gladstone Elementary and their lesson planning.

Four years ago, Gladstone elementary did a case study on their successfulness with lesson planning. “Initial walkthroughs at Gladstone Elementary revealed that instruction was not aligned to the rigor of the state standards.” (Instruction Partners, 2021). What they did was acquire high-quality curriculum material, teachers received face to face training on the new curriculum, came up with collaborative planning routines, and received observations to get feedback on what was good and what needed work. “Instruction Partners taught me that every single student in our building deserves grade‐level content in front of them at all times. They taught me to view our students who are linguistically diverse as an asset, and by not giving them the same opportunities as other learners, I am functioning as a gatekeeper.”(Instruction Partners, 2021, para. 5). The results from what they acquired were better lessons because they had better planning practices, to give the students more grade-level standards and expectations. When they even had to switch to virtual learning, this foundation allowed them to adapt and stay strong with their instructional practices. This shows that with time, dedication, and practice, the teachers could help their students grow and achieve higher goals.

Conclusion:

Based on the information, I believe that lesson planning is important and needed for elementary education because it has a lot of benefits for both the teachers and students. For the teachers it helps with time management, organization, and provides diverse learning activities. For the students it helps keep them engaged, stay on routine, listen to directions, gives them structure, and offers diverse learning. As Kay (2018) emphasizes that lesson planning in elementary classrooms supports student engagement by integrating hands-on learning, collaboration, and assessment strategies appropriate for young learners. This shows that students strive with teachers who use lesson planning in their classroom. We need to understand that lesson planning helps schools achieve higher goals for their students and lets them grow to better accomplishments. Without using lesson plans, students will not thrive in the classroom and teachers will not be able to provide the necessary learning that is required because the students won't stay engaged. Do we want to help our students strive for more or do we want to sit around and do nothing for our students? I think it is more important to get the knowledge and practice of how to use high-quality curriculum material to better our student’s knowledge and engagement in school, but to also better the teachers and their knowledge as well because we are all still learning and growing.

Check Your Understanding:

1. What is the main purpose of a lesson plan?

A. To fill classroom time with random activities

B. To provide a structured guide for teaching and learning

C. To record attendance and grades

D. To decorate the classroom

2. Which of the following should always be included in a good lesson plan?

A. A list of classroom rules

B. The teacher’s personal schedule

C. Learning objectives and materials needed

D. Students’ favorite songs

3. Why is lesson planning especially important in elementary schools?

A. It helps teachers organize activities that build foundational skills

B. It gives students less time to play

C. It makes grading easier

D. It helps teachers avoid using textbooks

How does thoughtful lesson planning influence both the teacher’s effectiveness and the students’ learning experience in the classroom?

Add your answer below!

References:

Instruction Partners. (2021). Gladstone Elementary School case study. Instruction Partners. https://instructionpartners.org/gladstone-case-study/

John, P. D. (2006). Lesson planning and the student teacher: Rethinking the dominant model. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 38(4), 483–498. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220270500363620

Kay, K. (2018). Lesson planning for elementary education. Routledge.

Richards, J. C., & Bohlke, D. (2011). Creating effective language lessons. Cambridge University Press.

Teachings in Education. (2018, January 24). Lesson planning: What is required? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPpW9UVb_90

Answer Key:

Question 1: Answer B. To provide a structured guide for teaching and learning

Lesson plans help teachers organize what they will teach and how they will teach it. They outline goals, materials, activities, and assessments so instruction flows smoothly, and students stay engaged. Without a plan, lessons can feel unorganized or miss key learning targets.

Question 2: Answer C. Learning objectives and materials needed

Learning objectives define what students should know or be able to do by the end of the lesson. Listing materials ensures the teacher has everything ready to support those objectives. These two elements keep lessons purposeful and efficient.

Question 3: Answer A. It helps teachers organize activities that build foundational skills

Elementary students are developing core skills like reading, writing, and problem-solving. Lesson planning allows teachers to sequence lessons carefully, use age-appropriate methods, and reinforce learning through structure and repetition. Well-planned lessons create consistency and help students feel secure and confident.

How I used AI:

I used ChatGPT and Google Gemini to create the images and help me come up with the check your understanding questions. I also asked it to help better my writing to make it flow better and to make it still sound like me and have my style of writing.

AI made my process quicker and more seamless by helping me organize my ideas. It allowed me to complete the assignment in a shorter amount of time while still keeping my own tone of voice. It also enhanced my understanding of lesson planning by helping me connect my thoughts and engagement strategies with learning objectives. Overall, I believe it improved my lesson because it gave me helpful ideas to make it better.

I believe AI can be a helpful tool when used responsibly and transparently. My policy is to use it for brainstorming, structuring ideas, and improving clarity, but not to replace my own critical thinking or voice. I want my future AI use to stay focused on learning, not shortcuts.

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