lesson-plan

name	lesson-plan
description	Creates structured lesson plans with objectives, activities, assessment methods, and differentiation strategies.
allowed-tools	Read Write Glob
metadata	{"author":"matthewhitcham","version":"1.0"}

Lesson Plan

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:

• Create a structured lesson plan for a class, workshop, or training session
• Define clear learning objectives with measurable outcomes
• Design activities that engage different learning styles
• Build assessment methods that verify learning happened

DO NOT use this skill for full curriculum design, multi-week course outlines, or student grading systems. This is for individual lesson or session planning.

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Core Principle

A LESSON PLAN IS NOT A SCRIPT — IT IS A FRAMEWORK THAT ENSURES EVERY MINUTE SERVES A LEARNING OBJECTIVE. IF YOU CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY AN ACTIVITY IS IN THE PLAN, IT SHOULD NOT BE THERE.

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Phase 1: Lesson Brief

Required Inputs

Input	What to Ask	Default
Topic	"What is the lesson about?"	No default — must be provided
Audience	"Who are the learners — age, level, background?"	Adult professionals
Duration	"How long is the session?"	60 minutes
Delivery format	"In-person, virtual, or hybrid?"	In-person
Prior knowledge	"What do learners already know about this topic?"	Beginner — no prior knowledge assumed
Resources available	"What tools, tech, or materials are available?"	Whiteboard, projector, handouts

GATE: Confirm topic, audience, and learning objectives before building the plan.

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Phase 2: Learning Objectives

Writing Objectives

Every lesson needs 2-4 measurable objectives using this format:

"By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to [action verb] + [specific skill or knowledge]."

Bloom's Taxonomy Action Verbs

Level	Verbs	Example Objective
Remember	Define, list, recall, identify	"List the 4 components of a marketing funnel"
Understand	Explain, summarize, describe, compare	"Explain the difference between SEO and SEM"
Apply	Use, demonstrate, implement, solve	"Apply the pricing formula to calculate project rates"
Analyze	Compare, contrast, categorize, examine	"Analyze a case study to identify conversion bottlenecks"
Evaluate	Assess, critique, justify, recommend	"Evaluate two marketing strategies and recommend one"
Create	Design, build, develop, compose	"Design a social media content calendar for one month"

Objective Rules

1. Start with higher-order verbs when possible — "analyze" beats "list"
2. Make them measurable — you should be able to test whether the learner achieved it
3. Limit to 2-4 per lesson — too many objectives means none are learned deeply
4. Avoid vague verbs — "understand" and "appreciate" are not measurable. Use "explain" or "demonstrate" instead.

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Phase 3: Lesson Structure

Lesson Plan Template

## Lesson Plan: [Topic]

**Date:** [Date]
**Duration:** [X] minutes
**Instructor:** [Name]
**Audience:** [Description]

### Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:
1. [Objective 1]
2. [Objective 2]
3. [Objective 3]

### Materials Needed
- [Material 1]
- [Material 2]
- [Handout / worksheet]

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### Opening (10% of time — [X] min)
**Hook:** [Attention-grabbing opening — question, scenario, surprising fact]
**Frame:** [What we will cover and why it matters to the learner]
**Connect:** [Link to prior knowledge or real-world application]

### Instruction (30% of time — [X] min)
**Teach:** [Core content delivery — lecture, demo, or guided exploration]
**Key concepts:**
- [Concept 1]
- [Concept 2]
- [Concept 3]
**Visual/example:** [Specific example, diagram, or case study]

### Practice (40% of time — [X] min)
**Activity:** [Hands-on practice activity]
**Format:** [Individual / pairs / small groups]
**Instructions:** [Step-by-step directions for the activity]
**Expected output:** [What learners produce — worksheet, solution, presentation]
**Facilitator role:** [Circulate, answer questions, provide feedback]

### Closing (20% of time — [X] min)
**Review:** [Recap key concepts — ask learners to state them, not you]
**Assess:** [Quick check for understanding — quiz, exit ticket, show of hands]
**Connect forward:** [Preview next lesson or real-world application]
**Action item:** [One thing learners should do before the next session]

Time Allocation Rule

Follow the 10-30-40-20 framework:

• 10% Opening — hook and frame
• 30% Instruction — teach the concept
• 40% Practice — hands-on application (this is where learning happens)
• 20% Closing — review, assess, and connect forward

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Phase 4: Differentiation & Assessment

Differentiation Strategies

Learning Need	Strategy
Advanced learners	Extension activities, peer teaching roles, deeper application
Struggling learners	Simplified instructions, additional examples, paired with a buddy
Visual learners	Diagrams, charts, demonstrations, color-coded notes
Auditory learners	Discussion, verbal explanations, think-alouds
Kinesthetic learners	Hands-on activities, movement, physical models

Assessment Options

Method	When to Use	Time Required
Exit ticket	End of lesson — 1-3 questions on a card	3-5 min
Think-pair-share	During instruction to check understanding	5 min
Mini-quiz	End of lesson or beginning of next	5-10 min
Observation	During practice activity	Ongoing
Show of hands / thumbs	Quick pulse check mid-lesson	1 min
Learner summary	"Explain the key concept in your own words"	3-5 min

Lesson Plan Checklist

• 2-4 measurable learning objectives defined
• Opening hooks attention and frames the lesson
• Instruction includes concrete examples or demonstrations
• Practice activity takes up at least 40% of lesson time
• Assessment method verifies whether objectives were met
• Materials and handouts are prepared
• Timing is realistic with buffer for transitions
• Differentiation options are included for diverse learners

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Anti-Patterns

• All lecture, no practice — if learners only listen, they retain 10-20% of the content. Practice drives retention.
• No clear objectives — without objectives, the lesson has no direction and no way to measure success.
• Starting with "today we are going to learn about..." — boring. Hook first, then frame.
• Running out of time for the closing — the closing is where learning is consolidated. Protect this time.
• Same activity format every lesson — variety keeps learners engaged. Alternate between individual, pair, and group work.

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Recovery

• Activity takes longer than planned: Cut the less critical activity, not the closing. Consolidation matters more than coverage.
• Learners already know the material: Skip to the practice activity and add challenge extensions. Do not repeat what they know.
• Technology fails: Have a non-tech backup for every tech-dependent activity. Print handouts, use the whiteboard.
• Low energy in the room: Insert a 2-minute movement break, switch to pair discussion, or ask a provocative question.
• One objective not achieved: Note it. Address it at the start of the next lesson. Do not rush through content to "cover" everything.