Developing a creative an effective classroom lesson plan can make or break student learning and participation. Starting your lesson plans with a structured layout and expanding it with details and design can create a turning point in the classroom. The main structure of the lesson plan should answer the questions of what, why, and how. What, why, and how not only is in place for the teachers to have the underline of their lesson plan, but also helps the students understand the deeper meaning of what they are learning and stay engaged.
What: What are the students going to learn? Think about the desired outcome that you want from each skill and what you want your students to take away from each lesson. Layout what each skill is and how it will help students later in other technical thinking examples – implement the same skill throughout other lessons to continuously resonate with students.
Why: Why do they need to learn this skill? Expressing to students the why provides clarity on the importance of the subjects, generating curiosity and continued interest and imagination. The why helps piece together understanding and reasoning students need to learn what you are about to teach them. The why gives students a deeper meaning in the subjects and be able to connect lesson plans together in cognitive thinking.
How: How are they going to learn and demonstrate this skill? This is where you put together a strong plan and time frame to help reach goals stated above. Which activities/tests/experiences are going to be used to gauge their learning. Using these gauges, how are you going to go over the lesson to reach these desired goals of understanding. Here is where you can get the students engaged and interactive with each lesson plan, creating an effective learning environment.
Go through each lesson with what, why, and how in mind to create a strong and effective plan for the classroom and continuously engage students. Here are some great resources to help create lesson plans you can use with what, why, and how planning with:
What tips do you have for teachers creating their own lesson plans?
Resources:
https://www.cypherlearning.com/blog/k-20/answering-the-why-how-what-of-lesson-planning
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