Explanation standard lesson plan / note writing

This post is a continuation of the introduction to standard lesson plan / note writing in Nigeria. If you are yet to, click here to read the first part.

Part 2: The Actual Writing

Now that you are familiar with the meaning, types and components of a standard lesson note or plan, let’s get down to the actual writing. Get your note and writing materials let’s start:

• Name of Teacher – In the blank new page you want to write the note, the first item you should write is the name of the teacher (your own name). It is possible that you may be transferred from the class for which you want to write the note now. In such case, it is important that the note bear your name. This makes it easy for whoever will be taking your place to contact you for question should s/he need to ask one.
• Name of School – next is the name of the school. This is for identification. Note however that sometimes, all the lesson notes written by a particular teacher may be written in single exercise book. Since the exercise book already bears the name of the teacher, this item may be omitted when writing the note.
• Date – This is the date the lesson is scheduled to be delivered. You can get the date from the time-table. Look up which day of the week your subject is allocated and then what date that is on the calendar.
• Period – this refers to the period of the day the lesson is to be delivered. On the date of your subject above (and every other day), there definitely are other subjects. Each subject is allotted a fixed length of time (usually between 35 – 45 minutes) called a period. The periods are in turn given a position like first, second, third and so on. So, the period refers to the position of your subject for that day. A subject may be assigned two periods.
• Duration – at this stage, specify the length of time the lesson will last. For example, if a period in your school is 40 minutes and your subject is assigned two periods, then the duration is 1 hour 20minutes.
• Age – here, specify the age of the pupils/students. It may be 10 – 12 years.
• Class – specify the class the note is for. Is it Nursery 1 Gold, JSS 2a or SSS 3e?
• Class composition – This include the size of the class, the ability of the class and other class information. Some teachers do not include this in their note. But I believe it is necessary. Another teacher using your note will instantly know what to adjust if there’s been any major change in the class. Besides, it is key information any teacher needs before beginning a lesson.

Here, specify the size – the number of students in the class; ability – whether the class has been grouped according to their abilities (fast, average and slow learners) or mixed; and characteristics – whether it is a noisy or quiet class.

• Subject – Write the subject to be taught.
• Topic – Which topic under the subject is the note about? For a broad topic, you may include subtopic under the main topic.
• Reference materials – A good lesson plan is a product of one form of research or the other. Under this item, write the textbooks, websites or any other material from which you draw the content of the lesson plan.
• Instructional materials – this include the resources that both teachers and students need for maximum impartation to be made. These resources may include one or more of textbook (s), handout, art works, and scientific instruments e.t.c.
• Objectives – This is what the students are expected to learn after completing the lesson.  As a teacher, after a close inspection of the syllabus should be able to deduce the goal of each week’s lesson. The objectives you set should be directed towards teaching a particular learning skill, simple and aligned to whatever syllabus your school uses. The objective should not be unrealistic – too broad as not to be able to be achieved within the time allocated. The objectives should be in such a way as to be reflected in other parts of the note. I discussed how to set lesson objectives in this article.
• Previous knowledge – Teaching has been defined as a systematic process of transmitting knowledge, attitudes and skills in accordance with professional principles. By extension, learning is also done in a systematic way. This fact, supported by Piaget’s principle, must be remembered by teachers. Some new knowledge requires a kind of prerequisites knowledge or another. For example, a person who does not understand methods of differentiation will not understand application of differentiation also.

Under this item, state any previous knowledge the students possessed in relation to the topic under discussion.  For children to learn, you must make an effort to link the new body of knowledge to their previous experience.

• Method of Teaching – A teaching method is specific instructional process which differs from any other by the diversities of specialized activities. (Afolabi, S.S, & Adesope, 2010)

There are many teaching methods. Some of these are Lecture or the chalk and talk method, Computer Assisted Instructions (CAI), Discussion method and Field trips method (Excursion).

Under this item, state the teaching method(s) is applicable to the topic under discussion. This is conventionally the chalk and talk method. It may be a combination of any two or more methods as well.

• Teacher’s Activities – This section details what the teacher must do before, during and after the lesson for maximal output. It may be as simple as teaching a prerequisite topic. It may be activities that stimulate students’ background knowledge of the topic, revision of previous lesson and explaining key terms to arouse students’ interest. It may be a particular class management activity.

Whatever special activity (ies) that is required, specify it here.

• Learners’ Activities – In this section, you should specify whether any special activity is required of the students to enhance impartation. This may be students’ answer to questions, experiment and report, discussion and assignment.
• Presentation – this stage details, in order of progression, the steps or procedure you will follow to deliver the lesson adequate enough to achieve the objectives. It is the actual teaching itself. This stage begins with introduction as step 1 and then other steps the teacher adopts to teach. It is usually done as:
  • Introduction – click here to learn how to write an introduction
  • (What you will do after the intro)
  • (And next)
  • (E.t.c)
• Evaluation – at this stage, you should write the techniques you will employ to tests students’ understanding of the lesson. Conventionally, evaluation is done by asking questions from the students based on the topic treated, conducting quizzes and giving class and home works (assignment).
• Summary – Here the lesson has been taught. You simply give a short review of the entire lesson. Noting all important points that form the new knowledge acquired.
• Assignment – This step gives details of assignments given to the students during the lesson and evaluation. If you are giving the assignments  from a textbook, reference the book, chapter and page (s). Provide spaces for recording the date the assignment was given and date submitted.
• Conclusion – Here, write how you will end the topic. The conclusion of a lesson is usually by marking, recording and returning the students’ notes. Make necessary corrections and link the conclusion with the next topic. Before these activities, you may further give a brief revision of the entire lesson.

Finally, if you have followed the post up until now, congratulation! That’s all about writing a good lesson plan. It is an in-depth and comprehensive guide. Nevertheless, if there’s any item you think I left out or did not cover; feel free to drop as a comment below