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Daily Lesson Plan Template

Plan today's lesson in a few minutes. Each daily plan saves in your browser by date, so your week builds itself in Week view.

Your plans save automatically in this browser only. Nothing is sent to us or anyone else. Don't enter students' personal details.

The standards the lesson addresses: Common Core or state standard codes, with a short description.

What students will be able to do by the end. Start with a measurable verb: "Students will be able to…"

Everything you need to prepare: texts, slides, manipulatives, handouts, tech.

Words students need to understand and use.

A short opener that grabs attention and connects to prior learning.

Lesson procedure

Each step with its timing: direct instruction, guided practice, independent work.

Support, extension, English learners, IEP/504 accommodations. Describe groups and needs, not named students.

How you will know they met the objective: exit ticket, observation, quiz, work sample.

How students sum up what they learned before they leave.

Optional practice or an extension task.

What worked, what to change, who needs a re-teach.

Save and share

My plans

Saved in this browser on this device only. Clearing your browser data deletes them, so download a backup now and then.

    Week

    Plans appear on the day set in their Date box. Click a plan to open it.

    How to write a daily lesson plan

    1. Start with the objective. What will students be able to do by the end? Use a measurable verb (the objectives writer helps).
    2. Plan the opening. A three-to-five-minute warm-up that gets everyone thinking.
    3. Time the main steps. Add each step to the procedure with its minutes; the maker adds them up and flags if you're over time.
    4. Decide how you'll check learning. An exit ticket, a quick quiz or observation notes.
    5. Plan the close. How students sum up what they learned.

    Daily vs weekly plans: a daily plan has the detail for one lesson; a weekly plan shows every lesson in the week at a glance. With this maker, your dated daily plans appear automatically in Week view.

    Worked example: Standard lesson plan

    Here is a complete example made with the maker above. Use it as a model, or load it into the form and change it to suit your class.

    Standard lesson plan (US)

    Finding the main idea

    SubjectEnglish language arts (reading)Grade3
    DateLength45 minutes

    Standards

    CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.2 (determine the main idea of an informational text and explain how key details support it).

    Learning objectives

    Students will be able to identify the main idea of a short nonfiction passage and name three details that support it.

    Materials and resources

    Article "Why Bees Matter" (one page, two reading levels)

    Main idea "table" graphic organizer (tabletop + 3 legs)

    Chart paper and markers

    Exit ticket slips

    Key vocabulary

    main idea, key detail, topic, support

    Warm-up / hook (5 min)

    Show a photo of a messy desk. Ask: "If you had to describe this picture in one sentence, what would you say?" Link the one-sentence summary to the idea of a main idea.

    Lesson procedure

    TimeActivity
    10 minModel with a short paragraph about sea turtles: underline the topic, then think aloud to turn it into a main idea sentence. Fill in the "table" organizer: main idea on top, details as legs.
    10 minGuided practice: read the first two paragraphs of "Why Bees Matter" together. Pairs agree on a main idea and two details; share on whiteboards.
    12 minIndependent practice: students finish the article and complete their own organizer. Teacher confers with a small group.

    Differentiation and accommodations

    Support: easier version of the article with key sentences highlighted; sentence starter "This text is mostly about…".

    Extension: write a second main idea for one paragraph and compare it to the whole-text main idea.

    English learners: picture glossary for bee vocabulary; partner talk before writing.

    Assessment

    Exit ticket: a new short paragraph. Students write its main idea and one supporting detail. Sort into "got it / almost / not yet" for tomorrow's groups.

    Closure (5 min)

    Turn and talk: "How is a main idea different from a topic?" Two pairs share.

    Homework / extension

    Read a page of any nonfiction book at home and tell a family member its main idea in one sentence.

    Planned time: 42 minutes of 45

    Common Core State Standards codes are cited for reference only; see the official Common Core site for the full standards. © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.

    Frequently asked questions

    What should a daily lesson plan include?

    The objective, standards, materials, an opening, the main activities with timings, differentiation, assessment and closure. Homework and a short reflection are useful extras.

    How long should a daily lesson plan be?

    One page is plenty for most lessons. Write enough for a colleague or substitute to teach it, and leave out sections you don't need.

    Can I copy yesterday's plan?

    Yes. Open My plans and press Duplicate, then change the date and details.

    Other lesson plan templates

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