Lesson Plan Template (Printable PDF & GoodNotes)
A detailed one-lesson plan. The header covers subject, class or grade, date, duration, unit, lesson number, standards and key vocabulary. Eight boxes follow the lesson: learning objectives, hook, direct instruction (I do), guided practice (we do), independent practice (you do), differentiation, assessment and exit ticket, and materials. Two reflection boxes close it out.
- Printable US Letter8.5 × 11 in, white paper
- Printable A4210 × 297 mm, white paper
- iPad / GoodNotesAlso Notability and Noteshelf
- E-ink tabletreMarkable, Kindle Scribe, Boox
Free PDF, 1 page, undated. No sign-up needed.
Shown for iPad in the Sage Botanical theme. Printable downloads use white paper (there's a dark mode preview below); the e-ink version is black and white.
One page, ready to fill in.
- Write-in lines for subject, class / grade, date, duration, unit, lesson #, standards / codes and key vocabulary
- Boxes for learning objectives (I can…), hook / warm-up, direct instruction (I do), guided practice (we do), independent practice (you do), differentiation: support, extension, ELL, IEP, assessment & exit ticket and materials & resources
- Boxes for what worked and change next time
- Undated, so you can print or duplicate it as often as you need
Who it's for
New teachers, student teachers on placement, teachers preparing for an observation, and experienced teachers writing a lesson they'll reuse. It also suits tutors and trainers planning a single session.
Getting the most from a lesson plan.
Write objectives as "I can" statements
"I can explain why leaves change colour" tells students and observers exactly what success looks like. Plan the exit ticket to check that statement.
Keep the hook short
Three to five minutes: a question, an image, a short clip or a surprising fact. Its job is to make students want the rest of the lesson.
Plan the gradual release
I do, we do, you do moves responsibility from you to the students. If the guided practice box is empty, the independent practice usually struggles.
Fill differentiation before you teach
Note support for students who need it, extensions for those who finish early, and any ELL or IEP accommodations, so you're not improvising mid-lesson.
Use the reflection boxes the same day
Write what worked and what to change while it's fresh. Next year's version of the lesson will be better for it.
Included in 6 planners
This template is a page in each of these planners. Open one to see everything else that comes with it.
Get it inside a full hyperlinked planner
The lesson planner includes this page alongside dated month and week pages for your year, with side tabs and links between every page. Pick your device and theme, preview it free, and pay only when it's right.
- Dated pages for the whole year
- Tap a tab or a date to jump there
- GoodNotes, Notability, Samsung Notes, e-ink and print sizes
Opens the lesson planner with the Teaching section switched on.
Or read about the lesson planner first.
What should a lesson plan include?
Objectives, standards, a hook, instruction, guided and independent practice, differentiation, assessment and materials. This template has a box for each, plus reflection.
Is it suitable for observations?
Yes. Its structure matches what most observation and evaluation frameworks look for, including objectives, standards, differentiation and assessment.
Does it work for any subject or grade?
Yes. The boxes are general. For preschool, the weekly theme plan template fits better.
Can I type on it?
Yes. Use the iPad version in GoodNotes or Notability with text boxes, or print it and handwrite.
How long should a lesson plan take to write?
A detailed plan might take 30 to 60 minutes the first time. Once written, it can be reused and adapted, which is where the reflection boxes help.
