Planning Lessons & Units of Work
Follow these links to templates and samples – some of which have been produced by Teacher Education students.
Sample Lessons
Being able to plan for learning is a key part of teaching. There are many approaches to lesson planning and various formats that you can use.
Lesson Plan Templates
- Templates A&B
- Two simple templates are housed on this site. The first template organises a lesson into Aims/objectives, Assessment, Time, Activities, Resources/Teacher noes. The other template has additional areas including Content/learning, Inclusive practices, Links to curriculum and Evaluation
- Template C (
Word) - Two templates – in read only versions. One template relates to planning a lesson as part of a unit and invites notes in areas such as Key Question, Declarative outcomes, Procedural outcomes, Other considerations(e.g. cater for different learning styles), and Assessment, evaluation and reflection. The other template relates more to the lesson proper and includes three broad areas: The hook, Focussed learning and Drawing together of the pieces – as well as sub areas within each of these.
- VE&T Way to Go - Lesson Plans
- This site – housed on the DEECD website enables oyu to access lesson plans – with accompanying support materials (class room handouts) – relating to Vocational Education and Training. These lesson plans are organised by Year Level – Year 6 – 10.
Sample lesson plans
- New for old - Level 6 Sample Unit - Activity 1: Visual text analysis (VELS)
- This unit sample shows you how you can plan lessons explicitly in relation to VELS. Other samples are housed on this site. Relevant to Victorian teachers.
- Designing for a client - Level 6 Sample Unit - Activity 6: Making the product and evaluating use of time (VELS)
- This unit sample shows you how you can plan lessons explicitly in relation to VELS. Other samples are housed on this site. Relevant to Victorian teachers.
Resources
- How to Write Lesson Plans
- American site – but useful. Housed are various lesson plan templates, readings and related articles – such as What does a great lesson plan look like.
- Lesson Plan Ideas (innovated)
- A treasure trove! Site advertises itself as offering innovative and creative lesson plans. Has a searchable index to help you locate lesson plans related to English, Science, SOSE and Creative Arts. Heaps of plans!
- Five Common Mistakes in Writing Lesson Plans (and how to avoid them) (Education Oasis, US)
- A not for profit site. Gives hints to help with lesson planning. Also has lots of lesson plans organised into several subject areas.
Literature
- Serdyukov, P.&Ryan, M. (2008). Writing effective lesson plans: the 5-star approach. Boston: Pearson Allyn and Bacon,
- Walker, D. (2007). Teaching strategies for active learning: Five essentials for your teaching plan. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press.
Sample Units
There are lots of approaches to designing a unit of work . some start with a theme, while others start with a topic, a key idea, or a big question. Learning how to design units of work is an essential aspect of teaching.
Key references
- Planning a unit of work (DEECD)
This site – part of the DEECD website gives advice on how to plan curriculum. Provides templates and examples from several schools. Relevant and current. - Teacher Support Materials / Sample Units by Level
Relevant and current. Produced by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and designed to assist teachers plan with VELS in mind. - Unit Plan Template (
PDF 66.7 KB)
Relevant. Provides an example from the Intel Teach to the Future program – of a unit of work with embedded ICT. - The Victorian Essential Learning Standards Sample Units
Sample units specifically designed to assist teachers plan VELS-based curriculum. Includes teaching resources with the sample units. - Level 5 Sample Units (VELS)
- Level 6 Sample Units
Sample units
- Units of Work – Emergency Management Australia (Australian Government)
- Secondary Units of Work – Asia Scope and Sequence for Australia (Australian Government 2006) (PDF 1.5 MB)
- Discovering Democracy Units (DEEWR)
- The backyard diversity project and Living things in the Australian scene (NSW Government / Science)
- Sample units of work for Physical Activity and Sports Studies syllabus
- Community of Technology Educators (Education Queensland)
- Values Education (Queensland Government)
- Unit of Work – Industry Technology and Design Bridge Construction (Yr 10) (Word)
- Teaching Ideas and Units – English (Tasmanian Government)
Resources
Literature
- Appleton, K.&Harrison, A. (2001). Outcomes-based Science Units that Enhance Primary and Secondary Science Teachers' PCK. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Australian Association for Research in Education, Fremantle, WA, 2-6 December 2001.