Lesson plan template and format (free Word download)
A one-lesson plan that covers what you want learners to achieve, how the time will be used, how you will check understanding and what to change next time.
Free to use, edit and share. Opens in Microsoft Office, Google Docs and Sheets, and LibreOffice.
What a good lesson plan includes
The template follows the structure most teacher-training programmes use. Each section answers one question.
| Section | The question it answers |
|---|---|
| Details | Who, what subject, which class, how long? |
| Learning objectives | What will learners be able to do by the end? |
| Prior knowledge and materials | What do they already know, and what do I need? |
| Lesson flow | What happens in each stage, and for how long? |
| Differentiation | How do I support some learners and stretch others? |
| Assessment | How will I know the objectives were met? |
| Reflection | What worked, and what will I change? |
Prefer to fill in a form? The free lesson plan generator builds the plan for you in the detailed B.Ed, simple daily or 5E format and downloads it as Word or PDF.
How to write a lesson plan, step by step
- Start with the objective. Use a verb you can observe: "solve two-step equations", not "understand equations". Two or three objectives are plenty for one lesson.
- Plan the check first. Decide how you will see that learners met the objective (a short quiz, an exit question, a worked problem) before planning activities.
- Build the flow. The template uses six stages: starter, teach, guided practice, independent practice, check for understanding and closure. Give each a time so the lesson fits.
- Split teacher and learner actions. For each stage, write what you do and what learners do. If the learner column is mostly "listen", add practice.
- Plan for different levels. Note one support (worked example, sentence starters, fewer questions) and one stretch (harder problem, explain to a peer).
- Reflect afterwards. Two lines on what worked and what to change make the next plan faster to write.
Example: a 45-minute lesson flow
| Stage | Time | Example (maths: percentages) |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | 5 min | "A shirt is 20% off. What does that mean?" discussed in pairs |
| Teach | 10 min | Model finding 10%, 5% and 20% of an amount |
| Guided practice | 10 min | Work three problems together on the board |
| Independent practice | 10 min | Worksheet of six problems, increasing difficulty |
| Check | 5 min | Two quick questions answered on paper or in a poll |
| Closure | 5 min | Learners say one real place they will see percentages |
Daily, weekly and unit lesson plans
This template is a daily lesson plan for one session. For a week, copy the lesson-flow table five times. For a whole unit or term, start with a curriculum template to map units, then write daily plans from it. To publish a course learners can take, the course outline template is the better fit.
Turning lesson plans into an online course
A set of lesson plans is most of the way to an online course. Each lesson becomes a module with a recorded or live session, notes and a short test. An online course platform like AcadifyLab lets you run the same lessons live or self-paced, and see who has completed each one.
Common questions
Is this lesson plan template free?
Yes. The Word file is free to download, edit and share, with no sign-up.
What is the difference between a lesson plan and a unit plan?
A lesson plan covers one session. A unit plan covers a group of lessons on one topic, with the order, timing and final assessment. Write the unit plan first, then the lesson plans.
How long should a lesson plan be?
One to two pages is enough for most lessons. The aim is a clear plan you can follow and improve, not a long document.
Can I use it for B.Ed or teacher training?
Yes. It follows the common structure of objectives, lesson flow, differentiation, assessment and reflection. Check whether your college requires extra headings, such as teaching aids or blackboard work, and add them.
Does it work in Google Docs?
Yes. Upload the Word file to Google Drive and open it with Google Docs.
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