A weekly lesson plan is a detailed teaching framework that maps out your instructional goals and activities across five school days.
These plans help you maintain steady curriculum progression while allowing you to adapt daily lessons based on student needs.
A weekly lesson plan serves as your roadmap for delivering cohesive instruction throughout the week.
Unlike daily plans, weekly planning gives you a bigger picture of how each day’s learning builds toward your objectives.
When you outline material and instruction techniques for the week, you can present lessons over five days with enough detail for effective daily teaching.
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole with 16 years of classroom experience, says, “Weekly planning transforms teaching from reactive to proactive. When you can see the whole week at a glance, you make stronger connections between lessons and create more meaningful learning experiences.”
The weekly format helps you balance different learning activities across days.
For example, you might introduce new concepts on Monday, provide guided practice midweek, and assess understanding by Friday.
Weekly lesson plans help you reduce daily preparation time.
When you plan five days together, you can sequence activities more effectively and gather all necessary resources at once.
Time Management Advantages:
You can balance your workload across different days and reduce last-minute preparation stress.
Weekly planning creates useful overviews that help you set a suitable learning pace.
You can spot potential timing issues before they become problems.
Weekly plans also improve lesson coherence.
Students see connections between Monday’s introduction and Friday’s assessment, which strengthens understanding and retention.
Weekly planning supports better differentiation.
You can plan varied approaches across the week to meet different learning preferences and abilities.
Learning Targets and Objectives
Your learning targets should align with curriculum documents and state standards.
Each day’s activities must connect clearly to your weekly objectives.
Consider the complexity of your targets.
Simple recognition tasks require different planning than higher-order thinking activities.
Assessment Strategies
Include both formative and summative assessments in your weekly planning.
Pre-assessment activities help you understand existing knowledge, while ongoing checks guide daily adjustments.
Essential Planning Elements:
Keep your weekly plan flexible for daily modifications.
Student responses and learning pace may require you to adjust your original timeline.
Successful weekly lesson plans include three core components that work together to create effective learning experiences.
Clear learning objectives guide what students should achieve, structured activities deliver content, and assessment methods track progress.
Your learning objectives form the foundation of what you’ll teach during the week.
These specific, measurable goals tell students exactly what they should know or be able to do by the end of each lesson.
Write objectives using action words like “identify,” “explain,” or “calculate.”
For example, “Students will identify three causes of the Great Fire of London” gives clear direction for teaching and assessment.
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole, explains, “Learning objectives aren’t just curriculum requirements – they’re your roadmap for meaningful lessons. When students understand the destination, they’re more engaged in the journey.”
Link each objective directly to curriculum standards you’re addressing.
This ensures you cover required content and make assessment straightforward.
Consider different learning styles when writing objectives.
Include objectives that address visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic learners.
Your weekly activities should build upon each other.
Plan tasks that directly support your learning objectives.
Break complex topics into manageable chunks across several days.
For example, introduce fractions on Monday, practise identifying them on Tuesday, and apply fraction knowledge to real problems by Friday.
Include a mix of whole-class instruction, group work, and independent practice.
This variety keeps students engaged and accommodates different learning preferences.
Essential activity types to include:
Plan realistic timeframes for each activity.
Most primary activities work best in 15-20 minute segments, while secondary lessons can last longer.
Effective assessment strategies help you understand what students have learned and what needs reinforcing.
Plan both formative and summative assessments throughout your week.
Use quick formative checks like exit tickets, thumbs up/down signals, or mini whiteboards during lessons.
These give immediate feedback about student understanding.
Schedule summative assessments at natural breakpoints.
A Friday quiz can review the week’s learning, while a practical task might assess hands-on skills.
Assessment options to consider:
| Assessment Type | When to Use | Time Required |
|---|---|---|
| Exit tickets | End of each lesson | 2-3 minutes |
| Peer assessment | During group work | 5-10 minutes |
| Quick quiz | Mid-week check | 10-15 minutes |
| Practical task | End of unit | 20-30 minutes |
Record assessment data systematically.
Simple tick sheets or digital tools help you track individual progress and identify students needing extra support.
Plan your response to assessment results.
If half the class hasn’t grasped the concept, have contingency activities ready to save valuable teaching time.
To create an effective weekly lesson plan, start with clear goals, smart time management, and strategies to meet every student’s needs.
The best plans balance curriculum requirements with engaging activities and keep your workload manageable.
Start by outlining learning objectives that align with your curriculum standards.
Write down two or three key concepts or skills for each lesson.
Focus on what students will learn, not just what they’ll do.
This helps you create more purposeful activities and assessments.
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole, says, “When teachers begin with clear learning outcomes, they can design activities that truly support student progress.”
Rank your objectives by importance.
This helps you prioritise if time runs short or unexpected situations arise.
Create key questions to guide your lessons and check understanding.
These questions should:
Quick Goal-Setting Checklist:
Plan your week as a complete unit rather than as separate lessons.
This helps you connect learning across days and manage your time better.
Start with Monday’s hook to engage students.
Plan how each day builds on the previous one.
End Friday with reflection or consolidation activities.
Consider your school calendar.
Some days have less learning time due to assemblies, breaks, or special events.
Daily Structure Framework:
Use time management tools to stay realistic.
Many teachers underestimate how long activities take.
Build in buffer time for transitions and unexpected questions.
Keep alternative activities ready for when lessons finish early or run over.
These time fillers should still connect to your learning objectives.
Every weekly lesson plan needs strategies for different learning needs.
Plan three levels of support: additional scaffolding, core activities, and extension work.
Consider how your students learn best.
Include visual, auditory, and hands-on activities throughout your week.
This variety keeps all students engaged.
Prepare modified materials in advance.
Simple changes like larger fonts, visual supports, or step-by-step guides make a big difference.
Differentiation Strategies:
| Student Need | Support Strategy | Planning Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Below Level | Additional scaffolding, peer support | Prepare simplified worksheets |
| At Level | Core activities with choice | Offer different ways to show understanding |
| Above Level | Extension tasks, leadership roles | Plan enrichment activities |
Use flexible groupings throughout the week.
Mix ability groups with interest-based or random groups to avoid labelling students.
Build in check-in points where you can adjust support based on student responses.
Your weekly lesson plan should be a flexible guide, not a rigid script.
Different template formats suit various teaching styles and subject requirements.
You can choose between digital versions that sync across devices or printable formats for handwritten planning.
Simple Weekly Planners work best for single-subject teachers or those who prefer minimalist layouts.
These basic weekly templates include sections for objectives, activities, and notes without overwhelming detail.
Multi-subject templates help primary teachers organise several subjects in one view.
You can track maths, English, science, and other subjects across the week with dedicated columns for each area.
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole, says, “When selecting templates, consider your teaching load and planning preferences. A busy Year 6 teacher needs different organisation than someone teaching one secondary subject.”
Subject-specific templates include built-in prompts for particular areas.
Science templates might include sections for experiments and safety notes.
English templates often feature spaces for reading objectives and vocabulary lists.
Age-specific formats cater to different key stages.
Early years templates include sensory activities and outdoor learning spaces.
Secondary templates focus more on assessment criteria and homework assignments.
Most editable lesson plan templates let you modify sections based on your needs.
You can add or remove categories like homework, differentiation, or assessment notes.
Adding your school’s requirements ensures templates match expectations.
Include sections for school-specific policies, behaviour tracking, or curriculum codes.
Personalising for your teaching style makes planning more efficient.
If you teach through themes, create sections for cross-curricular links.
For practical subjects, add equipment lists or safety considerations.
Including student information helps with differentiation planning.
Add boxes for SEN accommodations, extension activities, or support group rotations.
Try colour-coding different subjects or ability groups within your template.
This visual organisation helps you spot gaps or imbalances in your weekly planning quickly.
Digital templates let you edit plans easily and store them in the cloud. You can copy elements, share plans with colleagues, or open them on different devices. Online lesson plan generators help you start planning quickly.
Printable formats are best for teachers who like to write by hand or need paper copies for observations. PDF templates are useful in staffrooms with unreliable internet.
Hybrid approaches give you both options. You can plan online and print copies for your desk or for observations.
Check your school’s technology setup before choosing a format. If you can’t use laptops during lessons, printed templates let you make changes as needed.
You can use digital formats to plan with colleagues or share plans with supply teachers by email.
Each subject needs a different approach to weekly planning. Teachers adjust their weekly lesson plan templates to fit curriculum goals and learning needs.
Primary teachers often cover many subjects in one template. Secondary teachers focus on one subject for different year groups.
Primary teachers manage several subjects every day. Multi-subject weekly lesson planners help keep lessons organised.
Your weekly template should have sections for English, maths, science, and foundation subjects.
“When planning for primary, you need to see the whole week’s learning journey across subjects,” says Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole. “This helps you spot natural cross-curricular links and avoid cognitive overload for children.”
Essential elements for primary weekly planning:
Add slots for assembly, PE, and intervention groups.
Colour-code each subject area for a clear overview. This makes it easier to balance subjects and ensure enough time for core areas.
Use templates with small boxes for resources. This stops last-minute searches for worksheets or equipment.
Secondary teachers usually make detailed weekly plans for single subjects. They track progress for different year groups.
Key components for secondary weekly planning:
Build your template around your teaching timetable. If you teach Year 7 history on certain days, plan those lessons together for better flow.
Add a notes section to track which classes are ahead or behind. This helps you change your pace as needed.
Many teachers include past paper questions or exam tasks in weekly plans. This keeps assessment regular and less stressful.
Specialist subjects like art, music, PE, and DT need unique weekly planning. You must consider practical skills, equipment, and creative steps.
Add extra details for health and safety to your lesson plans.
Art and DT planning essentials:
PE and games planning:
Music teachers plan around performance goals. Build weekly skills towards concerts or assessments and list practice tracks, instruments, and progress notes.
Use separate planning sheets for practical and theory parts. This keeps lessons balanced between hands-on work and curriculum knowledge.
Some specialist teachers plan in two-week cycles instead of one. This gives time for projects and steady skill growth.
Managing your time well changes how you prepare weekly lesson plans. Focus on important tasks and try batch planning to prepare several lessons at once.
Start your week by listing your most important teaching tasks. Write down everything you need to do, from marking to lesson planning and administrative duties.
Simple priority system:
Do important tasks first. These directly affect your students and lesson quality.
Michelle Connolly says, “Teachers who prioritise their most impactful tasks create better learning experiences whilst protecting their personal time.”
Try this daily routine:
Batch planning means preparing several lessons in one go. This method cuts down on decision fatigue and saves time.
Weekly batch planning schedule:
| Day | Focus | Time Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Plan all maths lessons | 60 minutes |
| Monday | Prepare English activities | 45 minutes |
| Wednesday | Science and topic work | 30 minutes |
Set aside two hours each week for focused planning. Choose a time when you feel most alert.
Steps for batch planning:
Teachers who use batch planning feel more prepared and less stressed. You spend less time switching between different planning tasks.
Every classroom has students with different abilities and backgrounds. Good weekly lesson plans use strategies for different learning styles and give support to students with extra needs.
Accommodations and modifications make lessons more inclusive. Start by spotting specific needs in your class and plan adjustments before teaching.
Pre-lesson Planning Adaptations:
For example, when teaching Year 4 fractions, use manipulatives for hands-on learners, picture cards for visual support, and audio for students with reading difficulties.
Michelle Connolly says that strong SEND support needs planning adaptations from the start.
During-lesson Support Strategies:
Remember, adaptations are often short-term solutions while you build skills. Check progress often and change your approach as needed.
Inclusive lesson plans include many perspectives and experiences. This approach values every student’s background and enriches learning.
Content Integration Strategies:
Connect learning goals to students’ own knowledge and cultures. For example, when teaching measurement, use recipes or buildings from various cultures.
Engagement Techniques:
Teachers who use culturally relevant materials see better engagement and stronger classroom connections. Plan regular chances for cultural sharing and make sure your displays reflect your students.
Check if all students see themselves in your lessons and adjust your plans if needed.
Working with colleagues to create lesson plans saves time and improves teaching quality. Sharing templates and planning together keeps lessons consistent and reduces your workload.
Sharing lesson plan templates with colleagues builds a resource bank for your team. Create a shared digital folder on Google Drive or Microsoft Teams for everyone to upload their best templates.
Include templates for different subjects and lesson types.
Michelle Connolly says, “Teachers who collaborate on planning consistently report feeling more confident in their delivery. Sharing templates means sharing proven strategies.”
Organise templates by:
Make sure templates are editable so others can adapt them. Add notes about what worked and any challenges.
Set up a simple rating system so teachers can mark their favourite templates. This makes it easy to find the best ones.
Create categories for special cases like supply cover or revision sessions. These save time when you are busy.
Team planning sessions multiply your teaching effectiveness. Working with your team gives you more ideas and shares the workload.
Hold regular collaborative lesson planning meetings during planning time or staff development. Focus on teaching methods, not just resources.
Effective team planning includes:
Share planning tasks based on team members’ strengths. One teacher might create engaging starters, while another designs plenaries.
Write down your team’s agreed approaches for consistency. This helps when students move between teachers or need cover.
Use meetings to review lessons. Talk about what worked and what to change next time.
Rotate who leads meetings to share responsibility and bring new ideas. Every team member has unique classroom experience.
Create shared planning documents that everyone can access and update. This keeps everyone informed about curriculum coverage and timing.
Modern digital tools can change how you create and manage weekly lesson plan templates. These tools make planning more efficient and keep your resources organised on all your devices.
Digital planning platforms give you new ways to prepare your weekly lessons. You can use ready-made templates that match curriculum standards and customise them for your needs.
Top Digital Planning Features:
Platforms like Google Classroom and Canvas offer lesson plan templates with built-in collaboration features. You can copy successful lessons for different weeks and share templates with colleagues right away.
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole, says, “I’ve seen digital planning tools cut preparation time by up to 40% and improve lesson quality.”
Many platforms now use AI-powered lesson generation to create structured plans based on your curriculum. These tools analyse your teaching style and make personalised weekly templates with objectives, activities, and differentiation strategies.
Cloud-based storage keeps your lesson plan templates accessible on any device. You no longer need to worry about working on different versions of the same document.
Essential Cloud Benefits:
Google Drive and OneDrive work with most educational planning platforms. You can open your weekly templates from your classroom or home computer and share lesson plans with teaching assistants or cover teachers instantly.
Cloud storage lets you plan together with colleagues. Several teachers can add to shared weekly templates and keep their own copies for their classes.
With mobile access, you can update lesson plans during breaks or add notes right after lessons. This helps you improve your templates over time.
Regular review turns your weekly lesson plan into a stronger tool for student success. Consistent reflection and feedback help you make ongoing improvements.
Adding reflection to your weekly routine helps you spot patterns and make helpful changes. Set aside 10-15 minutes at the end of each week to review what worked well and what didn’t.
Weekly Reflection Questions:
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole, says, “The best teachers spend a few minutes each day noting surprises—both good and bad. These notes help improve future lessons.”
You can keep a simple reflection log using these categories:
| Day | What Worked | What Didn’t | Time Issues | Student Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Interactive maths game | Too much writing | Rushed ending | Very engaged |
| Tue | Story discussion | Complex instructions | Perfect timing | Mixed responses |
Track these notes over time to find patterns.
Student feedback shows you how effective your lesson plan is. Make it easy for pupils to share their thoughts.
Try these feedback methods:
Use this feedback to adjust your lesson plan for next week. If many students struggled with a topic, add more practice. If engagement was low, try new activities or resources.
Quick Adjustment Strategies:
Treat your weekly lesson plan as a living document. Make notes during lessons and update your template for next time.
Keep a list of successful activities and resources. When you’re short on time, you’ll have proven ideas ready.
Sharing your weekly lesson plans builds stronger connections between school and home. It also helps students take charge of their learning.
Pick the right platform to share lesson plan templates with families. Most parents prefer digital methods like email or school portals.
Send lesson plans at the start of each week. This gives parents time to prepare and talk with their children about upcoming topics.
Write clear learning objectives in parent-friendly language. For example, say “Your child will learn about fractions using hands-on materials like pizza slices and building blocks,” instead of technical terms.
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole, says, “When teachers share lesson plans with parents, it opens helpful conversations about learning at home.”
Create a simple template that shows:
Use bullet points and short paragraphs for easy reading.
Share simplified lesson plans with students so they can track their progress. Year 5 and 6 pupils especially benefit from knowing what’s next.
Make student-friendly versions with visuals. Add tick boxes by learning objectives so children can mark their achievements.
Discuss lesson plans with students during morning meetings. Let them guess what they’ll learn or connect new topics to old ones.
Invite students to suggest activities that fit your learning objectives. This builds investment in their education and keeps you on track with the curriculum.
Post weekly learning goals in the classroom using simple language. Students can check these during lessons to stay focused.
Try collaborative planning where students help design parts of their learning. This boosts engagement and shows them how lessons are planned.
Teachers often look for practical answers to planning challenges. Here are some common questions about making effective weekly lesson plans for all learners.
First, observe your class and use student surveys to find out their learning preferences. Visual learners like diagrams and charts, while auditory learners benefit from discussions and music.
Add kinaesthetic activities like hands-on experiments, movement games, and manipulatives for students who learn by doing. Michelle Connolly says, “Mixing different approaches in each lesson gives every child more ways to learn.”
Plan each lesson with at least two learning styles. For example, introduce a maths idea with visuals, talk about it as a group, and practice with hands-on tasks.
Include modifications for special requirements like larger text, quiet spaces, or extra time if needed.
Start with clear learning objectives that match your curriculum. Your weekly lesson plan should include learning targets as the base for everything else.
Plan your week so skills and concepts build logically. Begin Monday with introductions, add complexity on Tuesday and Wednesday, and review by Friday.
Use pre-assessment activities to find out what students already know. This stops you from repeating content or skipping needed basics.
Add formative assessments throughout the week. Use exit tickets, polls, or checklists to adjust your teaching pace.
Leave room for unexpected changes. Build in buffer time for tricky concepts or new learning opportunities.
Many platforms offer free weekly lesson plan templates you can customise. Canva has easy-to-edit templates with attractive designs.
Google Docs has basic lesson plan options in its template library. You can also make your own template with tables and headings.
Educational websites provide downloadable templates in Word and PDF formats. Look for ones with sections for objectives, materials, activities, and assessment.
Professional development sites often share templates from experienced teachers. These usually include prompts and suggestions for each part of your plan.
Group similar subjects together to keep your focus and reduce switching tasks. Plan all maths lessons first, then move to literacy.
Use a master template with your regular routines and timings. This saves time on basics like morning activities and break times.
Prepare materials in batches for the whole week. Photocopy worksheets, set up science tools, and organise art supplies ahead of time.
Create reusable resource lists for common activities. Keep standard lists for reading, maths manipulatives, and tech needs.
Plan backwards from your weekly goals. Decide what students should achieve by Friday and work back to fill in each day.
Review and adjust old plans instead of starting over. Keep notes about what worked and what to change next time.
Start with clear, measurable learning objectives written in student-friendly language. These objectives should state what students will know or do by the end of the lesson.
List all materials and resources you need, such as technology, worksheets, manipulatives, and reference books. This helps you avoid searching for missing items during the lesson.
Describe your instructional strategies and the timing for each activity. Explain how you will introduce concepts and provide guided practice.
Allow time for students to work independently. Add assessment methods that match your objectives.
Include both quick checks during the lesson and evaluations at the end. Note strategies for meeting different learning needs.
Offer extension activities for advanced students. Provide modifications for students who need extra help.
Leave space for reflection notes after teaching. Record what went well and what you might change next time.
Observe student engagement and participation levels. Notice which activities generate enthusiasm and which cause confusion or disinterest.
Use formative assessments to check learning progress. Compare pre-assessment results with exit tickets or quick quizzes during the week.
Track time management and pacing. Note if activities took longer than planned or if you finished early.
Collect student feedback with simple surveys or thumbs up/thumbs down responses. Ask what helped them learn best and what they found challenging.
Review student work samples and completed assignments for quality and understanding. Look for patterns in errors or misconceptions.
Keep notes about behaviour and classroom management during different activities. Identify which lesson structures support a positive learning environment.
Record any parent feedback or questions from homework or student discussions at home. Use this insight to see how well concepts transfer beyond the classroom.
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