Video:How to Write Lesson Plan Step #1: Objectives and Goals

Transcript:How to Write Lesson Plan Step #1: Objectives and Goals

Hi, I'm Kaytie Sproul, here for About.com. I'm a credentialed teacher in the state of California and today we're going to talk about the first step of writing a lesson plan.

Steps for Writing Lesson Plans

Before embarking on any lesson, you must first determine what your objectives and goals are; in other words, what do you want your students to accomplish and how will you measure this new learning? Let's take a closer look.

What to Consider When Writing Objectives and Goals

The first thing you want to take into consideration when writing your lesson objectives and goals are the standards for your specific state and district. Make sure that all of your lessons are in alignment with these standards, as they are the foundation of effective teaching and should guide all student learning.

Lesson Plan Objectives and Goals

Let's review some objectives and goals from different grade levels and subject areas. The following example is from a second grade math lesson on regrouping. After discussion and demonstration of the re-grouping (or "carry-over") method, all students will be able to find the three-digit sum of two whole numbers by completing a 10-problem worksheet with 80 percent accuracy. Fortunately, with math it's always pretty cut and dry. The objective is that students learn how to regroup two-digit numbers and accurately find their sum total. The goal is that each student will be able to do this for ten separate problems, getting at least eight of those problems correct.

More Ideas for Planning Objectives and Goals

Moving on to a trickier subject matter, let's take a look at the following example from a sixth grade English/Language Arts lesson. After reading pages 22 through 30 of Tuck Everlasting, all students will demonstrate their understanding and insight by writing a one-page summary of the chapter that includes at least three character references and a prediction about the spring water.

The objective here is that students develop an interpretation of what they've just read and can clarify their understanding of the material. For this objective to be met, the students must achieve the goal of writing an accurate chapter summary in their own words.

While writing activities are often qualitative and graded on a holistic scale, the requirement of three character references and a prediction in each students' summary helps to quantify the goal. The success of the lesson can then be measured, in part, by how many students fulfill this requirement in their summaries. As you work on writing your own lesson objectives and goals, think about each one of your students and how you can tailor your lesson to improve their success. If you've got a bunch of hands-on learners, for example, your lesson may yield better results if your objectives and goals include tactile demonstrations of certain concepts.

Why Objectives and Goals Are Important to a Lesson Plan

The first step of lesson planning is perhaps the most important as it lays the foundation for a successful learning experience. Taking the time to write thoughtful objectives and goals will make each step of the process that much easier.

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