Lesson plans are the way teachers present curriculum to students every day. Lesson plan templates are available to help teachers organize their lessons. Each lesson plan contains long and short-term learning goals, activities and materials needed, as well as ways to measure student achievement. Templates may vary depending on the age group and subject matter taught by individual teachers.

Lesson Plan Template for Middle and High School Subjects
Secondary school teachers must plan in-depth lessons in a single subject area. These teacher instruct specific subjects, such as English or social studies. Their classes may meet anywhere from 45 minutes a day to 90 minutes two or three days a week.

Their lesson plan template may include a starter or warm-up activity, a review from the previous class, statement of objectives for the present lesson, an introduction of new material and guided practice or activity for the class. The time spent on each aspect is also included. By the end of the class, teachers should review the new material to close the lesson and assign homework. These templates may also include the type of activity, such as cooperative group or paired assignment, and whether the course lasts a semester or full year.

Lesson Plan Template for Elementary Subjects
Elementary school teachers must plan for every subject area, including math, language arts, science and social studies. They may use a similar template as secondary teachers, but will have less time per subject area.

Elementary templates will include class objectives for the lesson, an introduction to the new material, direct instruction, a guided practice and class activity based on the new information. They will also review or reteach, and assess student learning. Teachers should complete a template for each subject they teach.

Lesson Plan Templates for Special Education
All teachers adapt and accommodate lessons for special education students. Special education create individualized lessons for their students. These templates include areas not only content learning goals and objectives, but also behavioral objectives. They may also require additional materials, such as behavior journals, behavior documentation and Individualized education plans.

For example, a teacher planning for a student with Attention Deficit Disorder may have a goal that the student reads silently to himself for 10 minutes without distraction.

Lesson Plan Templates for English Language Learners
Teachers who instruct English Language Learners (ELL) or English as a Second Language (ESL) students also use templates that include content along with specialized goals. An ELL teacher may have goals for speaking, listening, reading and writing for students that are learning a new language. For example, their goal might be that a student speak three new words or listen to a story, and answer questions for comprehension.