Components of an Academy Lesson Plan - National Academy Foundation

Components of an Academy Lesson Plan

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT: STANDARD ORGANIZATION

While NAF encourages innovation in curriculum and instruction within our member Academies, our curriculum generally follows a developmental approach. NAF is exploring alternative lesson templates to encompass more project-based learning opportunities within our curriculum structure. In general, each NAF lesson plan includes certain elements which are explained below.

AIM
TEACHER BACKGROUND
PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES
MATERIALS
SPRINGBOARD
LESSON DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY
APPLICATION
HOMEWORK

AIM [top]
	The aim serves as a focus for both the teacher's plan and the students' learning. Generally, it is posed as a thought-provoking question.

TEACHER BACKGROUND [top]
	The teacher background provides the teacher with industry-based knowledge to support the foundation for the lesson, explains the relevance of the lesson to the Academy's mission and goals, discusses the particular teaching methodology suggested for the lesson, and may state the lesson's relationship to others in the course.

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES [top]
	This element in the lesson plan is based on the knowledge that effective teaching must manifest in student performance or behavior. In NAF lessons, the intended outcome of the instruction is stated with the phrase "Students will be able to" followed by a list of anticipated outcomes (in terms of behavior or performance). Most lessons have two or three objectives and cover basic as well as higher level skills.

MATERIALS [top]
	Materials that relate to the execution of the lesson are listed by their titles or description. They may include worksheets, readings, maps and audio-visual aids. The intended use of the materials is not placed here - that information should be placed in the lesson plan where the material will actually be used. Most lesson plans should include student worksheets.

SPRINGBOARD [top]
	The springboard is used to stimulate and awaken pupil interest in the topic of the lesson. It serves not only as a clarification of the aim, but also as a basis for pivotal questions that help to sustain motivation throughout the class period.

LESSON DEVELOPMENT [top]
	This is the body of the lesson and constitutes how the majority of the class period will be conducted. This element of the lesson plan needs to include a sequential description of the learning activities, explain the use of the materials, and pose four to seven pivotal questions that will lead students to think about and understand the lesson.

SUMMARY [top]
	The summary assesses the students' abilities to perform activities that demonstrate their acquired knowledge. Through the summary, the teacher discovers whether the aim of the lesson has been achieved and assimilated. Activities may require students to write statements defending their points of view, or resolving a problem similar to the one introduced at the start of the lesson.

APPLICATION [top]
	The application describes an in-class assignment, such as a writing task in response to a question that relates directly to the performance objectives. The assignment should require students to generalize or transfer their new knowledge to a new situation or context.

HOMEWORK [top]
	This is an out-of-class assignment that reinforces the day's lesson, or that introduces the next day's lesson. It may be based upon a textbook or require the use of outside sources, the Internet, student activity sheets, etc.