Using Lessons Plans Found on the Internet

You will have to read through a lot of lesson plans on the Internet to find ones that are well-written, challenging and interesting, and you may find good information in unusual places. For example, a lesson plan, project description and other materials posted by an individual—say, a hobbyist in a particular subject—might be wonderfully suited to a lesson or project you are designing. Conversely, you may find that the lesson plan posted by a recognized source like a university or museum is not appropriate for your needs.

Know the audience

When selecting lesson plans or other materials to use, be aware of who they were written for. What is the intended or assumed age of children, prerequisite knowledge, prerequisite skills, availability of resources and cultural context?

Be critical

When you encounter a lesson plan that is appropriate and interesting, you may have to adapt it to suit the individual and group needs of your children. Note the source of any materials used and trace it to a point where you can find more information on the author or organization. The site may point you to other useful information.

Use the tools to get more information

If a site is active—meaning, it has been updated recently—you may be able to contact the person who wrote or compiled the materials, via email or a Web form. Sending a question or request for more information may bring new leads on good materials, sources of materials, or other people interested in the same areas of information.

Be a scavenger

Rather than looking for a whole complete lesson or project, you may want to do a broader search on a theme, topic or question. A quick search on the Web, or posting a question on an email list, can yield direct information or useful recommendations that might spark an idea, provide a model, or give directions on how to do or find something.