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Why teachers choose Snaplesson AI
SnapLesson AI helps teachers save hours each week with free classroom-ready lesson plans. Our free lesson plans always follow an easy to follow, well organized structure: helping students connect to the content, guiding the teacher through teaching the relevant skills, guiding students through actively engage with the skill, and then linking that skill to their everyday practice. Our standards-aligned plans are free forever with no sign up or subscriptions required!
How it works
Using our free lesson plan generator is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Or, rather 1, 2, 3, 4!
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Examples from our Free Lesson Plan Generator
4th Grade Reading example
Whole Group Lesson
4th Grade
Reading
Inferring the theme of a story
Lesson Plan: Inferring the Theme of a Story
Grade: 4th
Duration: 15 minutes
TEKS Alignment:
- Reading/Comprehension of Literary Texts: 4.2(B) - "Describe the difference between the literal and the implied meaning of a text."
Connect (3 minutes):
“Good morning, super detectives! Today, we’re going on an exciting mission to uncover the *hidden message* of stories — which we call the *theme*. Have you ever read a story and thought, ‘Wow, I think there’s a special message here,’ but weren’t quite sure what it was? Well, today, we’re going to become story detectives and learn how to *infer* the theme — that’s a fancy way of saying we figure out what the story is really about underneath the words."
“Remember, a theme isn’t just what happens — it’s the *big idea* or the *lesson* that the author wants us to think about long after we finish the story.”
Teach (4 minutes):
“Let’s look at a short story together. I’ll read it aloud, and then we’ll talk about how to find its theme using clues from the story."
(*Teacher reads aloud the following short story*)
*Sara loved her garden. Every day, she watered her plants, pulled out weeds, and watched her flowers bloom. One day, she shared her garden with her friends, and they all joined in to help. Soon, her garden was full of colorful flowers, and everyone admired it. Sara felt happy knowing her hard work brought everyone together.*
“Now, let’s think about what this story is really telling us. What do you think is the *big message* or the *lesson*? Is it about gardening? Or friendship? Or something else?”
Ask: “What clues in the story help you figure out what the story is really about?”
Possible student responses might include: “It’s about sharing,” “It’s about working hard and helping others,” or “It’s about friendship and teamwork.”
“That’s right! The story shows us that when we work together and share, good things happen. So, the *theme* of this story is about teamwork and friendship.”
To help you remember, think of the theme as the *main idea or lesson* the author wants us to learn.
Active Engagement (6 minutes):
“Now, it’s your turn, super detectives! I’m going to give you a short story, and I want you to read it and tell me what you think the *theme* is. Remember, look for clues, what the characters do, say, or what happens — those are your clues to the *big idea*.”
(*Hand out a short story for students to analyze*)
Story for students:
*Liam loved going to the park. He played on the swings, ran around the pond, and fed the ducks. One day, he noticed trash around the park and decided to pick it up. Soon, he convinced some friends to help, and together they cleaned up the park. Liam felt proud because he made the park a better place for everyone.*
Questions to ask students as they analyze:
- “What is this story mostly about?”
- “What actions does Liam take that show us what the story is about?”
- “What lesson or message do you think the story is trying to share?”
Possible responses students might give: “It’s about taking care of our environment,” or “It’s about working together to help others.”
Follow-up: “Excellent! So, what do you think the *theme* of this story is?”
Encourage students to articulate: “The theme is about caring for our community and working together.”
Challenge extension:
Ask students, “Can you think of a story you’ve read or heard that has a similar theme? What clues from that story support your answer?”
Link (2 minutes):
“Great job today, story detectives! Remember, when you’re reading, you can ask yourself: ‘What is this story really about? What lesson is the author trying to teach?’ Inferring the theme helps us understand stories better and think about what they can teach us in our lives. Keep practicing your detective skills — the next time you read, find the theme and see what big ideas are hiding behind the words!”
Optional:
End with a quick reflection: “Turn and tell a partner what you think the theme of today’s story was. Are you ready to be a story detective every time you read?”
Kindergarten Writing Example
Kindergarten Writing Lesson Plan: How-To Writing (15 minutes)
Subject: Writing
Grade Level: Kindergarten
TEKS Alignment:
- §110.12. English Language Arts and Reading, Kindergarten, (2) Reading Development, (3) Comprehension of Text and Literary Elements, (4) Response Skills, and (5) Genres, including expressing ideas in writing.
- TEKS specifically related to writing: Students will compose and expand on a simple how-to text, demonstrating understanding of sequence and clear instructions.
Connect (3 minutes)
“Good morning, super writers! Today, we’re going to learn how to write a very special kind of story called a ‘how-to’. Do you remember when you helped someone do something step by step? Maybe you showed someone how to tie their shoes or make a sandwich. That’s exactly what a ‘how-to’ writing is—explaining steps to do something! Writers make writing easy to follow, like a recipe. To start, I want you to think about something fun you could teach someone how to do. For example, how to draw a cat or how to jump the right way.”
Teach (4 minutes)
“Now, let’s look at an example of a ‘how-to’ story. I have a little story here called ‘How to Make a Paper Hat.’ Listen carefully as I read it aloud:
*First, you get a square piece of paper. Next, fold the paper in half diagonally to make a triangle. Then, fold the two corners of the triangle to the top point. Finally, fold the bottom edges of the paper to the inside and you have a paper hat!*
This story shows us the steps in order. We always put steps in the right order so someone can follow along easily. When you write your own ‘how-to’ story, remember to include steps that make sense and are in the correct order.”
Questions to ask during the Teach:
- “What did I do first?”
- “What do I do after that?”
- “Why is it important to tell the steps in order?”
- “Can you think of a fun thing you could teach someone how to do?”
Active Engagement (5 minutes)
“Now, it’s your turn! I want you to think about something you could teach someone how to do. It could be how to tie your shoes, how to draw your favorite animal, or how to make a simple snack. I want you to draw and tell me two steps for your ‘how-to’ story. Remember, you want to tell the steps in the right order so someone can do it too.”
Challenging Text for Student Analysis During Active Engagement:
Display a simple ‘how-to’ like:
*How to Make a Sandwich*
1. Get two slices of bread.
2. Put peanut butter and jelly on one slice.
3. Put the slices together and cut the sandwich in half.
Ask students:
- “What is the first step?”
- “What do you do next?”
- “Why do you think it’s important to tell the steps in order?”
Link (3 minutes)
“Great job today, everyone! Now, remember, when you write your ‘how-to’ stories, think about the steps that are easy for someone else to follow. You can even use your drawings to help tell your steps. Next time you help someone or do something new, think about writing it down so your friends can learn too. I can’t wait to see all of your amazing ‘how-to’ stories when we return! Keep being creative and clear—your readers will thank you!”
6th Grade Math Example
15-Minute Small Group Math Lesson Plan: Challenging Algebra Word Problems
Grade Level: 6th Grade
Subject: Math
TEKS Alignment:
- 6.2A: Apply algebraic concepts to solve real-world and mathematical problems, including translating from words to algebraic expressions and equations.
- 6.2B: Write and solve one-variable equations and inequalities.
- 6.2C: Use reasoning to solve multi-step word problems.
Connect:
"Hello, everyone! Today, we're going on a little adventure into the world of algebra word problems. Algebra is like a treasure map — it helps us find the unknown, or what we don't know yet! Sometimes, these problems are tricky, but that's what makes solving them so exciting. Think of it like being detectives — you look for clues, set up equations, and uncover the mystery to find your missing piece."
Teach:
"Let's start by looking at a challenging problem I will display on the board:"
*Problem:*
*"Sophia has twice as many marbles as Liam. If Liam has 'x' marbles, and together they have 30 marbles, how many marbles does each person have?"*
*Step 1:* "First, I want to translate this word problem into an algebraic equation.
We know Liam has 'x' marbles, and Sophia has twice as many, so her marbles are '2x'. The total marbles are 30.
So, I can write: x + 2x = 30."
*Step 2:* "Combine like terms: 3x = 30.
Now, I'll divide both sides by 3 to find x: x = 30 ÷ 3, so x = 10."
*Step 3:* "Now we know Liam has 10 marbles, and Sophia has twice as many, so: 2 × 10 = 20.
*Answer:* Liam has 10 marbles and Sophia has 20 marbles."
*Question for students:*
- "What does 'x' represent in this problem?"
- "Why do we combine like terms here?"
- "What would be the next step if the total was 50 marbles instead?"
Active Engagement:
"Now, it's your turn! I have some challenging word problems for you to analyze."
*Problem 1:*
*"A school fundraiser sold 3 times as many cookies as cupcakes. If they sold a total of 48 treats, how many cookies and cupcakes did they sell?"*
*Problem 2:*
*"A car rental company charges a flat fee of $50 plus $0.20 per mile driven. If a customer paid $89 for a rental, how many miles did they drive?"*
*Instructions:*
- "Work together with your group to set up the equations for each problem."
- "Determine what 'x' or other variables represent."
- "Solve the equations step-by-step."
- "Be prepared to share your setup and solutions!"
*Questions to ask during activity:*
- "What is the variable you chose for the unknown?"
- "How did you translate the words into an equation?"
- "Can someone explain why you added or multiplied in your setup?"
- "What is the key piece of information that helps you find the answer?"
Link:
"Great job today, everyone! Remember, algebra is a powerful tool to solve real-world problems, and practice makes perfect. The more you work on translating words into math, the easier it gets to find those missing pieces. Keep exploring, applying your algebra skills, and you'll be solving even more exciting mysteries next time. Keep up the great work and keep those detective hats on!"
About Us
SnapLesson AI: Created by Teachers, for Teachers
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We understand the reality of teaching—endless to-do lists, precious minutes lost to paperwork, and the constant pull away from what matters most: your students. Crafting high-quality lessons shouldn’t add to that stress, and navigating AI tools shouldn’t feel like a second job.
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That’s why we built SnapLesson AI. In just a few clicks, you can generate engaging, classroom-ready lessons—no endless prompt tweaking required. From whole group lesson plans to small group lesson plans, sub plans to homeschool lesson plans, we provide free, ready-to-teach lessons in seconds, so you can get back to doing what you do best: inspiring and supporting your students.