How to Write Lesson Plan Using the Center Work Instructional Model

What are Center Lessons?? A series of independent activities that support independent learning related to a topic or skill

Activities for Centers Developing quality center activities is especially important in the elementary classroom as it provides the students an opportunity to work together in small groups or independently to achieve a specific learning goal while allowing the teacher to provide one-on-one or small group attention to students.

Activities for Centers Center designs actually pull activities from all of the other instructional models (independent practice from the direct teach and DGI models, short-term project completion from the Project-Based model, collaborative group tasks for Group and Problem- Solving models).

Activities for Centers Additionally, centers can be incorporated into any component of the lesson design as they are appropriate for providing background information for introductory activities, as well as learning activities for developmental activities, or assessment activities for evaluation activities.

Students rotate through centers to learn OR practice new skills, concepts, or knowledge!

What do centers look like? Independent Activities for individuals or small groups. A table or area set aside with all the materials needed to complete the independent activities!

Now.....are you asking? How do I write that up correctly and make all my instructors and associate teachers happy?

Begin with the basic lesson plan template... Input information in Steps 1-7 and save Step 9 for after the lesson. It’s fairly straight forward! STEP 8 is the step that must include the procedure you will use to teach the lesson.

Look more closely at STEP 8 STEP 8 is composed of a sequence of 4 activities: 8.a. Introduction 8.b. A Sequence of Teaching and Learning 8.c. Application 8.d. Closure and Assessment Let’s examine this sequence of events!

We begin with the Introduction... TWO components Focus Activity HOOKS the learner Introduces the learning objective and ties this new content of the lesson to content student already knows (prior knowledge)

We begin with the 8a. Introduction... TWO components Focus Activity Advanced Organizer Tells students what they will be learning in the lesson EVERY lesson starts with these 2 activities!

Next is the “8B. Sequence of Teaching & Learning” This changes depending upon the learning objectives for the lesson: What do you want your students to be able to do, know, or be after the instruction? NEW content is presented with activities that ensure students learn content/skills/concepts!! Many instructional designers call these activities “developmental activities” because students “develop” new knowledge, skills, and concepts!

Next is the “8B. Sequence of Teaching & Learning” The learning outcomes for the center instructional model are usually related to practice of skills/knowledge already learned OR information gathering. Students will gather information and compile knowledge to present in some form!

Center Assignments in the lesson plan template: Each activity is carefully described with the following: Summary of activity Materials needed Rules for working in centers

The center statements for 8B “spell out” exactly what students will be doing in their centers! Students are to rotate through and complete the activities for the following centers: Center 1: Title of Center Description of activity, materials needed, expectation Center 2: Title of Center Description of activity, materials needed, expectation. Center 3: Title of Center Description of activity, materials needed, expectation Center 4: Title of Center Description of activity, materials needed, expectation Write something like this for your lesson plan!

NOW...8C should describe any independent practice that occurs in the lesson... Independent practice should occur in most of the centers!! SO describe how you will facilitate groups in this paragraph!

8D will describe closure & assessments... Closure Teacher asks several questions to help students summarize what was learned in the lesson (STUDENTS do the work)

8D should describe closure & assessments... Closure Teacher asks several questions to help students summarize what was learned in the lesson (STUDENTS do the work) Teacher does NOT state what they learned in the lesson today. This is not closure!!

8D should describe closure & assessments... Closure Assessments Documentation of student achievement Tests, quizzes, essays, reports, projects This is formal and usually marked! EVERY lesson ends with a closure session! Not all lessons end with a formal assessment!

TO REVIEW STEP 8 should have these steps! Presentation Steps: 1. Introduction Focus Activity Advanced Organizer 2. Developmental Activities Center 1 Task Center 2 Task Center 3 Task Center 4 Task 3) Assessment Activities Closure or review Formal Assessments ALL lesson plans have these two components! ONLY the developmental activities are different depending upon the instructional model being used!

TO REVIEW STEP 8 should have these steps! Presentation Steps: 1. Introduction Focus Activity Advanced Organizer 2. Developmental Activities Center 1 Task Center 2 Task Center 3 Task Center 4 Task 3) Assessment Activities Closure or review Formal Assessments Lesson plans using Center Work Instructional Model should have these steps here!

Check out a sample lesson plan! r_plan.htm Then complete the Drag and Drop for this eBook!

That’s it!! Simple as 1-2-3??? QUESTIONS???