Sample Lesson Plan Format

Class: General Biology

Grade Level: 9-12
Unit: Scientific process (research/writing)
Teacher: Mr. Matt Nelson
Objectives
The student will be able to:
Demonstrate how to access useful and relevant information
Infer hypotheses on a given topic
Propose potential answers to questions in given topic
Create an argument based on important information and details
Essential Question
How do real scientists create experiments and write/record their findings?
Anticipatory Set 5 minutes
Students will stand and group themselves according to their favorite month of the year.
They will then be numbered off by fours. These will be their groups for the project to be
completed.
Teaching: Activities 80 minutes
Discussion of KWHLAQ 10 minutes
The groups of students will discuss what they have chosen to research in the previous
class. The group will then decide on one topic to move forward with.
The groups will be creating a business proposal for the scientific experiment they want to
carry out. They will need to propose good evidence for why their experiment is
necessary, what they will need to complete their experiment (including time, money, and
resources), a detailed explanation of what they intend to find, and to create a presentation
to the board members (see presentation rubric).
Learning contract and research 70 minutes
The groups will fill out a personal agenda contract that must be handed in to me
throughout the class period, where I will sign it if they show me good evidence of the
completed task. The contract should include who is responsible for each portion of the
final presentation and what topic they plan on presenting. The topic should be a big idea
and they should be able to show why the topic is important. By the end of the class period
the groups should write up a short order proposal that outlines what their experiment
might be (see personal agenda planner).

Closure 5 minutes
The students will write down the basic idea of their topic and what question they hope to
answer.
Independent Practice
Read the text for tomorrows class on the scientific process.
Assessment potential test questions
Describe the steps to the scientific process in detail.
Explain a few (at least 3) hurdles a scientist might have to tackle in order to get to an
experiment started.
Materials
Computer
Duration
~85 minutes
Presentation rubric:
Presentation

Background on
topic

Proposal

3
Presentation is well
done, with few
errors and smooth
transitions
Research on topic
and hypothesis is
evidently
substantial.
Questions posed are
thoughtful and
relevant
Students made
selling points for
their experiment
clear and easy to
follow. Proposal
was efficient and
reasonable

2
Presentation was
somewhat well done
with a few errors
and some transitions
Research in topic
and hypothesis was
adequate. Questions
posed were surface
level and somewhat
useful

1
Presentation was
poorly done with
multiple errors and
bad transitions
Little research was
evident. Questions
were elementary
and not useful

Selling points for

the proposal were
decently clear.
Proposal was
passable but lacked
full understanding

Selling points were

unclear or
unavailable.
Proposal was not
useful and granted
little chance of
acceptance

Modified from Madeline Hunters Lesson Plan Design