This lesson planner printable lays out a whole teaching week on one landscape page: your periods or subjects down the side and Monday to Friday across the top, with a box for every lesson. Type up to nine periods or subjects, pick the Monday of the week to print the dates, choose a color theme or black and white, and download it free on US Letter or A4.
Lesson planner printable: 4 ready versions
Download a weekly lesson planner straight away in forest green, navy, black and white on A4, or plum. Each comes with six starter rows: Morning meeting, Reading, Math, Writing, Science and Social studies. Type your own periods or subjects in the maker above to match your timetable.
What to write in each box of the weekly lesson plan template
- Objective: what students will know or be able to do by the end of the lesson, in one short sentence.
- Activity: the main task, the materials and any page numbers.
- Differentiation: a quick note on support or extension for students who need it.
- Check: how you will know it worked, such as an exit ticket, a quiz question or a show of thumbs.
- Homework: anything to send home, so it also goes on the class board.
Use short phrases and abbreviations; the planner is a map of the week, while detailed lesson notes can live in a separate folder.
How to plan a teaching week in 30 minutes
- Start with fixed events: assemblies, specials such as PE and music, early dismissals and testing days.
- Decide the week’s goal for each subject, then work backward to the lessons that build toward it.
- Fill the core subjects first, then the rest, keeping one flexible slot for review or catch-up.
- Check the balance: make sure no single day is overloaded with new content or with assessments.
- Prepare materials: list copies to make and resources to gather in the margin.
Many teachers plan on Thursday or Friday for the following week, so there is time to make copies before Monday.
Teacher planner printable for every kind of classroom
- Elementary: list subjects in the order of your daily timetable, from morning meeting to the end of the day.
- Middle and high school: type periods (Period 1 to Period 7) and write the class or section in each box.
- Specials and specialists: art, music and PE teachers can list grades or classes instead of subjects.
- Homeschool: one row per subject, and tick each lesson as it is done for your records.
- Tutors: one row per student with the topic for each session.
- Substitute plans: a printed week makes it easy for a substitute teacher to follow your plan.
A sample week on the lesson planner
Here is how a third grade teacher might fill in part of one week:
- Reading: Monday, introduce the new chapter book; Tuesday to Thursday, small reading groups with comprehension questions; Friday, book discussion and a short written response.
- Math: Monday to Wednesday, multiplication arrays with counters; Thursday, a practice game in pairs; Friday, a quick check-in quiz on the week’s facts.
- Science: Tuesday, plant the bean seeds; Thursday, measure and record growth in science notebooks.
- Writing: one step of a short story each day, from planning on Monday to sharing on Friday.
With the whole week on one page, it is easy to see that Friday is a good day for review and sharing, and that new content is spread evenly across the week.
Planning the first weeks of the school year
The first weeks of term are different from the rest of the year. Plan time for routines and expectations, getting-to-know-you activities, baseline assessments and setting up notebooks and classroom jobs. Many teachers keep content lighter in week one and build up gradually. Print the teacher planner printable for the first four weeks before term starts, add the school calendar dates, and you will start the year with a clear plan.
Teacher lesson planner tips
- Keep a binder: print a stack of the teacher lesson planner and keep each week in order, with a school year calendar at the front.
- Color-code: one color for each subject or for assessments, so testing days stand out.
- Plan in pencil: lessons often move; pencil makes changes easy.
- Reflect: jot a quick note on what worked in the margin; next year’s planning starts here.
- Share with a co-teacher: a printed plan on the classroom wall keeps teaching assistants and co-teachers on the same page.
Good lesson plans usually include clear objectives, activities and a way to check understanding. Wikipedia’s lesson plan article describes the common parts of a plan and different planning approaches.
Weekly lesson planner, daily plans and long-term planning
A weekly view is the sweet spot for most teachers: detailed enough to guide each day, short enough to plan in one sitting. For long-term planning, map units and assessments on a monthly calendar from the calendar maker, and use the daily planner for days with meetings and duties. Students can track their assignments with the homework planner, which uses the same color themes.
Lesson planner printable: frequently asked questions
Can I use class periods instead of subjects?
Yes. Type anything, one per line: Period 1, Period 2 or subject names, up to nine rows.
Does the lesson planner include weekends?
No. The lesson planner shows Monday to Friday only, in landscape.
Can I add the dates?
Yes. Pick the Monday of the week and each column shows its date.
Is there a black-and-white teacher planner printable?
Yes. Choose the black-and-white theme to save ink and photocopy cleanly.
Can I print a whole term at once?
Print one page per week; choose a new Monday for each week to get dated pages.
Is the weekly lesson plan template editable?
Yes. Type your own periods or subjects in the maker, choose the colors, then print the lesson planner printable and write each lesson by hand.
Is the lesson planner printable free?
Yes. Print as many as you like for your classroom, with no sign-up.
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