Free Lesson Plan Generator

A better way to build lesson plans fast (without starting from a blank doc)

Lesson planning always takes longer than it should. Not because you do not know what you are teaching, but because the structure eats your time. Objectives, materials, pacing, directions, differentiation, assessment. Then you rewrite it again because the timing was off. Again.

This free tool is built for that exact problem. You type the subject, grade level, topic, and how long you have. You get a clean, classroom ready plan back. And yes, it includes the stuff that usually gets skipped when you are rushing.

If you want the quick version of what it does, it is basically this: Lesson Plans in Minutes (Objectives, Activities, Assessment). The pieces are all there, already organized.

If you are exploring more tools like this for writing, research, and teaching workflows, you can also check out the full toolkit on WritingTools.ai.

What you get in a finished lesson plan

A strong lesson plan is not just a list of activities. It is a sequence that makes learning likely, not just possible. This generator aims to produce a plan with the parts most schools and teaching frameworks expect.

Typically, the output includes:

Learning objectives written in a measurable way so you can actually assess them

Materials and setup so you are not improvising in the moment

A timed agenda that fits your total duration

Teacher instructions and student tasks step by step

Guided practice and independent practice (or group work if that fits)

Differentiation for mixed levels, ELL support, accommodations, and extensions

Checks for understanding, plus a simple exit ticket or quick assessment idea

And if you add constraints like no tech, limited supplies, behavior needs, or “must include group work”, it adjusts.

How to write objectives that actually work (quick and painless)

If objectives are vague, assessment gets weird. The easiest fix is to start with an observable verb and match it to what students will produce.

Try patterns like:

Students will be able to explain …

Students will solve … using …

Students will compare … and justify …

Students will analyze … and support claims with …

Students will create … that meets criteria …

A simple self check: if you cannot imagine what you would grade or listen for, the objective is probably too fuzzy.

Timing that feels realistic (not optimistic)

Most lesson plans look great on paper and then collapse during transitions. A more realistic pacing approach is:

build in 1 to 2 minutes for transitions

assume directions take longer than you think

keep the assessment short and consistent

plan a small buffer at the end for recap and questions

If you are working with a 45 to 60 minute class, the plan should not be “lecture for 30 minutes” unless you have a very specific reason. Mixing short chunks tends to hold attention better.

Differentiation ideas you can reuse across subjects

Differentiation does not have to mean creating three separate lessons. Often it is one activity with different entry points.

Here are easy options that work in most classrooms:

Sentence starters for explanations and discussions

Choice of output (write, diagram, record audio, mini poster)

Tiered questions where everyone answers core questions and some go deeper

Support cards (vocab bank, formula sheet, example paragraph, worked example)

Extension task that is not “more work”, but “harder thinking”

If you teach ELL students, even small additions help, like key vocabulary preview plus a visual example.

Quick assessments that do not take over your lesson

Assessment does not need to be a quiz. You just need evidence.

Good fast options:

3 question exit ticket (1 recall, 1 apply, 1 reflect)

one problem with “show your reasoning”

60 second summary: “Today I learned…” and “I am still confused about…”

thumbs check or quick poll, followed by one follow up question

mini rubric for a short performance task

The generator can include these by default so you are not inventing them at the end.

When this lesson plan generator is most useful

This tool is especially handy when you need speed, structure, or both.

Use it for:

planning a lesson for a new topic you have not taught before

turning a rough idea into a teachable sequence

substitute teacher plans that need clarity and timing

tutoring sessions where time is limited

homeschool days when you want a predictable routine

adult training workshops that need an agenda and quick knowledge checks

Tips to get better results from the generator

Small inputs make a big difference. If you want the best output, try adding one or two details like:

the skill focus (analyze, write a claim, solve equations, interpret data)

the activity style you want (hands on, discussion, group work, stations)

constraints (no tech, minimal printing, mixed levels, ELL support)

what students already know (or what they struggled with last time)

Even a single sentence in the constraints box can nudge the plan in the right direction.