Can I use electronic signatures?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally valid under the federal ESIGN Act and state UETA laws for administrative approvals. For consumer-facing disclosures or parental consent, follow district policies and ensure consent mechanisms are recorded.

Should student data be included?

Avoid including unnecessary personally identifiable student information in shared lesson plans. Use anonymized examples and keep IEP-specific or health-sensitive details in secure student records to comply with FERPA and, where applicable, HIPAA.

How do I map standards?

List exact state or district standard codes in the Standards field. Use the district’s official curriculum mapping tool or the template’s standards lookup to ensure alignment and ease of reporting.

Can parents sign permission electronically?

Parent signatures for permissions can be collected electronically if your district policy allows and the method meets ESIGN/UETA criteria; maintain an audit trail showing consent and provide paper alternatives if required.

Who approves submitted plans?

Approval workflows vary: reviewers may include instructional coaches, department heads, or principals. Configure role-based routing in your workflow so only authorized staff can finalize or lock a plan.

How do I revise a submitted plan?

Create a new version or revision note rather than overwriting the original. Keep version history and reviewer comments to preserve accountability and support audits or observation follow-ups.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Education
Lesson Plan Template

Lesson Plan Template

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

LESSON PLAN TEMPLATE

Administrative Information

Teacher Name School / Department

Lesson Title: Subject:

Grade/Program: Lesson Date: Duration:

Class Size: Student Age Range:

Standards & Objectives

Standards Alignment (code and brief description) Learning Objectives (measurable — use Bloom's verbs)

Materials & Resources

Materials / Technology Key Vocabulary

Prior Knowledge & Differentiation

Prerequisite Knowledge / Student Skill Level Differentiation & Accommodations

ELL supports IEP accommodation 504 plan accommodation Advanced/extension options

Lesson Procedure & Pacing

Anticipatory Set / Hook Direct Instruction (teacher modeling) Guided Practice (with teacher) Independent Practice (student application) Closure / Exit Ticket

Assessment & Evidence

Formative Assessment Summative Assessment

Assessment Criteria / Success Indicators:

Rubric or scoring guide attached Student work samples attached

Safety, Behavior & Special Considerations

Safety / Supervision Notes Classroom Management & Behavior Expectations

Homework / Extensions

Homework / Extension Activities

Reflection & Evaluation

Post-Lesson Reflection

Materials and Copyright Certification: I certify that all materials used are properly licensed or cited and comply with district policy.

Administrative Certification

By signing below, the teacher affirms that the information contained in this lesson plan is accurate to the best of their knowledge, aligns with the stated standards, includes appropriate accommodations for identified student needs, and observes applicable policies for safety and copyrighted materials. The approver, by signing, confirms review and either approves the lesson as written or notes required revisions.

Teacher Name:

By:

Date:

Approver Name:

By:

Date:

What a Lesson Plan Template Is and When You Use It

A Lesson Plan Template is a structured document teachers use to outline learning objectives, materials, instructional procedures, assessments, and differentiation for a single lesson or a sequence of lessons. It standardizes planning across grades and subjects, helps align classroom activities to state or district standards, and documents accommodations for diverse learners. Districts, coaches, and administrators commonly require templates for observations and curriculum review. Digital templates are often fillable and exportable, enabling version control, reviewer comments, and secure electronic distribution to colleagues, supervisors, or parents.

Why a Standardized Lesson Plan Template Helps Instruction

Consistent templates reduce planning time, make alignment to standards visible, and provide a clear record for observations, special education compliance, and substitute teachers.

Who Typically Prepares and Uses Lesson Plans

Schools also share finalized plans with parents or special education teams when required for transparency or Individualized Education Program (IEP) support.

K-12 teachers preparing daily and unit-level instruction for classrooms and substitutes.
School administrators and instructional coaches reviewing curriculum alignment and teacher practice.
District curriculum coordinators aggregating plans for standards mapping and professional development.

Essential Sections Every Professional Lesson Plan Template Should Include

A complete template organizes goals, materials, instructional steps, assessment, differentiation, and reflection so lesson delivery and review are efficient and auditable.

Learning Objectives

Clear, measurable objectives stated in student-centered terms. Use Bloom's taxonomy or standards-aligned verbs so learning outcomes are assessable and observable during and after the lesson.

Standards Alignment

List applicable state or district standards by code and short description. Mapping objectives to standards supports accountability, curriculum review, and compliance with district expectations.

Materials & Resources

Detailed list of all materials, digital links, and handouts with page numbers or file names so substitutes and co-teachers can replicate activities without ambiguity.

Instructional Procedures

Step-by-step sequence of learning activities, time allocations, and teacher prompts. Include formative checks, transitions, and timing to ensure fidelity during observations.

Assessment & Evidence

Describe formative and summative assessments, success criteria, rubrics, and acceptable student work samples that demonstrate objective mastery.

Differentiation & Accommodations

Specific scaffolds, extension tasks, and accessibility notes for English learners, students with IEP/504 plans, and enrichment to ensure equitable access to instruction.

Required Identifying and Compliance Information

Teacher Name: Full legal name

Course / Grade: Course title and grade level

Student Data: Avoid sensitive PII here

IEP / 504 Notes: Summaries only; keep records in secure files

Version Control: Include date and version number

Reviewer Info: Administrator name and date

Step-by-Step: How to Complete a Lesson Plan Template

Follow a sequence that ensures objectives, materials, instruction, and assessment align and that reviewers can follow your plan.

01

Select Template: Choose grade-appropriate template before entering content.
02

Write Objectives: State measurable outcomes using MM/DD/YYYY context if time-bound.
03

Add Procedures: Sequence activities and include time allocations and prompts.
04

Review & Save: Proofread, confirm alignment, then save and share.

How to Configure an Online Lesson Plan Workflow

Set up fields, reviewer roles, and integrations to automate distribution and feedback in a learning management system or content repository.

Field	Configuration
Template Name	Unique name used in LMS and file storage
Grade Level	Dropdown selection for filtering and reporting
Standards Mapping	Link fields to state/district standard codes
Reviewer Permissions	Assign admin/editor/commenter roles

Where to Send or File Completed Lesson Plans

Decide a single authoritative destination so records are discoverable and reviewers know where to find the current version.

Upload to LMS: Store in course folder for access by students and substitutes.
Submit to Admin: Route to instructional coach or principal for review.
Archive Record: Place final version in district document repository.
Share with Parents: Provide read-only copy when appropriate for transparency.

Delivery Formats and Technical Integrations

Confirm compatibility with your LMS and document management solutions to preserve versioning, access controls, and audit trails for compliance and archival.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX, and HTML
Integrations: Google Workspace and Microsoft 365
Authentication: Email or SSO access

Typical Timelines and Submission Expectations

Schools often set recurring deadlines for lesson plans tied to observations, substitutes, and curriculum cycles.

Daily Plans Due:

Usually before the start of instruction each school day.

Weekly Submissions:

Submit weekly plan rollups to department lead by Friday.

Monthly Reviews:

Curriculum team reviews units monthly for alignment.

Observation Files:

Provide lesson copy to observer at least one day prior.

State Reporting:

Adhere to district deadlines for state curriculum documentation.

Common Mistakes When Preparing Lesson Plans

Writing vague objectives that are not measurable, which makes assessment difficult and weakens instructional focus.
Failing to map activities to specific standards, causing misalignment with district and state accountability measures.
Omitting differentiation or accommodation details, leaving substitute teachers and support staff without guidance for diverse learners.
Including unnecessary student identifiers or health details in shared lesson plans, which can create privacy and FERPA concerns.

Risks of Incomplete or Incorrect Lesson Plans

FERPA Exposure: Disclosure risk

HIPAA Risk: Patient data mishandling

IEP Noncompliance: Service delivery gaps

Accreditation Impact: Program review issues

Observation Scores: Lower evaluation results

Substitute Confusion: Instructional disruption

eSignature Vendors: Pricing and Feature Snapshot for Lesson Plan Workflows

Comparing entry-level pricing and key features for common eSignature vendors used to collect approvals and distribute lesson plans.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	No	No	Yes, limited	Yes, limited
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently Asked Questions About the Lesson Plan Template

Answers to common questions about completing, sharing, and securely storing digital lesson plans in U.S. school contexts.

Need help? Contact support

Can I use electronic signatures?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally valid under the federal ESIGN Act and state UETA laws for administrative approvals. For consumer-facing disclosures or parental consent, follow district policies and ensure consent mechanisms are recorded.
Should student data be included?
Avoid including unnecessary personally identifiable student information in shared lesson plans. Use anonymized examples and keep IEP-specific or health-sensitive details in secure student records to comply with FERPA and, where applicable, HIPAA.
How do I map standards?
List exact state or district standard codes in the Standards field. Use the district’s official curriculum mapping tool or the template’s standards lookup to ensure alignment and ease of reporting.
Can parents sign permission electronically?
Parent signatures for permissions can be collected electronically if your district policy allows and the method meets ESIGN/UETA criteria; maintain an audit trail showing consent and provide paper alternatives if required.
Who approves submitted plans?
Approval workflows vary: reviewers may include instructional coaches, department heads, or principals. Configure role-based routing in your workflow so only authorized staff can finalize or lock a plan.
How do I revise a submitted plan?
Create a new version or revision note rather than overwriting the original. Keep version history and reviewer comments to preserve accountability and support audits or observation follow-ups.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now