Creating Your First Lesson Plan with Teach
Transform your lesson planning from hours to minutes with Zaza Teach. This guide will walk you through creating your first AI-assisted, standards-aligned lesson plan.
What is Zaza Teach?
What You'll Create
By the end of this guide, you'll have:
- A complete, standards-aligned lesson plan
- Differentiated activities for various learning levels
- Assessment strategies integrated into your lesson
- Materials list and preparation timeline
- A template you can reuse and adapt
Time needed: 10-15 minutes
Set Up Your Teaching Context
Time required: 3 minutes
Before creating your first lesson, help Teach understand your teaching environment:
Basic Information
- Grade Level: Select your grade (K-12)
- Subject Area: Choose your primary subject
- Class Size: Enter approximate number of students
- Lesson Duration: Set your typical class period length
Curriculum Standards
- Go to Settings â Curriculum Standards
- Select your state/region standards:
- Common Core State Standards
- Next Generation Science Standards
- State-specific standards
- International curricula (IB, Cambridge, etc.)
Student Information (Optional but Recommended)
- Reading Levels: Add the range in your classroom
- Special Needs: Note any accommodations needed
- Language Learners: Specify ELL levels if applicable
- Learning Preferences: Mix of visual, auditory, kinesthetic learners
Pro Tip
The more context you provide, the better Teach can tailor lessons to your specific classroom needs. You can always update this information as you learn more about your students.
Choose Your Lesson Topic
Time required: 2 minutes
Let's create your first lesson! Click "Create New Lesson" and choose your approach:
Option A: Start with a Standard
- Browse your curriculum standards
- Select the specific standard you need to address
- Teach will suggest engaging lesson topics that align
Option B: Start with a Topic
- Enter your lesson topic (e.g., "Fractions and Pizza")
- Teach will identify relevant standards automatically
- Choose which standards to emphasize
Option C: Use a Lesson Template
- Browse pre-built templates by subject and grade
- Select one that matches your needs
- Customize to fit your specific context
Example for this guide
For this example, let's create a 4th grade math lesson on fractions:
- Topic: Understanding Equivalent Fractions
- Standard: 4.NF.A.1 - Explain why fractions are equivalent
- Duration: 45 minutes
Review the AI-Generated Lesson Structure
Time required: 2 minutes
Teach creates a complete lesson structure automatically. Here's what you'll see:
Lesson Overview
Title: Pizza Party Fractions - Understanding Equivalent Fractions Grade: 4th Grade Math Duration: 45 minutes Standards: 4.NF.A.1, 4.NF.A.2
Learning Objectives
- Students will identify equivalent fractions using visual models
- Students will explain why 1/2 = 2/4 = 4/8 using concrete examples
- Students will create their own equivalent fraction pairs
Lesson Structure
- Hook/Engagement (8 minutes)
- Direct Instruction (12 minutes)
- Guided Practice (15 minutes)
- Independent Work (8 minutes)
- Closure (2 minutes)
Research-Based Design
All lesson structures follow research-based best practices for your grade level and subject area. The timing automatically adjusts based on your specified lesson duration.
Customize Activities and Materials
Time required: 3 minutes
Now comes the fun part - customizing the lesson activities to match your style and your students' needs.
Review the Hook Activity
AI Suggestion:
"We're having a class pizza party! I ordered pizzas cut into different numbers of slices. Sarah ate 1/2 of her pizza, Miguel ate 2/4 of his pizza, and Emma ate 4/8 of hers. Who ate the most pizza?"
Customization Options:
- Change the context (cookies, chocolate bars, playground equipment)
- Adjust complexity for your students
- Add real student names from your class
- Include cultural references your students will connect with
Modify the Main Activities
Generated Activity Sequence:
- Physical Manipulatives: Fraction circles and pizza models
- Digital Interaction: Interactive fraction bar simulation
- Collaborative Work: Partner fraction matching game
- Creative Expression: Design equivalent fraction posters
You can:
- Reorder activities based on your classroom setup
- Replace digital activities if technology isn't available
- Add movement-based activities for kinesthetic learners
- Include extension activities for early finishers
Materials List Auto-Generated
- Fraction circle sets (1 per pair)
- Chart paper and markers
- Digital device access (tablets/laptops)
- Printed fraction cards
- Exit ticket templates
Add Differentiation and Assessment
Time required: 2 minutes
Teach automatically includes differentiation strategies, but you can customize them:
Differentiation Strategies
For Struggling Learners:
- Use physical pizza slices or pie plates
- Start with halves and fourths only
- Provide visual fraction strips for reference
- Allow peer partnerships for support
For Advanced Learners:
- Include more complex fractions (sixths, eighths, tenths)
- Challenge with unlike denominators
- Create their own equivalent fraction problems
- Explore decimal connections
For English Language Learners:
- Pre-teach key vocabulary with visuals
- Provide bilingual fraction vocabulary cards
- Use more visual/hands-on activities
- Pair with strong English speakers
Assessment Options
Formative Assessment (Built-in):
- Exit ticket: "Draw two equivalent fractions"
- Thumbs up/down check during guided practice
- Partner explanations during activity time
Summative Assessment Options:
- Quiz generated automatically for next class
- Portfolio entry with fraction artwork
- Performance task: Plan a class party using fractions
Your Completed Lesson Plan
Here's what your finished lesson plan includes:
Complete Lesson Document
- Timing guide for each activity
- Teacher talking points and key questions
- Student handouts ready to print
- Assessment rubrics aligned to objectives
- Extension activities for early finishers
- Homework suggestions that reinforce learning
Digital Resources
- Interactive presentations for your whiteboard
- Student activity links for devices
- Virtual manipulatives if physical ones aren't available
- Parent communication explaining the lesson content
Preparation Checklist
- â Print fraction circles and cards
- â Set up digital devices/apps
- â Prepare chart paper stations
- â Review key vocabulary
- â Set up materials for easy distribution
Making It Your Own
Personalization is Key
Quick Customizations
- Add student names to word problems
- Include cultural references your students know
- Connect to previous lessons you've taught
- Add your signature classroom management cues
- Include school-specific resources or events
Save as Template
Once you've customized your lesson:
- Click "Save as Template"
- Add tags (grade, subject, topic)
- Share with your grade-level team if desired
- Use as starting point for future lessons
Next Steps
Now that you've created your first lesson, explore these advanced features:
- Unit Planning with AutoPlanner: Create coherent multi-lesson sequences
- Assessment Integration: Build assessment into every lesson
- Differentiation Strategies: Advanced techniques for diverse learners
- Collaboration Tools: Share and improve lessons with colleagues
Keep Learning
Join our Teacher Success Community for:
- Monthly lesson planning workshops
- Peer sharing sessions
- New feature training
- Curriculum-specific best practices
Ready to revolutionize your lesson planning? Start with one lesson today and experience how Teach can help you create engaging, effective lessons in minutes rather than hours.
Your students deserve great lessons. You deserve to have a life outside of lesson planning. Teach makes both possible! đ¯