Lesson Plan Resources

Lesson planning is a central skill in outdoor instruction and learning to do it well can make the difference in a student’s learning experience as well as an instructor’s ability to teach a lesson. 

Below are some resources and templates that can guide you in the process!

Sample Lesson Plan (technical skill)

Instructor: Morgan 

  1. Planning and Preparation
    1. Lesson Plan Title: Learning to Belay
    2. Educational Goals: Students will learn how to belay
    3. Educational Objectives: Students will be able to…
      1. Maintain appropriate slack in the climbing system to keep their climber protected from ground fall
      2. Maintain control of the brake strand at all times
      3. Confidently lower a climber 
    4. Student Preparation: 
      1. Background knowledge:
        1. None needed, someone who has never climbed before can be taught to belay
      2. Materials Needed:
        1. Belay device
        2. Locking carabiner
        3. Climbing harness
        4. Climber
    5. Instructor Materials Needed:
      1. Climbing wall
      2. Rope
      3. Climbing harness 
      4. Belay device
      5. Locking carabiner
      6. Climber
    6. Duration:
      1. 10-30 minutes
    7. Location: 
      1. Rock climbing gym
  2. Lesson Content and Methods
    1. Opening Hook: 
      1. Have you ever seen Free Solo? Today I’m going to teach you how to avoid doing that!
    2. Body of Instruction: Lesson Outline
      1. Orientation to gear
        1.  Harnesses, belay device, carabiner
      2. Orientation to system
        1. climber, belayer, anchor, ground anchors (if applicable) 
      3. Overview of job as belayer
      4. Communication while belaying
      5. Practice 
    3. Lesson Strategies:
      1. Use Explain-Demonstrate-Practice, Evaluate-Correct-Practice
        1. Explain the components of belaying, (Pull/Punch, Brake, Under, Slide (or PBUS)) 
        2. Demonstrate active belaying and lowering with one climber in the air, or with one person on the ground holding the climber side of the rope to add tension 
        3. Allow students to Practice with a back up belay or with someone holding the climber side of the rope to add tension
        4. Evaluate, correct and continue to practice until students are proficient
      2. Use Physical Manipulation if necessary
        1. New belayers often take their hands off the brake strand or fail to hold the rope in brake position when resetting. This is when I will often pull the rope into the proper position or tap/move their hand to remind them to keep it in the proper position.
    4. Closure:
      1. A short debrief about what students learned or where they see themselves improving
  3. Evaluation
    1. Evidence of Student Learning:
      1. Give a belay test to assess students abilities to communicate and effectively and safely belay
  • Different age participants will have different needs and tolerances. Games are a helpful tool for teaching younger participants while longer trips may not be an option. Adults tend to want to go on longer trips and are not as enthusiastic about playing a lot of games. 
  • Often outdoor education scenarios have groups with a wide range of ability levels. Make sure to have plans that accommodate all of them. Remember to spend time on safety basics like how to fall while bouldering and how to handle ski poles or a paddle with any beginner participants. 
  • In a lot of outdoor spaces, specifically in the backcountry, check the rules and guidelines for the area you wish to teach. It can also be difficult to keep track of participants in outdoor spaces so be conscious about the instructor to student ratios and ensure the group you are working with is manageable for you.
  • Look at the participants’ medical forms. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to the participant. You may have to change your lesson plan for the safety and/or inclusion of one of your participants.
  • Many factors go into how you plan out your time. For multi day trips, down time is important as outdoor recreation can be mentally and physically draining. Give people time to take care of themselves and to enjoy the place they are in. 
  • Before you make your lesson plan, write out your goals for the program. These goals need to match the group’s goals. I like to ask participants at the start of a course what their goals are. If mine don’t match up, I change them. You are there not only to teach technical skills but to help your participants grow and improve.
  • Especially for full-day or multi-day trips, you may need to have a pre-trip meeting with the participants. If not an in-person meeting then an email with information may be helpful. During the pre-trip meeting you can ensure that participants are prepared for the conditions both mentally and physically. Often, your participants may be nervous about the course and pre-trip meetings are a time you can talk through their fears. It also gives you a chance to get to know the participants before you finalize your plans.
  • “Duffle shuffles” are where participants bring what they are packing for the course are common at pre-trip meetings to check that everyone has all the necessary things. This is especially important for courses with beginners.
  • Participants may not have equipment or clothing necessary for the course. For example, a beginner participant in a cross country ski clinic may not own snow pants so the instructor is able to lend them an extra pair.
  • The place you are in will most likely be a large part of your lesson planning. Knowing the terrain is important, so is having plans for traveling between locations. Whenever possible use the place you are in as a teaching tool. Instead of using boards that you place in a parking lot or field to teach riding over raised objects while mountain biking, go to a trail with lots of rocks and roots. 
  • Recreational areas such as state and national parks often have specific rules for use. Research these rules before you arrive. There may be specific rules for large groups, rules about where you can camp, trails may be closed, etc. For example, Baxter State Park has a 12 person limit per group as well as rules about campfires and specific food storage guidelines due to the presence of bears.

Return To Home