Not everyone learns in the same way. A good lesson plan incorporates sections that appeal to different kinds of learners. I use four ingredients in my plans based loosely on Marlene LeFever’s book, Learning Styles:

Facts – concrete, memorable facts about the passage or idea you are communicating. This kind of leaner may demand, “tell me what I need to know.” If you succeed they might reply, “got it!”

Ideas: historical context of the passage, statistics, character biography.

Stories – imaginative narrative that communicates the point you are making. You are responding to the question, “how should I think/feel about this and why should I know it?” If you succeed with this group they might say, “that makes sense.”

Ideas: Movie clips, personal testimony, illustrations, pictures.

Activities – The active learner learns by doing something. The question is, “What difference does this make?” If you succeed with this group they might say “I can do it.”

Ideas: Games, crafts, role play.

Dynamic – a dynamic learner doesn’t really get the point until they make it themselves. Having part of your class devoted to discussion allows this group to think out loud. Once they say it they learn it. They ask, “What can I contribute to this idea/point?” If you succeed with this group they might say “I own it.”

Ideas: Discussions, smaller groups or one-to-one, debate, dilemmas.