Free Printable Lesson Plan Templates for Elementary
Need free printable lesson plan templates elementary? Start here: blanks you can print today, plus filled Grade 2–3 fiction samples you can adapt Monday.
Quick answer: Elementary teachers usually need two layers of plans: a weekly multi-subject grid (Sunday map) and a daily single-lesson form (night-before detail). Districts often still ask for Madeline Hunter on observed lessons and 5E for inquiry science; a differentiated sheet helps when the room stretch is wide. Below: free printable blanks plus filled elementary samples you can adapt. When the paper stack tears by midweek, soft option — put the name your class actually uses on a Custom Studio plate, or browse ready-made teacher sets from $9.99 on /collections/teacher. Always follow your school’s required planning format first.
Not a district-approved form. Many schools and coaches require a specific digital planner, shared drive template, or observation rubric. Use these sheets for personal planning, sub folders, or practice — then copy the fields your building actually grades into the official tool. We do not claim these templates replace your district LMS or evaluation form.
[IMG: hero — printed weekly elementary grid on teacher desk next to sticky notes (no sister brands)]
Use your school’s required format first
These printables belong in your binder, clipboard, or sub folder — not for evaluation submission. Use them to map Sunday, sketch the night before, or brief a substitute / student teacher. Copy graded fields (objective, standards line, check, closure) into your building’s official planner or shared drive form.
We do not claim these replace a district LMS, and we do not promise an observation pass. Keep spare blanks in the sub folder with a sticky-note legend (literacy / math / specials).
Which template do you need this week?
[IMG: chooser — weekly vs daily vs Hunter vs 5E icons]
| Template | Best for | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly multi-subject grid | Sunday map | Whole room on one page |
| Daily multi-subject timed | Self-contained day | Clock sits next to each block |
| Daily single-lesson detailed | Night-before depth | One lesson needs modeling notes |
| Madeline Hunter 7-step | Observation / direct instruction | Evaluator expects this format |
| 5E | Science / inquiry | Guiding exploration, not fluency drills |
| Differentiated | Wide room stretch | Same objective; three access points |
Weekly multi-subject printable
Start Sunday. One short line per subject maps the week — open a daily form only when a lesson needs more than one line.
[PRINTABLE: weekly-multi-subject-blank]
Blank — weekly multi-subject grid (print this section, or Save as PDF from your browser). Rows: Literacy · Math · Science · Social · Specials · Notes/sub. Columns: Mon–Fri. Leave cells open.
[PRINTABLE: weekly-multi-subject-filled-grade2-3]
Example — Grade 2–3 fiction week (made-up classroom; adapt freely; not official standard codes):
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Literacy | Story problem | Character feelings | Partner retell | Shared sentence | Mini-book share |
| Math | Place-value warm-up | Tens story problems | Number-line jumps | Partner check | Exit: 1 number |
| Science | Mystery object | Magnifier station | “I notice…” chart | Classroom item | Reflection |
| Social | Classroom jobs | Fair-share talk | Helper photo | Role cards | Thank-you note |
| Specials | PE / library | Music | Art | Computer lab | Counselor |
| Notes | Sub folder OK | Kit on counter | Early dismiss | Spare blanks |
Print the weekly grid for Sunday mapping — then use a daily form only when a lesson needs more than one line.
[IMG: filled weekly sample table screenshot / styled graphic]
Daily multi-subject / timed blocks
For a self-contained day when the clock must sit next to each block.
[PRINTABLE: daily-multi-subject-timed-blank]
Blank — daily timed blocks. Columns: Time · Subject/Block · Objective (one line) · Materials · Note. Suggested rows: Morning · Literacy · Math · Science/inquiry · Specials/flex · Closing.
[PRINTABLE: daily-multi-subject-timed-filled]
Example — Grade 2–3 fiction day:
| Time | Block | Objective | Materials | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 | Morning | Settle + short read-aloud | Picture book | Attendance |
| 9:00 | Literacy | Name the problem in a short narrative | Story copies | Turn-and-talk |
| 10:15 | Math | Tens story problem + drawing | Whiteboards | Check first |
| 12:30 | Science | Two “I notice” notes | Magnifiers | Stations |
| 1:30 | Specials | Specialist plan | Sub folder | Sticky legend |
| 2:30 | Closing | One exit sentence | Half-sheets | Collect |
Daily single-lesson detailed
Night-before depth: objective, blank standards line (your building’s code — we do not invent official ones), materials, opening, sequence, check, close.
[PRINTABLE: daily-single-lesson-blank]
Blank fields: Grade/subject · Objective · Standards line (your building’s code) · Materials · Opening · Sequence (I do / We do / You do) · Check · Close/exit.
[PRINTABLE: daily-single-lesson-filled]
Example — Grade 2–3 fiction ELA (example only): Objective — identify the problem in a short narrative. Opening — read first two pages. Sequence — I do mark the problem; We do partners mark copies; You do write one sentence. Check — thumbs. Close — “The problem was ___.” Leave standards blank; copy from your district tool.
[IMG: filled daily single-lesson sample]
Madeline Hunter printable
Use Madeline Hunter when an evaluator expects direct instruction: anticipatory set → objective → input → modeling → check → guided → independent → closure. Not every weekly cell needs all seven steps.
[PRINTABLE: madeline-hunter-blank]
Blank steps: Anticipatory set · Objective · Input · Modeling · Check for understanding · Guided practice · Independent practice · Closure.
[PRINTABLE: madeline-hunter-filled]
Example — mini fiction procedure: Anticipatory set — “broken” toy photo. Objective — sequence three repair steps. Input — first / next / last. Modeling — order picture cards. Check — 1–2–3 fingers. Guided — pairs retell. Independent — draw and label. Closure — hardest step?
[IMG: Madeline Hunter / 5E side-by-side blank forms]
5E printable
5E (Engage · Explore · Explain · Elaborate · Evaluate) fits science / inquiry. Skip for fluency drills — use daily single-lesson or Hunter when the goal is practiced skill.
[PRINTABLE: 5e-blank]
Blank phases: Engage · Explore · Explain · Elaborate · Evaluate.
[PRINTABLE: 5e-filled]
Example — mini fiction science: Engage — mystery object. Explore — magnifiers; two notes. Explain — “I notice / I wonder” chart. Elaborate — apply to a classroom item. Evaluate — one reflection sentence.
Differentiated printable
One objective, three access points: behind / on / ahead. Same goal; different entry ramps.
[PRINTABLE: differentiated-blank]
Blank: Objective (same for all) · Access behind · Access on · Access ahead.
[PRINTABLE: differentiated-filled]
Example: Same goal — name the problem in a short narrative. Behind — sentence starter + oral share. On — one paragraph. Ahead — alternate ending.
Optional: exit tickets (four-to-a-page)
Not a full lesson plan — useful after any form above.
[PRINTABLE: exit-tickets-four-to-page]
Print four boxes on one Letter page. Sample prompt (example): “What did the character do that surprised you?” Duplicate or leave blanks for your own checks.
How to print & keep them usable
Print this page section (or Save as PDF from your browser). We do not invent live PDF URLs — in-article tables are the printable until hosted files ship.
US Letter or A4; print B&W, highlight by hand. Binder for Sunday; clipboard for the day; spare blanks in the sub folder. When paper shreds midweek, refresh the binder — then consider a durable desk ID option below if you want one.
Optional classroom desk / ID stack
Not a school dress-code guarantee. If you later add a named acrylic plate, reel, or beaded lanyard, follow your building’s ID visibility and breakaway rules. This article’s core job is planning printables; product mentions are optional upgrades, not policy passes.
Tired of shredded reference cards next to your plans? Soft option only: ready-made teacher theme sets are $9.99 on /collections/teacher (also /collections/matching-sets):
- Teacher Leopard Print Badge Reel & ID Holder Set (
SET-TEACH-LEOPARD) - Teach Love Inspire Badge Reel & ID Holder Set (
SET-TEACH-INSPIRE)
Each set is a retractable reel + acrylic ID plate + beaded charm — not a billed Trio, not a pen set.
Or open /custom-studio (/custom-studio/YW-BADGE-V · /custom-studio/YW-BADGE-H) for the name your class actually uses plus Teacher icons. Gift box +$2.50; beaded lanyard +$8 (breakaway) only if policy allows. Custom spelling / design-preview errors are non-refundable.
When the paper stack is already torn by Wednesday, browse teacher sets from $9.99 or open Custom Studio. Follow school ID rules first. Free US shipping over $59; else $9.90; eta 5–10 business days; ready-made returns 10 days.
[IMG: soft CTA — teacher theme set $9.99 + clear school ID (optional, late in article)]
[IMG: Studio Teacher icons + name preview (soft secondary)]
FAQ
Are these lesson plan templates free to print? Yes. Print each marked section or Save as PDF from your browser for classroom / personal teacher use. No invented download URLs here.
What’s the best lesson plan template for elementary teachers? Most self-contained K–5 teachers start with the weekly multi-subject grid, then open a daily single-lesson form only when needed. Use Hunter or 5E when the lesson type (or evaluator) calls for it.
Weekly vs daily lesson plan — which should I fill first? Weekly first (Sunday map). Daily for depth, timed blocks, or observation write-ups.
What is a Madeline Hunter lesson plan template? Direct-instruction form for formal observations: anticipatory set, objective, input, modeling, check, guided, independent, closure.
What is a 5E lesson plan template (and when should I skip it)? Engage · Explore · Explain · Elaborate · Evaluate — science / inquiry. Skip for fluency drills; use daily single-lesson or Hunter instead.
Can I use these if my district uses Planbook / Google Docs / a shared drive form? Yes — for personal planning, sub folders, or practice; then copy graded fields into the official tool. Not a district LMS or observation-rubric replacement.
Do you offer Word or Google Docs downloads? Not as invented live URLs. Print in-article tables or Save as PDF until hosted printables ship.
How do I make a printable lesson plan for a substitute? Fill the weekly grid with time blocks and materials notes; keep spare blanks and a sticky-note legend in the sub folder.
What’s a differentiated lesson plan template? One shared objective with three access points — behind, on, ahead.
Can I put my classroom name on a custom badge buddy after planning? Optionally, after school ID visibility and breakaway rules. Open /custom-studio for the name your class actually uses; printables remain the core job here.
Related reads
- Cute Teacher Lanyard & Badge Setup
- Teacher Appreciation Week Gifts Teachers Actually Want
- Custom Badge Buddy Studio: Pet Photo, Name & Logo
Grab the blanks, adapt the filled samples, keep a spare set in your sub folder. Optional: shop /collections/teacher or design in /custom-studio when you want the desk name plate to match the week you’re teaching.