Lesson Plans Using PowerPoint

When the lights go off and a PowerPoint presentation begins, it can be the start of something different and unique, depending on how you plan your lesson. It is the time when students can exploit their creative skills. PowerPoint presentations also appeal to a variety of learning styles especially the students who learn best visually.

Students may have even started to approach you with their thoughts of presenting a PowerPoint presentation to their peers. While this is a nice thought, it is a skill that needs practice.

Teach your new students the essentials of PowerPoint presentations. Most students learn by doing, so even if the first PowerPoint presentation does not go according to plan, that is alright. You could spring from the first test case and show the students how to think in terms of PowerPoint presentations from planning to doing.

The Lesson Plan is in the Planning Stage

Encourage students to think before they prepare their slides. What is the actual hook of their presentation? Here are a few basic generic questions to help get them started.

My PowerPoint Lesson

My PowerPoint presentation is on: __________________________ (subject)

I want to teach: ___________________________ (examples here are helpful)

I will present the information by: ______________________(ie. giving facts, showing pictures, asking questions, playing music, graphs)

At the end of the lesson, I want the students to know more about: ___________________________________________________________________

(encourage students to be as specific as possible - ie. what steps have been done to prevent the Saber Tooth tiger from being extinct)

Preparing the Slides

When students do more planning, the actual creative part comes easier for them.

PowerPoint presentations are also being used more and more for student projects, homework and performance tasks. Maximizing student attention and focus is of utmost necessity for ALL PowerPoint presentations but even more in particular for High School research projects.