What's Inside This Template

Great classes don't happen by accident — they're planned. This lesson plan template gives your instructors a clear, consistent format for preparing sessions that are structured, progressive, and engaging. It's designed for the realities of children's activity teaching: quick to fill in, easy to glance at mid-session, and detailed enough to ensure quality delivery whether it's your head coach or a cover instructor teaching the class.

Template Sections

Session Header — Date, class name, level/age group, instructor name, number of students, venue/pool lane, and any notes from the previous session to ensure continuity.
Learning Objectives — Space for 2-3 specific, measurable objectives for the session. Guidance notes explain how to write effective objectives (e.g., "Students will be able to swim 10m front crawl with bilateral breathing" rather than "Work on front crawl").
Warm-up (5-10 minutes) — Structured space for warm-up activities that prepare students physically and mentally. Includes prompts for progressions and modifications.
Main Activities (15-30 minutes) — Space for 3-5 activities with columns for: activity description, teaching points, time allocation, equipment needed, and differentiation (how to make it easier for struggling students and harder for those who need challenge).
Cool-down and Review (5 minutes) — Wind-down activities and a review structure for summarising what was learned and previewing the next session.
Equipment List — Quick-reference checklist to ensure everything is prepared before the session starts.
Assessment and Notes — Post-session reflection: who progressed, who needs extra support, what worked well, what to change next time. This is the section that turns good instructors into great ones.

Who This Template Is For

This template is for instructors, coaches, and teachers across all children's activity types. It's equally useful for experienced coaches who want to formalise their preparation and for newer instructors who benefit from the guided structure. Managers and head coaches can use completed plans for quality assurance and staff development.

How to Use It

Print a batch or use digitally on a tablet. Complete the plan before each session — even experienced instructors benefit from 5 minutes of structured preparation. After the session, spend 2 minutes completing the assessment notes while the lesson is fresh. File completed plans to build a library of session ideas that any instructor can draw from in the future.