📓 100+ MORE Random Lesson Plan Starters (No AI)

Ready for 120 MORE random lesson plan starters?

User Guide (Explanation)

In my post “How to Lesson Plan Once (And Never Again),” I described a thought experiment which applied metacognition to lesson planning. The result? Most planning reduces to predictable mental steps. Once we know the topic (direction), we remember relevant activities and sequence them accordingly. But planning comes with pitfalls: predictability.

Some associations always naturally follow. We habitually re-create as conventions constrain. And while predictable means stable, too much predictable means boring. Creativity sparks when blurring the line between signal and noise. The absurd widens our horizons. Forging new connections requires conscious effort—it requires escape velocity.

Why would anyone want random lesson plans? Because they might just reveal novel combinations when your creativity seems lacking. Besides, this shifts the effort from remembering and sequencing to evaluating.

✏️ 101 Random Lesson Plans (No AI)

✏️ How to Lesson Plan Once (And Never Again)

I generated the following with Excel. Not AI. Rather than waste effort recalling and sequencing, this sheet combined with reckless abandon. Effort shifts from creation to evaluation, recognizing novel combinations, sifting the signal from the noise. Just ignore the duplicates and try the following:

• 1. Read up and down, left and right, and diagonally, looking for unlikely options.

• 2. Read activities categorically, replacing them with more specific activities.

• 3. Eliminate options, making them fit your allotted class time.

Each set contains thirty examples each:

• Set 1. Reading, Writing, and Discussion. This set begins with basic, categorical activities.

• Set 2. Reading, Writing, Discussion, and Work Time. This set adds Work Time.

• Set 3. Discussion Focused. This set adds Partner Talk, Think-Pair-Share, and Socratic Discussions.

• Set 4. Drama Focused. This set condenses reading to Reading as Scripts and adds staging scenes to Whole-Class Discussions.

Eventually I’ll work towards a purposeful lesson plan starter pack that includes 100+ purposeful plans with a workflow similar to this post.

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Set 1: Reading, Writing, and Discussion

1. Reflection, Reflection, Partner Writing, Class Writing, Writing Alone, Partner Writing, Reflection

2. Class Writing, Class Writing, Silent Reading , Writing Alone, Class Writing, Partner Writing, Class Discussion

3. Silent Reading , Group Writing, Group Reading, Silent Reading , Class Writing, Partner Discussion, Group Writing

4. Class Discussion, Partner Reading, Class Writing, Partner Reading, Group Discussion, Reflection, Group Writing

5. Partner Writing, Group Reading, Group Writing, Class Writing, Group Reading, Writing Alone, Class Writing

6. Group Reading, Partner Discussion, Writing Alone, Class Reading, Writing Alone, Reflection, Partner Reading

7. Group Discussion, Class Writing, Group Reading, Class Discussion, Group Writing, Writing Alone, Writing Alone

8. Partner Writing, Writing Alone, Group Writing, Partner Writing, Partner Reading, Partner Discussion, Class Writing

9. Silent Reading , Class Discussion, Writing Alone, Group Reading, Class Reading, Class Discussion, Silent Reading

10. Group Writing, Reflection, Class Reading, Partner Reading, Class Writing, Silent Reading , Silent Reading

11. Class Reading, Reflection, Partner Reading, Group Writing, Reflection, Class Reading, Class Discussion

12. Class Discussion, Reflection, Group Reading, Partner Reading, Group Discussion, Group Writing, Silent Reading

13. Group Reading, Partner Discussion, Silent Reading , Group Writing, Partner Reading, Class Writing, Reflection

14. Class Reading, Silent Reading , Partner Discussion, Reflection, Partner Reading, Class Discussion, Partner Reading

15. Partner Writing, Class Reading, Partner Reading, Group Discussion, Class Writing, Partner Discussion, Partner Discussion

16. Partner Writing, Group Discussion, Class Reading, Class Reading, Class Writing, Class Reading, Writing Alone

17. Silent Reading , Group Writing, Class Discussion, Writing Alone, Class Reading, Group Reading, Group Discussion

18. Group Discussion, Class Writing, Class Writing, Partner Discussion, Partner Writing, Writing Alone, Partner Writing

19. Silent Reading , Class Discussion, Partner Discussion, Group Discussion, Class Reading, Partner Writing, Partner Writing

20. Class Writing, Class Writing, Partner Reading, Class Reading, Partner Discussion, Class Reading, Class Discussion

21. Group Writing, Partner Discussion, Reflection, Partner Discussion, Class Reading, Class Discussion, Class Writing

22. Partner Writing, Class Writing, Group Writing, Class Writing, Reflection, Class Reading, Class Writing

23. Partner Reading, Silent Reading , Class Writing, Reflection, Reflection, Partner Discussion, Class Reading

24. Partner Writing, Group Writing, Group Writing, Class Discussion, Partner Writing, Group Discussion, Class Discussion

25. Partner Discussion, Silent Reading , Class Writing, Partner Writing, Class Discussion, Partner Reading, Class Discussion

26. Class Reading, Silent Reading , Group Writing, Group Reading, Partner Discussion, Silent Reading , Partner Discussion

27. Group Discussion, Class Writing, Partner Discussion, Group Writing, Partner Writing, Reflection, Group Writing

28. Silent Reading , Class Reading, Partner Reading, Reflection, Group Writing, Partner Discussion, Group Writing

29. Class Reading, Silent Reading , Partner Reading, Reflection, Reflection, Silent Reading , Class Reading

30. Partner Discussion, Writing Alone, Class Writing, Silent Reading , Partner Discussion, Partner Discussion, Group Writing

Set 2: Reading, Writing, Discussion, and Work Time

1. Partner Discussion, Group Reading, Partner Reading, Partner Discussion, Work Time, Partner Reading, Class Reading

2. Group Writing, Reflection, Class Writing, Partner Reading, Work Time, Partner Reading, Group Reading

3. Partner Discussion, Silent Reading , Partner Reading, Work Time, Partner Discussion, Group Discussion, Silent Reading

4. Writing Alone, Group Discussion, Work Time, Reflection, Partner Writing, Class Discussion, Class Reading

5. Partner Reading, Class Writing, Group Discussion, Silent Reading , Partner Reading, Work Time, Writing Alone

6. Group Reading, Class Discussion, Group Writing, Work Time, Class Discussion, Reflection, Class Discussion

7. Group Reading, Group Writing, Group Discussion, Work Time, Group Discussion, Partner Discussion, Partner Discussion

8. Silent Reading , Class Discussion, Work Time, Work Time, Class Reading, Partner Discussion, Reflection

9. Class Reading, Partner Discussion, Work Time, Class Writing, Class Writing, Group Writing, Partner Writing

10. Partner Discussion, Class Writing, Partner Writing, Group Discussion, Class Writing, Partner Writing, Work Time

11. Class Writing, Class Reading, Class Writing, Writing Alone, Work Time, Writing Alone, Writing Alone

12. Class Discussion, Partner Writing, Work Time, Group Reading, Group Discussion, Writing Alone, Work Time

13. Group Reading, Work Time, Group Writing, Silent Reading , Class Reading, Partner Reading, Partner Discussion

14. Group Reading, Partner Writing, Reflection, Writing Alone, Group Discussion, Work Time, Class Discussion

15. Partner Reading, Group Reading, Class Reading, Reflection, Group Writing, Work Time, Group Reading

16. Group Writing, Partner Reading, Partner Discussion, Reflection, Writing Alone, Work Time, Class Reading

17. Partner Discussion, Group Discussion, Writing Alone, Class Reading, Group Writing, Partner Discussion, Reflection

18. Group Discussion, Class Discussion, Work Time, Writing Alone, Writing Alone, Partner Discussion, Silent Reading

19. Group Writing, Group Discussion, Silent Reading , Partner Writing, Work Time, Group Discussion, Class Reading

20. Class Writing, Group Writing, Partner Writing, Group Writing, Class Discussion, Group Writing, Work Time

21. Partner Writing, Work Time, Partner Discussion, Partner Writing, Group Reading, Group Writing, Partner Discussion

22. Group Discussion, Silent Reading , Writing Alone, Work Time, Group Reading, Group Reading, Group Discussion

23. Class Writing, Writing Alone, Group Reading, Class Reading, Work Time, Class Writing, Reflection

24. Partner Reading, Class Discussion, Silent Reading , Group Reading, Writing Alone, Work Time, Partner Reading

25. Work Time, Partner Reading, Group Discussion, Reflection, Partner Discussion, Class Reading, Reflection

26. Partner Reading, Class Discussion, Work Time, Silent Reading , Class Discussion, Partner Discussion, Partner Reading

27. Writing Alone, Reflection, Class Discussion, Work Time, Group Writing, Class Reading, Class Writing

28. Partner Discussion, Class Writing, Partner Reading, Class Discussion, Work Time, Silent Reading , Reflection

29. Partner Writing, Group Writing, Work Time, Class Reading, Group Reading, Partner Writing, Reflection

30. Group Writing, Partner Discussion, Work Time, Partner Writing, Group Reading, Partner Discussion, Group Discussion

Set 3: Discussion Focused

1. Partner Writing, Writing Alone, Silent Reading , Think-Pair-Share, Partner Talk, Socratic Discussion, Reflection

2. Class Reading, Socratic Discussion, Socratic Discussion, Class Reading, Group Writing, Group Reading, Class Writing

3. Socratic Discussion, Silent Reading , Class Writing, Silent Reading , Group Discussion, Group Writing, Think-Pair-Share

4. Group Discussion, Writing Alone, Partner Writing, Reflection, Partner Writing, Partner Writing, Think-Pair-Share

5. Silent Reading , Group Reading, Think-Pair-Share, Socratic Discussion, Class Writing, Socratic Discussion, Silent Reading

6. Group Writing, Socratic Discussion, Socratic Discussion, Partner Talk, Group Discussion, Class Writing, Group Writing

7. Think-Pair-Share, Writing Alone, Socratic Discussion, Partner Writing, Class Writing, Reflection, Socratic Discussion

8. Writing Alone, Silent Reading , Partner Writing, Class Writing, Partner Talk, Socratic Discussion, Think-Pair-Share

9. Class Writing, Class Discussion, Group Discussion, Socratic Discussion, Group Discussion, Partner Writing, Writing Alone

10. Group Discussion, Class Writing, Partner Talk, Group Discussion, Group Discussion, Partner Writing, Partner Discussion

11. Group Discussion, Think-Pair-Share, Socratic Discussion, Writing Alone, Think-Pair-Share, Class Reading, Group Writing

12. Reflection, Reflection, Socratic Discussion, Partner Writing, Silent Reading , Think-Pair-Share, Partner Writing

13. Reflection, Partner Writing, Class Discussion, Think-Pair-Share, Class Writing, Silent Reading , Group Discussion

14. Think-Pair-Share, Partner Writing, Reflection, Think-Pair-Share, Writing Alone, Partner Writing, Class Discussion

15. Group Reading, Group Writing, Writing Alone, Writing Alone, Class Writing, Think-Pair-Share, Think-Pair-Share

16. Group Writing, Group Writing, Group Discussion, Think-Pair-Share, Socratic Discussion, Class Writing, Class Discussion

17. Socratic Discussion, Silent Reading , Socratic Discussion, Group Reading, Writing Alone, Group Discussion, Socratic Discussion

18. Partner Discussion, Writing Alone, Writing Alone, Silent Reading , Partner Writing, Reflection, Partner Talk

19. Think-Pair-Share, Group Reading, Group Writing, Think-Pair-Share, Partner Talk, Writing Alone, Partner Discussion

20. Partner Talk, Partner Writing, Writing Alone, Silent Reading , Group Reading, Writing Alone, Socratic Discussion

21. Partner Talk, Group Discussion, Group Discussion, Silent Reading , Class Writing, Writing Alone, Group Discussion

22. Class Discussion, Socratic Discussion, Silent Reading , Partner Discussion, Group Reading, Group Reading, Writing Alone

23. Think-Pair-Share, Partner Talk, Group Discussion, Partner Discussion, Group Discussion, Group Writing, Group Reading

24. Group Writing, Group Reading, Think-Pair-Share, Class Discussion, Silent Reading , Class Reading, Partner Talk

25. Class Writing, Partner Discussion, Partner Talk, Reflection, Class Writing, Socratic Discussion, Think-Pair-Share

26. Partner Discussion, Class Writing, Socratic Discussion, Class Writing, Partner Discussion, Socratic Discussion, Partner Writing

27. Class Writing, Group Reading, Think-Pair-Share, Class Discussion, Class Writing, Group Writing, Group Reading

28. Class Discussion, Reflection, Partner Discussion, Socratic Discussion, Class Writing, Group Reading, Class Reading

29. Think-Pair-Share, Class Discussion, Class Reading, Think-Pair-Share, Writing Alone, Partner Talk, Think-Pair-Share

30. Partner Discussion, Reflection, Class Reading, Reflection, Partner Writing, Socratic Discussion, Silent Reading

Set 4: Drama Focused

Disclaimer: I’m no drama kid, but acting a text does wonders with comprehension. “What does that look like? Show me.”

1. Silent Reading, Partner Discussion, Silent Reading, Group Writing, Class Discussion (Acting)

2. Silent Reading, Partner Writing, Partner Discussion, Partner Discussion, Class Reading (Script)

3. Class Reading (Script), Class Writing, Group Writing, Class Writing, Class Discussion (Acting)

4. Group Discussion, Silent Reading, Class Reading (Script), Class Writing, Writing Alone

5. Class Writing, Class Reading (Script), Partner Writing, Silent Reading, Silent Reading

6. Silent Reading, Silent Reading, Group Writing, Class Reading (Script), Group Writing

7. Class Reading (Script), Group Discussion, Reflection, Reflection, Reflection

8. Group Discussion, Class Reading (Script), Class Reading (Script), Partner Discussion, Group Writing

9. Group Writing, Reflection, Class Reading (Script), Class Reading (Script), Group Discussion

10. Reflection, Class Reading (Script), Class Reading (Script), Group Writing, Group Writing

11. Partner Discussion, Class Reading (Script), Writing Alone, Class Writing, Class Discussion (Acting)

12. Reflection, Class Reading (Script), Group Writing, Silent Reading, Class Reading (Script)

13. Group Writing, Class Reading (Script), Class Discussion (Acting), Class Discussion (Acting), Partner Writing

14. Class Reading (Script), Writing Alone, Class Reading (Script), Class Reading (Script), Silent Reading

15. Group Writing, Class Writing, Class Writing, Reflection, Class Reading (Script)

16. Reflection, Group Discussion, Class Reading (Script), Group Discussion, Class Discussion (Acting)

17. Partner Writing, Reflection, Class Reading (Script), Writing Alone, Writing Alone

18. Class Reading (Script), Partner Writing, Class Discussion (Acting), Class Writing, Class Discussion (Acting)

19. Partner Writing, Writing Alone, Class Reading (Script), Reflection, Reflection

20. Silent Reading, Group Writing, Class Discussion (Acting), Partner Writing, Partner Writing

21. Class Reading (Script), Partner Writing, Silent Reading, Class Writing, Writing Alone

22. Silent Reading, Class Reading (Script), Class Reading (Script), Partner Writing, Silent Reading

23. Class Writing, Class Discussion (Acting), Class Reading (Script), Group Writing, Class Writing

24. Class Writing, Class Writing, Partner Discussion, Class Discussion (Acting), Class Reading (Script)

25. Class Reading (Script), Group Writing, Class Reading (Script), Silent Reading, Partner Discussion

26. Partner Discussion, Class Discussion (Acting), Partner Discussion, Partner Discussion, Group Writing

27. Class Reading (Script), Writing Alone, Class Reading (Script), Silent Reading, Class Reading (Script)

28. Partner Writing, Reflection, Partner Writing, Class Discussion (Acting), Partner Discussion

29. Class Discussion (Acting), Group Writing, Silent Reading, Partner Writing, Group Discussion

30. Class Reading (Script), Class Writing, Partner Writing, Group Discussion, Reflection

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