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5E lesson plan template
5E lesson plan template · 1 page
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The 5E model was developed by BSCS (Biological Sciences Curriculum Study) for science teaching. A lesson moves through five phases: Engage sparks curiosity, Explore lets students investigate before any explanation, Explain has students put ideas into words before the teacher adds terms, Elaborate applies the idea to something new, and Evaluate checks what was learned.
This template gives each phase its own box with a prompt and a minutes line, plus an objective, materials and safety notes, and a short reflection. It's built for science but works for any inquiry lesson. BSCS designed the model for sequences across several lessons, so it's fine to spread one 5E cycle over a week.
Tips for using it
- Resist explaining during Explore. Let the student wonder and make mistakes; the explanation lands better afterward.
- In Explain, ask the student to explain first, then fill gaps and introduce vocabulary.
Variations
All printable homeschool planner pageQuestions
What are the 5 E's of a lesson plan?
Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate and Evaluate. The order matters: hands-on exploration comes before the formal explanation.
Does a 5E lesson have to fit in one day?
No. BSCS describes the model as a sequence that can span several lessons or a unit.