PRESENTED BY KELLY CHAPLINADVANCED PATH INSTRUCTOR &

ADAPTIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR AT LITTLE BIT THERAPEUTIC RIDING

CENTER, REDMOND, WA

Writing Lesson Plans

Goals of this Presentation

Help instructors feel more confident writing effective and progressive lesson plans

Go over the flow of writing lesson plans Introduction, warm up, skill, progression, cool down &

conclusion

Distinctions between goals and objectivesTeaching skills

What, How, Why

Teaching what you see Adapting lesson plans to suit what is actually needed

Writing Lesson Plans

Introduction: Every lesson plan should have an introduction where

the instructor can go over the goals and objectives of the lesson

Example: “Today we are going to work on lengthening and

shortening our horse’s stride.” Discuss what the skill is Explain how to perform skill Ask why this skill is important

Writing Lesson Plans

Warm-up: After the introduction, a warm-up prepares your

riders and horses for the eventual skill. Example:

“Since we are going to be working on lengthening and shortening our horse’s strides (transitions within the gait), to warm up for that let’s check in with our aids by doing a warm up of walk/halt transitions.”

Writing Lesson Plans

Skill: Now that your class is warmed up, you can dive into the

skill: Lengthening and Shortening your horse’s strides. Example:

What: Encouraging your horse to take a longer stride or shorter stride at the walk

How: For lengthening squeeze with your lower leg and exaggerate your hip movement. For shortening quiet your hip movement and shorten your reins and half halt as needed.

Why: This skill helps your horse be more balanced, aware of his/her legs, increase muscling, increase responsiveness, etc.

Writing Lesson Plans

Progression: Every lesson should have progression. In your lesson

plan you can include how you plan to make the skill you are focusing on more challenging.

Example(s): If your riders are able to lengthen and shorten their

strides on the rail, try having them do it over poles and actually count the strides. Or have them do it with less support from any volunteers. Or have them try it at the trot if they are able (once you’ve had them warm up the trot first).

Writing Lesson Plans

Cool Down & Conclusion: One of the most important parts of a lesson plan is the

conclusion! This is your chance to re-cap what everyone worked on today and what they learned. What was successful? What can they improve on for next time? Etc.

Example: “Today we delved into lengthening and shortening our

horse’s strides at the walk. It went so well they we were able to start doing it over poles and really see the changes in strides! Next week we will continue this lesson by exploring it at the trot!”

Goals vs. Objectives

Goal: General statement on what is the purpose of the lesson. Example: “All riders will work on changing their

horse’s strides at the walk”

Objective: Measurable statement outlining what the skill is and what it entails. Example: “All riders will demonstrate the ability to

control their horse’s pace by changing their horse’s strides at the walk for five strides (lengthening and shortening.)”

Breaking down Objectives

All riders will demonstrate __(Quantifier)_ by performing ___(Skill)__ for __(Measure) _.

Quantifier: What the skill entails Examples: Core strength, Control, Balance, Safety Awareness,

Advanced riding skills, Leg aides, Independent hand and seat, etc.

Skill: Specific action Examples: Jump position, Posting trot, Steering, Transitions,

Leg yields, Lengthening/Shortening strides, etc.Measure: How you evaluate if the rider succeeded

Examples: 10 seconds, 10 strides, weaving 10 cones, 3 out of 5 times, etc. *No percentages! Not measurable!*

Examples of Objectives

All riders will demonstrate strength and balance by performing two-point position for ten seconds.

All riders will demonstrate control of their horse by riding unclipped at the walk through a five part obstacle course one time.

All rider will demonstrate advanced leg aides by performing leg yields at the walk from the quarter line to the rail three times each direction.

Teaching Skills

What: Define the skill Example: Backing-moving the horse backwards in a

straight, steady, controlled pace.How: Explain how a rider does the skill

Example: Backing-say “back” (no clicking as that means move forward), squeeze legs to tell horse to move while pulling reins back to tell horse to move backwards using your legs and seat to keep the horse straight.

Why: Explain the purpose for the skill Example: Backing-promotes responsiveness, has

potential to get horse off forehand, gets horse between aids, helps with straightness, can be used as a disciplinary action, etc.

Teaching Skills

Incorporating skills into games and obstacle courses Most likely, they’re already involved! You just need to

point them out! Examples: most games or obstacle courses involve:

walk/halt transitions—skills! working on riding position and effective riding aides—

skills! steering and looking in the direction of travel—skills! planning ahead and safety awareness—skills! following multiple step directions—skills!

Teaching What You See

What to do when your written lesson plan ends up being inappropriate? (Weather, Time, Horses, Volunteers, Riders, etc). Adapt!

Example: try using part of the plan still, or try having less progression until class is ready.

Postpone! Example: Explain that due to the various circumstances your

plan for the day will have to wait until next lesson. Improvise!

Example: you can pretty much plan on your carefully crafted lesson plan not actually panning out. . . So get used to pulling other lesson plans out of your bag of tricks so you can still have an effective, fun, and safe lesson!

Teaching not Telling

Friendly reminder that just because you now know how to write prefect lesson plans, doesn’t me you dictate them to your students! Don’t forget to teach rather than tell! Ask Questions: Ask your students if they know how to

perform the skill? Or why they should work on it? You can also engage the volunteers in this!

Asking questions helps people retain the information since they have to communicate the answer, it also helps to ensure everyone is paying attention!

Conclusion

Lesson Plan Layout: Introduction, Warm up, Skill, Progression, Conclusion

Goals vs. ObjectivesTeaching SkillsTeaching what you seeTeaching not TellingAny questions?

Thank You!