The CHACER Lesson Planning Guide: 700 Ideas for Secondary Teachers

700 research-informed ideas for every stage of the secondary lesson, with step-by-step planning and adaptations for all learners.

Description:

Plan a strong lesson in minutes, not hours.

Every good lesson does six things. It pulls past learning back out of memory, hooks students into today’s question, and teaches new content clearly. Then it checks who has understood, stretches those who are ready, and closes with real reflection. The CHACER structure (Consolidate, Hook, Activity, Check-in, Extension, Reflection) gives each of those moves a home in every lesson. This guide gives you the ideas to fill them.

What’s inside

• 600 classroom-ready ideas, 100 for every CHACER stage
• A bonus 100 ideas for building independent learning
• Every idea ready to run: timing, prep level, grouping, the research principle behind it, step-by-step instructions and a subject example
• “For all learners” on every idea: specific adaptations for SEND, EAL, lower prior attainment and stretch for high attainers
• A full chapter on each stage: what it is, why it works, how to plan it step by step, and what good looks like
• Foundations: setting outcomes, writing a guiding question, adaptive teaching and a ten-step planning process
• A quick-find index of all 700 ideas sorted by time, with low-prep and SEND-friendly ideas flagged
• Fully clickable on screen, and designed to print too
• Worked example lessons, a planning checklist and full references

Bonus downloads

• One-page lesson plan template as a fillable PDF and an editable Word document
• Two-page CHACER quick-reference card

Built on the evidence

The guide draws on retrieval and spaced practice, cognitive load theory and Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction. It also uses research on formative assessment and feedback, and the Education Endowment Foundation’s guidance. Ideas that directly apply an EEF-recommended practice are clearly badged, and every source is referenced.

Who it’s for

Secondary teachers of any subject across KS3, KS4 and KS5. It suits trainees and ECTs who want a reliable structure, experienced teachers who want fresh ideas, and middle leaders who want a shared planning language for their department.

Format: PDF, 299 pages (A4), plus a fillable PDF, a Word template and a quick-reference card. Instant download.