PGCE Lesson Planning and Curriculum 2

Question 1

A trainee teacher is told by their mentor that their lessons lack 'pace.' What does this most likely mean in the context of lesson planning?

Accepted Answer

The timing and transitions between activities need improvement to maintain engagement and momentum

Answer

The lesson moves too quickly for pupils to understand

Answer

The teacher needs to speak faster

Answer

The lesson contains too many activities

Question 2

Which of the following best describes Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction in the context of lesson planning?

Accepted Answer

A set of 10 research-based principles including daily review, small steps, guided practice, and regular checking for understanding

Answer

A theory that pupils learn best through entirely unstructured discovery

Answer

A behaviour management framework for secondary schools

Answer

A government-mandated teaching approach for all UK schools

Question 3

When planning cross-curricular links in a Year 8 geography lesson about climate change, which Teachers' Standard is most directly being addressed?

Accepted Answer

Standard 3 — Demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge, including making connections across subjects

Answer

Standard 1 — Set high expectations

Answer

Standard 7 — Manage behaviour effectively

Answer

Standard 8 — Fulfil wider professional responsibilities

Question 4

A PGCE trainee is planning a lesson but is unsure how much time to allocate to teacher talk versus pupil activity. What does evidence-based practice suggest?

Accepted Answer

Teacher explanation should be concise and focused, with the majority of lesson time devoted to purposeful pupil activity and practice

Answer

Teacher talk should dominate — pupils learn best by listening

Answer

There should be zero teacher talk — pupils should discover everything independently

Answer

The exact ratio does not matter as long as the lesson finishes on time

Question 5

What is the key difference between a scheme of work and an individual lesson plan?

Accepted Answer

A scheme of work outlines the sequence and progression of learning across a series of lessons, while a lesson plan details the specific activities, timings, and resources for a single lesson

Answer

They are the same document used interchangeably

Answer

A scheme of work is only used in primary schools

Answer

A lesson plan covers an entire half-term while a scheme of work covers one lesson

Question 6

When planning for the use of teaching assistants (TAs) in a lesson, what does research suggest is most effective?

Accepted Answer

TAs should be briefed on the lesson plan in advance and deployed to support specific learning objectives rather than always working with the same group

Answer

TAs should always work exclusively with the lowest-attaining pupils in a separate area

Answer

TAs do not need to know the lesson plan in advance

Answer

TAs should manage behaviour while the teacher focuses solely on teaching content