50+ Sample Curriculum Plans

What Is a Curriculum Plan?

A curriculum plan is a comprehensive plan that outlines an academic curriculum. It includes titles of specific lessons as well as their brief descriptions; all contained within a specific timeframe (e.g., quarterly, semestral). Schools require an educational curriculum as a way of planning out their academic year.

According to an online article by Thought Co, there are three primary types of curriculum design. These are subject-centered design, learner-centered design, and problem-centered design. 

Examples of Basic Curriculum Subjects

The specific content of an educational or academic curriculum would greatly depend on the school. But there is a standard that most schools are expected to follow. In general, core subjects should be incorporated in any basic school curriculum. The following examples describe just some of these basic subjects.   

History. One of the most important subjects that all students are required to take is history. But in most cases, it can be categorized under the broader term of social studies. Regardless of title, learning history is crucial in establishing an awareness of collective consciousness. A sense of identity is important for all individuals. And history plays an important role in shaping not just national identity but even individual beliefs and practices. The past has a fundamental way of teaching a person or a people about their present and their future. History, as a subject, is not merely about memorizing dates, important people, and events of the past. When taught with a deeper and broader perspective, its implication and application is much greater. Social studies and history teachers have the responsibility to impart these valuable lessons and insights to their students. Mathematics. Math is part of everyday life, there is no doubt about it. Daily life revolves around numbers. People structure their days according to the numbers on a clock. People base the success or failure of their businesses on their bottom line figures. Counting and numbers are taught to children from a very young age. As soon as a child enters preschool or kindergarten, they are introduced to basic numbers and they eventually learn how to count. Mathematics is one of those universal subjects that’s essentially the same regardless of culture or country. History is relative; the subject would depend on a person’s location and external environment and circumstances. Whereas, the concept of Math is based on natural laws and not on relative or subjective realities. Science. Along with Mathematics, Science is another core subject that is a fundamental part of an academic curriculum. The two are often grouped together in the same category of physical or natural sciences. The body of science is broad and consists of several branches. From medicine, biology, chemistry, physics, even down to environmental science, all levels of education contain one or more of these subcategories of science. Students learn about the natural and physical world around them through scientific facts and studies. Critical thinking and problem solving are just some skills gained from studying and applying science and its concepts. College students can even pursue higher degrees of science including engineering, information technology and computer science. Language Arts. Another core subject in a basic educational curriculum is language arts. It is important to note that it’s not merely limited to English. Language arts can cover foreign languages as well. English is only a secondary language in many countries. Many schools offer courses in Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, French, and other major languages. Having a good grasp on language structure and reading comprehension is required for effective communication skills. Language arts entail both written and oral communication. Like science, it can also be classified according to different subcategories. Examples of these categories include grammar, speech, spelling and reading comprehension. Language is an important medium that is inherently part of the human condition. It is a communicative art that is an essential aspect of daily life.

Tips for Creating a Curriculum Plan

As stated earlier, an academic curriculum can vary depending on the needs and objectives of a school or educational institution. However, there are some simple yet practical tips on creating a more effective curriculum plan. If you are tasked to draft a comprehensive curriculum, keep in mind the following tips:  

Start with an appropriate introduction. Like a lesson plan, a curriculum plan is structurally similar but it is generally more broad and all-encompassing. But both need an effective introduction course to help ease the student or learner in and prepare them for what’s to come. Diving right into the lesson proper can overwhelm some students. A good teacher or educator considers the needs of the class and helps them adjust to a new lesson or topic. If you’re a teacher, how you frame your introduction will entirely depend on you. You can be as creative and resourceful as needed. For instance, planting the right questions may enable students to think critically and holistically about the succeeding topics. Alternatively, you can initiate various classroom activities that you can directly tie to the curriculum. Be flexible. Practicing flexibility is key if you want to avoid needless disappointment and frustration. It is important to be flexible with both your timeline and proposed plans. Note that various external circumstances can affect your plans and things may not always go accordingly. You need to provide a little allowance and adjust your curriculum as needed and as events unfold. Apart from the timeline, you also need to be flexible when it comes to the curriculum itself. Do not be afraid to mix it up. Sometimes, a dose of creativity can be the determining factor in whether or not your students learn something valuable from the curriculum. You can try incorporating different strategies and activities to address their learning needs. Variety often helps to keep students engaged and interested in the classroom. If you are too rigid in your plans or too traditional in your approach, it might have a negative impact on your teaching.

How to Create a Curriculum Plan

To create a curriculum plan, you need to have a clear objective or goal in mind. And if it is convenient and reliable templates you are looking for, the wide selection of curriculum plan templates above can serve as excellent reference guides. Simply choose one that suits your needs and follow the basic steps below.  

Step 1: Planning and Preparation 

The first phase in creating a curriculum plan is the planning phase. The importance of adequate planning and preparation cannot be emphasized enough. A comprehensive academic curriculum cannot be accomplished overnight. It takes careful planning to come up with a complete and detailed plan. You have to invest a considerable amount of research and effort in planning out your curriculum. A basic curriculum is usually good for an academic year, semester, trimester, or even a quarter. Each specific subject or course is then incorporated into the curriculum.                 

Step 2: Format

The next step is to establish a format to work with. Once you have plotted out your approach, you can then begin crafting the actual plan. You have to use a format that’s appropriate and that will help you accomplish your objectives. How general or specific your curriculum plan is will depend on your needs and preferences. You can use a basic table or spreadsheet using Microsoft Excel. Others may even prefer to use PowerPoint to draft a more visual plan. Whatever format you decide, ensure that it’s organized and functional. If you’re looking for format ideas, you can easily download and customize the available templates above. 

Step 3: Strategies and Activities   

After establishing a clear format, you can then proceed to the actual curriculum details. Be sure to specify each course and subtopic. You can provide just the title; but if space permits, you can also add a brief description for each course. It is also helpful to create headings and subheadings to help distinguish one topic from the other. How you arrange your curriculum matters as well. Make sure to arrange your list in a logical manner. Even your strategies and activities for each topic and subtopic must be relevant and related to the course lesson. 

Step 4: Evaluation

The last step is to set up a mechanism of assessment to help gauge the students’ learning of the topics within the curriculum. This section is crucial for the overall academic formation of a student. At the end of every course or topic, there has to be an evaluation or assessment conducted. This can come in a variety of ways. Whether through pop quizzes, oral exams or homework, it is the responsibility of educators to come up with different activities that will measure students’ comprehension. Thus, the key is having a sound grading system that will standardize your assessment.    

FAQs

What are the 5 elements of a curriculum plan?

According to Study Lecture Notes, the five elements of a curriculum plan are situational analysis; formulation of objectives; selection of content and scope; strategies and methodology; and lastly, evaluation.

What should a curriculum plan include?

A basic curriculum plan should include a detailed list of all the topics to be covered for a course, subject or even an academic year. Refer to the previous section for a more detailed guide on how to create a comprehensive curriculum plan.

What is an example of curriculum planning?

An academic year curriculum, semestral term curriculum or even an individual lesson plan are just some simple examples of curriculum planning.

What are the 4 main elements of a curriculum plan?

According to Educare, there are four main elements of a curriculum plan. These are the objectives; content or subject matter; methodology or learning experiences; and finally, evaluation.

An educational curriculum plan is one of the most basic documents for any professional who works in the academe. A good curriculum plan is concise, comprehensive, and informative. Simply browse the extensive collection of sample templates above and start drafting your own plan today!