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UDL Lesson Plan Template

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) biedt flexibiliteit in elke les door meerdere middelen voor betrokkenheid, representatie en actie en expressie aan te bieden. Zo heeft elke leerling toegang tot het leerproces.

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The Flip Perspective

Universal Design for Learning focuses on removing barriers to ensure every student has equal access to the curriculum. This framework encourages flexibility in how information is presented and how students express what they know. Flip's AI helps you brainstorm diverse instructional methods that accommodate different learning styles and needs automatically.

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When to use this template

  • Planning lessons for diverse classrooms with varied learning needs
  • When you have students with IEPs, 504 plans, or English learners
  • When you want to build choice and flexibility into instruction from the start
  • To replace reactive accommodations with proactive design
Example topicELA — Grade 3: Story Elements

Template sections

Learning Goal & Standards

Define clear, measurable objectives aligned to standards. Separate the goal from the means — what must every student understand vs. how they show it.

What is the learning goal? What standards does it align to? What is the essential understanding vs. the flexible pathway?

Multiple Means of Engagement

How will you recruit interest, sustain effort, and support self-regulation? Offer choices in context, collaboration, or challenge level.

How will you hook students? What choices will you offer? How will you support students who struggle to persist?

Multiple Means of Representation

How will you present content in more than one way? Consider visual, auditory, hands-on, and text-based formats.

What formats will you use to present information? (e.g., video + text, diagrams + verbal explanation, manipulatives + written steps)

Multiple Means of Action & Expression

How will students demonstrate understanding? Offer flexible options beyond traditional tests and essays.

What options will students have for showing what they know? (e.g., write, draw, record, present, build, act out)

Barriers & Solutions

Anticipate potential barriers for specific learners and plan proactive solutions.

What barriers might students face? What supports, scaffolds, or modifications will you provide?

Assessment

Design assessments that measure the learning goal — not the method. Ensure assessment options align with the flexibility built into the lesson.

How will you know students met the goal? What formative checks will you use throughout? What flexible summative options will you offer?

About the UDL framework

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework developed by CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology) that proactively designs instruction to meet the needs of all learners from the start — rather than retrofitting accommodations after the fact.

The three UDL principles: UDL is built on three pillars that align with how the brain processes learning. Multiple Means of Engagement addresses the "why" of learning — how to motivate and sustain student effort. Multiple Means of Representation addresses the "what" — how to present information in varied formats. Multiple Means of Action & Expression addresses the "how" — giving students flexible ways to demonstrate what they know.

Why UDL matters: Traditional lesson plans assume all students learn the same way. UDL recognizes that learner variability is the norm, not the exception. By building choices and flexibility into the lesson design, you reduce barriers for students with disabilities, English learners, advanced learners, and everyone in between.

Practical implementation: UDL doesn't mean creating three separate lessons. It means building options into your existing plan. For Representation, you might present vocabulary with both text and images. For Action & Expression, you might let students choose between a written response, a drawing, or a verbal explanation. For Engagement, you might offer choice in topics or collaboration structures.

Research basis: UDL draws on neuroscience research about learning networks in the brain — affective networks (engagement), recognition networks (representation), and strategic networks (action & expression). Studies show that UDL-designed instruction improves outcomes for students with and without disabilities.

This template walks you through each UDL principle with practical prompts for building flexibility into your lesson without adding complexity.

Basis

Een overzichtelijke lesvoorbereiding met alleen de essentie: het lesdoel, materialen, de procedure en evaluatie. Ideaal voor snelle planning of docenten die houden van minimale structuur.

5E Model

Het 5E Model structureert lessen via vijf fasen: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate en Evaluate. Het begeleidt leerlingen van nieuwsgierigheid naar diepgaand begrip door middel van onderzoekend leren.

Basisonderwijs

Ontworpen voor groep 1 t/m 8 met een passend tempo, overgangssignalen, bewegingspauzes en scaffolding. Jonge leerlingen hebben behoefte aan meer structuur, korte segmenten en actieve betrokkenheid.

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Frequently asked questions

A UDL (Universal Design for Learning) lesson plan builds flexibility into instruction by providing multiple means of engagement, representation, and action & expression. It proactively addresses learner variability so all students can access the lesson without needing separate accommodations.
The three UDL principles are: Multiple Means of Engagement (the "why" of learning — motivation and interest), Multiple Means of Representation (the "what" — how information is presented), and Multiple Means of Action & Expression (the "how" — ways students demonstrate learning).
Differentiation typically adapts instruction after identifying specific student needs. UDL designs flexibility into the lesson from the start, offering options for all students proactively. Think of UDL as building a ramp (universal access) vs. differentiation as offering a hand when someone reaches the stairs.
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