Lesson plans - Aerial mends 3

Walter & Group.....

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[GH] From Gary Kell. His spread sheet lesson plan outline is attached :

Hi Gordy......

I agree lots of way to skin the cat and all can be effective. I do quite a few schools and large classes. Lesson plans keep you organized, keep you from "missing" important info, allow adjustments to be made easier and quicker when situations develop and is so necessary when you have more than one instructor.

I love to use spreadsheets for my lesson plans.... I've attached one I quickly did for teaching aerial mends to a small class (4 to 8) students where I would use two instructors. I breakdown my lesson plans by "teaching moments" with info on schedule, time, content description/approach, handouts, notes on props & preparation. I often keep the lesson plan spreadsheet rather brief and let instructor draft notes on how they plan to address that "teaching moment". Ideally we would review and practice to make sure it was logical, provided the key information briefly, demos matched explanations, and met the time constraints!

Hope this may help some other folks that like using spreadsheets or tables!!

Sure appreciate all the great thoughts and ideas from everyone!

Gary Kell

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[GH] Gary,

Well done !

I hadn't thought of using a spreadsheet format.

I'd be able to easily see and follow it even out there in bad weather .... or burning sunshine while wearing my Polaroid glasses as I taught.

Gory

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[GH] Answer to our challenge from Len Anderson:

Challenge: Lesson plan to teach aerial mends to two 18 yr. fly fisherman that have mastered basic casting.

1. Introduce everyone, ask about their fly fishing background, give time to talk about this. (find out how much they know about aerial mends and there use.)

2. Talk about the importance of rod control, making good loops, and accuracy.

3. Talk about how aerial mends made in the right place on target will enhance a drag free drift.

4. Have students warm up with some 30 - 40 ft. casts with controlled speed and loop size and have them be aware of good loops front and back.

5. Have students cast to a target in front and down from them on the river. Have them be sure to observe where the fly lands and how it responds in the current.

6. I would demonstrate slack line aerial mends at a target to show how the fly has a longer drag free drift then with just a straight line cast.

a. explain how I use a higher trajectory and a slower casting stroke.

7. Have them practice this for 30 min.

8. Pick another target in the river and demonstrate a aerial mend both right and left at a specified distance.

9. Have them practice this for 30 min.

10. Pick another target directly downstream about 25 - 30 ft. away and demonstrate a pile cast.

11, Have them practice this for 30 min.

12. Break and discuss the mends we just practiced and their uses and find out from the participants what they think of what they just attempted. Ask for questions about the use of ariel mends.

13. Ask if there are any mends they would like to see demonstrated and taught.

14. Spend the rest of the time about 75 min on technique for each mend they want to use.

15. Closing - go over everything we covered and ask if there are any questions and if there is anything else we can work on in the future.

Len

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[GH] Len,

Good plan.

Would you consider putting it in a time based outline the way Gary Kell & I did for actual use in the field or at stream side ?

Bottom line is to have on your notes or clipboard whatever will work best for you and your assistant instructors (if any).

Gordy

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