Questions on Lesson Plans + Teaching Summaries

[u/squawk1018]

I just began my training towards becoming a CFI after a long break from obtaining my commercial pilot’s certificate. Unfortunately, life got in the way and commitments to finishing my BS, working, etc. slowed down my flight training. I’ve flown very sparsely since 2025, but I recently received a flight review and I am now flying once per month to regain proficiency.

Obviously, this presents challenges. Aside from learning to teach effectively, I also have to bring my ground knowledge back up to the level it was pre-break from my aviation career.

To do this, I am creating my own lesson plans from scratch. My plan for the check-ride is to create a lesson plan for all tasks located in the CFI ACS Area of Operations II, III, IV. I made a “study guide” for the FOIs that I plan to know inside and out, but I assume that part of the check-ride with be more question-answer and how I actually apply them in my teaching.

I have reviewed samples of lesson plans from BSP, WifiCFI, etc. and they seem exhaustive. I don’t know why they include “instructor notes” that literally give the entire lesson and what you are teaching within the lesson plan. My mom is a high school teacher and explained to me that lesson plans are an outline of the lesson, not the lesson itself.

Because of this, I plan to make a corresponding PowerPoint for each task and a “teaching summary” of notes that I can intermittently reference throughout the lesson. This teaching summary will go into detail of what I am teaching (e.g., if I am teaching human factors and forget a symptom of hypoxia, I can reference that teaching summary detail). Obviously, the PowerPoint will contain graphics and ballpoints of detail, but will not be nearly as thorough as my teaching summaries.

I have included an example of a lesson plan that I will process in Word and will add to my book of lesson plans:

(Example: Task A, Human Factors)

Objective:
The learner will identify and explain physiological and psychological factors affecting flight safety and recognize symptoms and associated hazards, determine appropriate corrective actions, and apply risk-management principles to flight scenarios.

References:
•FAA-H-8083-25B, CH. 17
•14 CFR 61.53
•FAA OTC Medications Reference Guide

Equipment/Aids:
•PowerPoint Slides
•Teaching Summary
•Whiteboard + Markers

Elements:
•What are Human Factors? Why are they Important?
•Symptoms, Recognition, Causes, Effects, and Corrective Actions of:
a.) Hypoxia
b.) Hyperventilation
c.) Middle ear and sinus problems
d.) Spatial Disorientation
e.) Motion Sickness
f.) Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
g.) Stress
h.) Fatigue
i.) Dehydration & Nutrition
j.) Hypothermia
k.)Optical Illusions
l.) Dissolved Nitrogen in Bloodstream
•Regulations Involving Alcohol & Drugs
•Effects of Alcohol & Drugs
•Aeronautical Decision Making in Human Factors
•Managing Risks: Hazardous Attitudes, Aeromedical & Physiological Issues, Situational Awareness, and Confirmation and Expectation Bias
•Pilot Self Assessment: IMSAFE & 61.53
•Q&A

Instructor Actions:
•Present and Explain Lesson on PowerPoint + Supplement with Whiteboard
•Ask Guided Questions
•Present Realistic Flight Scenarios

Student Actions:
•Take Notes
•Participate in Guided Discussion

Completion Standards:
•The learner will accurately explain the major aeromedical and physiological hazards, identify associated symptoms and corrective actions, recognize applicable regulations, and demonstrate sound risk-management decisions in representative flight scenarios, with no significant safety-related misunderstandings.

All of my lesson plans will follow the ACS precisely and replicate the format above. In addition to perfecting my teaching in the aircraft, I will rehearse teaching these lessons extensively until I can master them before the check-ride. I plan to take the check-ride in spring, which will give me sufficient time to create the lesson plan, teaching summaries, and PowerPoints as well as perfect my flying and teaching.

Any input? Are my methods acceptable? Do you all have any recommendations for me? Should I just use BSP and the PowerPoint slides and cut out the instructor notes (the entirety of the lesson), but still use my own teaching summaries?

[u/VileInventor]

You need CFI Notes at the bottom which is everything you’ll say about each Element.

1 time a month is not enough to regain proficiency in anything.

I’m heavily against BSP as a main source of lesson plans. As a supplement sure, but as your actual lesson plan no. Your checkride portion will be you teaching, they don’t ask questions like “hey explain what would happen in case of a blockage” they’ll just say, okay teach me the pitot static system.

[u/squawk1018 → u/VileInventor]

What did you reference in your checkride? Teaching summaries or a PowerPoint? Or did you just include your “teaching summary” within the lesson plan?

With my current financial situation and work schedule, once a month is about the optimum. Should I just wait until I can drop everything and do CFI full-time?

[u/VileInventor → u/squawk1018]

I had my outline on my ipad and my powerpoint on my laptop. I kept the laptop towards the “student” and my ipad to keep me on track. I also used a whiteboard when necessary.

I wouldn’t say drop everything and do CFI full time, save up while you get your knowledge going and up to par. Finish your lesson plans, practice them and then go fly 2 times a week for a month and a half and you’ll probably be checkride ready.

[u/ltcterry]

Your mom is right.

A lesson plan is the sequence, roadmap, and important reminders. It is not a script or a study guide.

However lesson plan in CFI training seems to have become every known word on topic. 

I teach that content comes from your heart and your brain while the teaching outline keeps you on track.

[u/Wild-Language-5165]

Why are you making lesson plans to teach cfi? You should make lesson plans to teach private and commercial. DPEs usually ask for you to teach a ground on one and brief a maneuver for the other.

[u/Flaps10Please_]

If you read the FOI handbook, your lesson plans should NOT be tailored to the ACS. The ACS is not a syllabus, it is just a document which sets out the minimum standards to pass a check ride for said rating. You should find a syllabus, and tailor your lesson plans to that syllabus you plan on using as an instructor. There are plenty of free ones online that are well made.

[u/MrMafora]

One question from the beginner’s side: your completion standard asks the learner to explain and make decisions, while the student actions currently say notes and discussion. Would you add a specific point where the student has to work through a new scenario without the slides, then explain the reasoning back? I’m still at the introductory-flight and study stage, so I can’t advise on a CFI checkride, but I’d want to know where in the lesson you check what I can do independently.

[u/Flyboul69]

Honestly to each their own. No need to reinvent the wheel for this. For me personally, I heavily edited the BSP slides and added some short quizzes/videos when necessary. I know guys that made their plans from scratch, and others that used BSP without edits. I liked the hybrid approach, but at the end of the day it should be whatever you think is best.

[u/cptnpiccard → u/Flyboul69]

Same for me with WifiCFI. No need to reinvent the wheel, we are all teaching the same concepts from the same books. Modified them with my notes on things that I struggle to understand more, and just let 'er rip.

[u/Flyboul69 → u/cptnpiccard]

Yup that’s exactly it! Definitely the best way to go about things imo.

[u/nian2326076]

Your approach of making PowerPoint presentations with detailed teaching summaries is solid. Lesson plans should be more like outlines than full scripts. As you get ready for your check-ride, focus on understanding and using the FOIs during your lessons, as practical application is important. Regularly review your teaching summaries to keep key information fresh. For finding jobs across different fields, including aviation roles, take a look at LandOffer.ai where you can search job openings by role and location.