Every CBC teacher in Kenya files three documents a term: the scheme of work, the lesson plans, and the lesson notes. They sound similar, they're often confused, and they each play a different role. This guide untangles them: what each one is for, what KICD and TSC require, and where they slot into your week.
The three documents every CBC teacher files each term
| Document | Time horizon | Audience | Filed when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheme of Work | Whole term (12 weeks) | HoD, QASO, principal | Week 1 of the term |
| Lesson Plan | A single 35-minute lesson | HoD, inspector, teacher | Daily / weekly |
| Lesson Notes | A single topic or sub-strand | The learner | Topic-by-topic |
Scheme of Work — the 12-week skeleton
The scheme of work is your term-long plan. One row per lesson across 12 weeks. The standard KICD scheme of work template has nine columns: Week · Lesson · Strand · Sub-strand · Specific Learning Outcomes · Key Inquiry Questions · Learning Experiences · Learning Resources · Assessment Methods · Reflection.
The scheme is the strategic document. Once you have it, every Friday you only need to deepen the next week's rows into actual lesson plans.
The scheme of work is filed in week 1 of the term. HoDs commonly require it before lesson plans can begin.
Lesson Plan — the daily battle plan
The lesson plan is the tactical document. One per lesson. Eleven required sections (we cover the format in detail in our KICD lesson plan format guide). The lesson plan zooms in to a single 35-minute window in the classroom: how the lesson opens, the steps in the middle, how it closes, and what the teacher reflects on afterwards.
The lesson plan is for the teacher and inspectors. It's not for learners — learners never see it.
Lesson Notes — what the learner actually reads
Lesson notes are the content document. They're written for the learner. They explain the topic in clear language, with diagrams, worked examples, and review questions. A learner uses them to revise after the lesson and before assessments.
Format-wise, lesson notes are organised by topic (or sub-strand). They don't have time allocations, key inquiry questions, or reflections. They're more like a textbook chapter than a planning document.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Scheme of Work | Lesson Plan | Lesson Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granularity | Term-level | Lesson-level | Topic-level |
| Length per item | 1 table, ~36 rows | 1 page | 2-8 pages |
| Audience | HoD, QASO | Teacher, inspector | Learner |
| Includes time allocation | No (just week) | Yes (per step) | No |
| Includes diagrams | No | Rarely | Often |
| Has reflection field | Yes (column) | Yes (last section) | No |
| Used by inspector | Yes | Yes | No |
What TSC and QASOs look for during inspection
From a quality assurance officer's checklist (publicly described by KICD/MoE):
- Scheme of work present, dated for the current term, signed by the HoD.
- Lesson plans present for the past week (a sample is checked).
- Lesson plans show evidence of reflection — the bottom field is filled in.
- Activities are learner-centred (not teacher-monologue).
- Lesson notes (or learner exercise books) show evidence the topic was actually taught.
- Assessment record book exists and is up to date.
The reflection field is the one most often missing. Fill it in even with a single sentence after each lesson — "the pair-work was rushed, next time give 8 minutes" is enough.
Where the three documents fit in your week
- Sunday evening: read this week's row in the scheme of work. Sketch this week's 5 lesson plans.
- Monday-Friday morning: review today's lesson plan before class. Add post-lesson reflection in the evening.
- Friday afternoon: tidy lesson notes for the topic just covered. Update the assessment record.
Where to get pre-written packs
Writing all three documents from scratch each term is the eight hours of weekly planning that pre-written packs collapse to ~30 minutes of personalisation. cbcedukenya.com's lesson plan packs include both the scheme of work and the lesson plans for the term in a single editable Word document.
👉 Browse all CBC lesson plan packs
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