Use the following simple-to-use blank scope and sequence templates to plan your teaching.
A scope and sequence template (also known as a pacing guide template) provides a framework for structuring a school’s curriculum into time-based segments, with the goal that students learn teaching objectives in a strategic sequence.
While your school district may have a particular scope and sequence pacing guide in place for teachers to utilize, it’s quite easy and a great idea to create your own simplified version.
Doing so provides you with a clear and concise teaching plan for the entire school year that serves as a helpful reference when lesson planning.
In this post, you’ll…
- View simple yet effective blank scope and sequence templates that you can use to plan curriculum.
- Discover the steps that show how to write a scope and sequence.
Blank Scope and Sequence Templates
Though blank scope and sequence templates come in a variety of formats, the following examples focus on templates that organize data by quarter and month.
Blank Scope and Sequence Templates (Monthly)
This scope and sequence template works well for elementary teachers.
The first blank scope and sequence template organizes curriculum data monthly and includes all 12 months.
Subjects include math, reading, writing, science, social studies, and word work.
Though this format is not as popular, a monthly blank scope and sequence template is ideal for teachers who want a very concise pacing guide with few details.
Once you download this pacing guide template, you’ll be able to edit each blank cell with your own information.
Find a link to download a copy of this blank scope and sequence guide towards the end of this post.
Pacing Guide Templates (Quarterly)
Though similar to the blank scope and sequence template above, the following pacing blank scope and sequence templates (2 different versions) organize data quarterly.
Customize the templates by typing your district’s curriculum information into each cell.
The first template provides sufficient space to write detailed curriculum information. If you desire a quarterly structure that’s more concise, use the second version.
How to Write a Scope and Sequence
When drafting a scope and sequence, you can make it as concise or detailed as you like.
Here’s the process to write a scope and sequence.
- Decide if you’ll organize your curriculum data monthly or quarterly.
- Choose which subject you’ll dive into first. (e.g. math, reading, writing, etc.)
- Grab a list of all the learning objectives/units you’ll need to teach for the entire school year. Your state standards (Common Core, TEKS, etc.) provide a good base.
- Brainstorm the best order to teach the learning objectives.
- Strategically allot specific teaching objectives for each month or quarter.
- Preferably, review your work with colleagues to check for discrepancies, inconsistences, and/or misplacements.
Scope and Sequence Example
Subject/Grade: Math (3rd Grade)
Format: Quarterly
The pacing guide example below only shows the titles of the math units.
However, depending on your needs, you may need to add underneath each unit’s name the Common Core numerical codes, Texas TEKS numerical codes, or whichever state standard codes your district uses.
| 1st Quarter | 2nd Quarter | 3rd Quarter | 4th Quarter |
| Unit 1: Introducing/Implementing Calendar Math Unit 2: Place Value Unit 3: Computation with Whole Numbers (Addition/Subtraction) | Unit 4: Computation with Whole Numbers (Multiplication) Unit 5: Money Unit 6: Graphs/Patterns & Data | Unit 7: Geometry Unit 8: Fractions Unit 9: Probability & Measurement | Unit 10: Adding & Subtracting Fractions Unit 11: Time & Temperature Unit 12: Perimeter/Area |
For best results, at least once during the school year, make time to vertically align (plan curriculum content across grade levels) grade level scope and sequences.
See this example of an elementary school’s language arts vertical alignment scope and sequence.
Stay On Top of Curriculum With These Blank Scope and Sequence Templates
Now you can download these blank scope and sequence via Google Slides here.
Using these pacing guide templates, you’ll be able to strategically organize curriculum standards, guaranteeing that you cover all learning objectives by the end of the school year.
For best results, at the beginning of the school year, dedicate a few days or weeks filling in your editable, blank scope and sequence templates.
Doing so will allow you to confidently refer to them when planning and meeting with your grade level team during the school year.
Happy planning
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