Last Updated5 May 2025

Structuring Lessons and Sessions covers the ways that you can structure, deliver and prepare for lessons. Learn how to put together activities to develop new skills, structure presentations and deliver information. Understand how to create longer teaching sessions to explore the mountain and continue to develop skills.

Lesson Considerations

Terrain Selection

Choosing the appropriate terrain is essential for students’ physical and psychological progress. Students will not learn effectively if the terrain is too challenging or if they feel unsafe.

When selecting terrain, consider the following factors:

Safety: Ensure that students can safely complete the activity on the chosen terrain.

Challenge: Assess the degree of challenge the terrain presents for your students.

Slope angle: Consider how the slope angle will impact their ability to succeed.

Snow conditions: Be mindful of variations in snow conditions that may affect performance.

Traffic patterns and crowds: Avoid areas with heavy traffic that could increase the risk.

Weather conditions: Keep in mind how changing weather conditions can alter the terrain’s level of challenge.

Class Management

Effective class management is essential for student safety and overall enjoyment. It can be achieved by following the Snow Code and being mindful of the following principles:

Safe stopping practices:

Teach students to slow down before stopping and stop below others or obstacles.

Provide individualised attention rather than a generic lesson.

Space and awareness:

Ensure all students give others space, including looking uphill before moving and ahead to where they are planning to go.

Set clear communication for when to move (e.g., two turns apart or instructor waving).

Different class management approaches lead to different outcomes:

Following the instructor allows for more controlled turn shape but may limit individual focus.

Skiing one at a time gives students the opportunity for individual focus but may result in more time spent waiting for turns.

Ultimately, class management greatly impacts the flow and enjoyment of the lesson. Always aim to keep students as active as possible, allowing them to practice and ski frequently, within the limits of their fitness and the conditions.

Pacing Information

For students to learn effectively, information pacing must align with their ability to absorb it. Consider the following principles:

Smaller amounts of information are easier to process. It’s important to break down larger concepts into manageable chunks.

Blending multiple concepts can be more challenging, so ensure students have a clear understanding of each concept before moving on to the next.

Experiential learning: Information about skiing needs to be experienced to be fully understood.

Variety in activities: Plan activities that create different types of experiences but focus on similar information to reinforce key concepts.

Time Management

To successfully achieve the negotiated goals within the allocated time, consider the following aspects:

Length of the lesson: Ensure the goals fit within the time available.

Time for material presentation: Allocate adequate time for explaining concepts and techniques.

Practice time: Ensure students have enough time to practice what they’ve learned.

Lift rides and lift lines: Factor in time for lifts and waiting in lines, as these can impact the lesson’s flow.