Who are you teaching?

Teaching is one part information and two parts acting. 

To keep the students attention throughout a lesson takes excitement and entertainment. One must take into account the fact that we've all been there. Remembering your days as a student will more than likely help in your days as a teacher. Did you want to spend an entire day in your seat staring as the teacher spewed information at you?

Do your best to get your lesson interactive. If you can get the students involved, do it. If you can get them out of the classroom for the lesson without too much distraction, do it. 

The students need to have a reason to care about the information you are giving them. Maybe have them each teach a small part of your lesson. If you are working on counting, open a class store.  If you are talking about major historical figures, make sure you hit on male and female figures. The students have to know that there's a reason for what they are learning.

If the first thing you hear is "When are we going to use this?" you're doing something wrong.

Where do you start?

I think the starting point for a lesson plan shoudl be your classroom itself. Sure, you've got to start each year with a basic idea of what needs to be taught, but the driving force of the classroom should be the students themselves.

You cannot simply assume taht the same cookie cutter lessons you walked into your first day of tecahing with will last you until the day you retire. If you did you would not grow as an educator. 

You must first take into account how each of your students learn. Are there any students in your class who speak another language or have a learning disorder? What kind of learners are your students? Visual, Vocal, everyone learns differently and this will change how your lesson is taught.

After this take into account what your students enjoy. Are they on sports teams? What are their hobbies? What do they like to do for fun? 

Take all of this into account and you will have your basis for a fun and exciting lesson and an enjoyable classroom environment!