Grab-and-Go Lesson Plan: The Date Planning Experience

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2. School Program
3. Date Planning Experience

Objective:
Students will learn how to plan a thoughtful and personalized shared experience, focusing on intentionality, preparation, communication, shared enjoyment, and contingency planning. Students will learn the research behind why intentionally connecting through date nights is important to the success of a romantic relationship.

Class Time Needed:
45–60 minutes for instructor led discussion + planning activity + time outside of class to carry out the plan (optional homework).

Materials Needed:

• Student smartphones with the LoveTrack app installed (free to download)
• Paper or digital planning worksheets (shared below)

Resources:

• Date Planning Worksheet for Students (Printable PDF)
• Post Date Reflection Worksheet for Students (Printable PDF)
• Five Pillars of Great Date Nights (Background for Teachers)
• QR Code Sheet for App Download (Printable PDF)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 – Open Discussion (5–7 minutes)

• Ask students:
  • “Do you think date nights are important? Why or why not?”
  • “What do you think makes a good date night?”
  • “What are some ways a date night could go wrong?”
• Encourage examples for both romantic and platonic outings.

Step 2 – Teacher Shares Research & Tips (10 minutes)

• Present research showing how regular, intentional shared experiences strengthen relationships.
  • National Marriage Project (University of Virginia)
    • https://nationalmarriageproject.org/2023-date-night-opportunity
  • Institute for Family Studies
    • https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-power-of-date-nights
• Highlight tips for great date nights: personalization, preparation, communication, shared enjoyment, and contingency planning.
  • Use the provided resource – Five Pillars of Great Date Nights.

Step 3 – Teacher Introduces LoveTrack (3–5 minutes)

• Explain how LoveTrack’s Date Night Planner can help with finding, customizing, and storing ideas for future use.
• Walk students through how to access and navigate the feature in the app.
• Give students a few minutes to download the app through the QR code sheet provided or through https://lovetrackapp.com.

Step 4 – Students Plan Their Occasion (15–20 minutes)

• Using LoveTrack, students choose a date idea (romantic, friend, or family outing) and customize it.
• Planning should include:
  • Who is involved
  • How they will personalize it
  • Preparation needed
  • Communication before and during
  • How they will ensure shared enjoyment
• Have students fill out the Date Planning Worksheet

Step 5 – Invite Students to Share (10–15 minutes)

• Ask for volunteers to present their planned occasion.
• Discuss what makes their plan strong and suggest possible improvements.

Step 6 – Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

• Reinforce that date nights (and shared experiences in general) are about intentionality and connection, not expense.
• Encourage students to use LoveTrack beyond the classroom to create more meaningful experiences.

Homework Assignment:

• Carry out the planned occasion outside of class.
• Write a 2-page reflection on:
  • What worked well
  • What could be improved
  • How well it met the five pillars (personalization, preparation, communication, shared enjoyment, and contingency planning)
  • Students can fill out the Post Date Reflection Worksheet in addition to or in lieu of a paper, depending on the teaching environment.