Lesson Plan

• Describe the concepts of minimum project duration and float (slack) in Critical Path Analysis.
• Calculate early start/finish and late start/finish times for activities using forward and backward passes.
• Identify the critical path and determine the project's minimum duration.
• Analyse how float can be used for scheduling, resource allocation, and risk management.
• Apply CPA techniques to a simple project example and interpret the results.

• Projector and screen
• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed activity tables and network‑diagram handouts
• Calculators
• Worksheets for CPA calculations
• Sticky notes for sequencing activities

Start with a quick question: why do some projects finish on time while others slip? Review students’ prior knowledge of activity sequencing and dependencies. Explain that today’s success criteria are to correctly perform forward/backward passes and identify the critical path.

1. Do‑Now (5') – Short quiz on activity dependencies.
2. Mini‑lecture (10') – Introduce minimum duration and float with a visual diagram.
3. Guided practice (15') – Build the activity list and network diagram using the example table.
4. Forward pass activity (10') – Students calculate ES and EF in pairs.
5. Backward pass activity (10') – Students calculate LS, LF and total float.
6. Critical path identification (5') – Whole‑class discussion to highlight zero‑float activities.
7. Application discussion (10') – Explore how float informs scheduling, resource allocation and risk management.
8. Check for understanding (5') – Exit ticket: state the project’s minimum duration and one way float can be used.

Recap that the critical path determines the shortest possible project length and that float provides flexibility for non‑critical tasks. Collect exit tickets where students record the minimum duration and a scheduling decision based on float. For homework, assign a new set of activities for students to construct a network diagram and compute the critical path.