Read and watch The Last Lecture several times to become familiar with the work. Online videos of Pausch presenting this lecture are available on several websites, including Youtube and the professor's personal site at Carnegie Mellon University. The entirety of the work is also available in book format. Take notes when watching and reading the work in order to find excerpts and points to explore and discuss in greater detail.
Read about Dr. Pausch's personal and educational history, so as to understand the childhood dreams that he touches upon and his life outside the classroom to create a fully realized portrait of the man. To communicate the messages of the last lecture, you must understand its author.
Write a list of the most important facts about Pausch's life to share with your students studying his work in class.
Create a working list of the most important points from The Last Lecture to focus on in the lesson. Consider the things Pausch touches upon in his speech, lsuch as his childhood, appreciating his good overall health even as he deals with cancer, and his dreams and hopes, such as experiencing zero-gravity and working for Disney. Explain how these points relate to the lives of your students and discuss them productively in a group atmosphere.
Make an outline of The Last Lecture lesson plan and presentation. Plan the lecture on Pausch's piece starting with an introduction and moving through various points of interest and importance before coming to a conclusion. Write questions to ask of your students and for use in sparking a group discussion
Design visual aides to assist in the Last Lecture lesson. Consider making a corresponding presentation with a program like PowerPoint, designing individual slides to discussion topics and conversations points selected for the lesson. Making handouts for students that mention relevant points will provide them with something to refer to during class and to take home.