How to make a lesson plan with AI (prompts for teachers)

Give the AI your class context

Act as an experienced [grade/subject] teacher.
Draft a [45]-minute lesson on [topic] for [grade] students.
Standard or goal: [paste the standard or learning goal your school uses].
Class context: [number] students, [e.g. 4 English learners, 2 students with reading accommodations], available materials: [whiteboard, laptops, etc.].
Include: a learning objective, a 5-minute warm-up, direct instruction, guided practice, independent practice, and a 5-minute exit ticket, with times for each part.

Paste the actual standard text rather than just a code; the AI may misremember what a code means.

Differentiate the activities

For the independent practice, write three versions of the same task: one with more support (sentence starters, worked example), one on grade level, and one extension for students who finish early.
Keep the same learning objective for all three.

Write the checks for understanding

Write a 3-question exit ticket for this lesson: one recall question, one application question and one short explanation question. Include an answer key and the common mistake each question is likely to reveal.

Build a simple rubric

Make a 4-level rubric for [the assignment] with 3-4 criteria, written in student-friendly language. Format it as a table.

To turn the lesson into review cards later, see how to make flashcards and a study guide with AI. For slides, try making a presentation with AI.

Check it before you teach it

• Check every fact, date, formula and answer key yourself. AI can make confident mistakes.
• Check reading level and timing: most AI drafts pack in too much for one period.
• Follow your school's policy on AI tools, and never paste student names, grades or IEP details into a chatbot.

Tired of repeating your style every time? Set up custom instructions in ChatGPT, Claude or Grok.

Before trusting any claim, see how to research with AI without getting fooled.