Many teachers have started experimenting with AI tools such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini. They can help with lesson planning, generating questions, creating worksheets, and even drafting emails to parents.
However, many people try AI once or twice, receive a fairly generic response, and conclude that the technology isn’t that useful.
In most cases, the problem isn’t the AI.
It’s the prompt.
When you structure your prompt carefully and provide enough context, AI tools can produce much more useful outputs. In the video that accompanies this post, I explain a simple framework you can use to improve your prompts.
But if you’re short on time, here are 10 practical prompts you can copy and use straight away.
These prompts work well with tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude and similar AI assistants, and they can be adapted for both primary and secondary teaching.
I’ll explain this in a YouTube video which I’ll publish in the next few days on my channel.
1. Lesson Plan Generator
Useful for quickly drafting a structured lesson.
Act as an experienced teacher of [subject].Create a [length] lesson on [topic] following the [Curriculum - eg National Curriculum or Syllabus].
Context: My students are [Age/Year Group] and they already know [Prior Knowledge]. I have access to [Resources, e.g., iPads/Lab equipment].
Reference: Use a 'hook-model-practice-review' structure similar to Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction."
Include:
• learning objective
• key vocabulary
• common misconceptions
• starter activity
• main teaching activity
• hinge questions to check understanding
• exit ticket
Fomat: Output as a table with columns for: Time | Teacher Activity | Pupil Activity | Assessment
2. Differentiated Task Creator
Helps adapt activities for mixed ability classes.
Act as a literacy specialist working in education. Your Task is to rewrite the provided text for three different reading levels. Create a classroom activity on [topic] for [year group].
Provide three versions:
• Support: Simplified vocabulary and shorter sentences for EAL/ESL students.
• Core: For students working at age-related expectations.
• Challenge: High-challenge version with advanced Tier 3 vocabulary.
Reference: [Paste your original text/article here].
Each version should aim at the same learning objective but vary the level of scaffolding.Include example answers.
Evaluate: Ensure Version B includes a 'Key Vocabulary' glossary at the bottom."
3. Multiple Choice Question Generator
Great for retrieval practice and quizzes.
Act as a expert [Subject] Lead Teacher. Generate 8 multiple choice questions on [topic] suitable for [year group].
Curriculum: Ensure all questions align with the [e.g., GCSE / AQA / IB] specification.
Each question should include:
• one correct answer
• three distractors based on common misconceptions. Each distractor must be a plausible misconception
Output as a table with columns:
A table with: Question | A | B | C | D | Correct Letter | Misconception Explained.
Evaluate: At the end, tell me which question you think will be the 'trickiest' for students and why
4. Hinge Question Creator
Very useful for formative assessment.
Act as a Lead Teacher in [Subject]. Your Task is to write 3 'Hinge Questions' for a lesson on [Specific Concept, e.g., Fractions].
Context: These should be multiple-choice questions where every wrong answer (distractor) reveals a specific misconception.
Format: List the question, the 4 options (A-D), and a brief explanation of what each wrong answer tells me about the student’s thinking.
Iterate: If the questions are too easy, I will ask you to make them more conceptually challenging
5. Worksheet Creator
Useful when you need a quick independent task.
Act as a Lead Teacher in [Subject]. Create a worksheet on [topic] for [year group].The worksheet should take approximately [10–20] minutes to complete.Include:
• short explanation
• 5–8 questions
• one challenge question
Use clear, age-appropriate language.
6. Simplify a Complex Explanation
Good for adapting difficult material.
Act as an expert teacher in [subject]. Explain [topic] so that a [year group] pupil can understand it. Use:
• simple language
• an everyday analogy
• a short step-by-step explanation
Limit your explanation to 150 words.
7. Retrieval Practice Starter
Perfect for beginning lessons.
Act as an expert [Subject] teacher specializing in cognitive science. Your Task is to create a 5-question retrieval practice starter for [Year Group].
Context: Use a 'Spaced Retrieval' model. Please provide:
1 Question: From our most recent lesson on [Topic 1].
2 Questions: From our unit last week on [Topic 2].
2 Questions: From a topic we covered last term: [Topic 3].
Constraint: Questions should be 'low-stakes' and take no more than 5 minutes for students to complete. Avoid multiple choice; focus on short-answer recall.
Format: Present this as a 2x3 grid (the final box being a 'Challenge Question'). Include an answer key at the bottom with one common misconception for each.
8. Parent Email Draft
Saves time on communication.
Act as an experienced, approachable [Year Group/Subject] teacher. Your Task is to draft an email to parents regarding [Situation].
Context: Our school culture is [e.g., warm and community-focused / formal and academic]. The goal of this email is to [e.g., reassure parents / request a specific action / inform them of a change].
Constraint: Use placeholders like [Student Name] or [Date]. Keep the length between 120–150 words. Avoid 'educationalese' (jargon) and stick to a 'supportive but professional' tone.
Format: Include a clear, non-alarming Subject Line and a 'Next Steps' section at the end if applicable.
Rule: No flowery AI language like 'I hope this email finds you well'—just get straight to the point politely."
9. Feedback Comment Generator
Useful for reports or marking summaries.
Act as a supportive and professional teacher. Your Task is to turn my bulleted notes into a formal end-of-term report comment.
Context: The comment should be roughly [Number] words long. Focus on both academic progress and character.
Reference: Use this style: 'John has shown great resilience in... He needs to focus on...' [Paste a previous 'perfect' comment you’ve written here for style].
My Notes: [Paste: e.g., Sarah, great at algebra, sometimes shy to speak up, always helps others, 85% on final test].
⚠️ The Golden Rule for Teachers: Never put sensitive student data (Full names, IDs, or medical info) into an AI. Use first names only or placeholders like [Student A].
10. Lesson Reflection Assistant
Helps with professional reflection.
Act as an expert teaching mentor and instructional coach. I am going to provide a summary of a lesson I just taught.
Task: Ask me three reflective questions that would help me improve the lesson next time.
Context: The lesson was for [Year Group/Subject]. My main goal for the lesson was [e.g., for students to master long division]. My specific area for professional development right now is [e.g., reducing teacher talk time / improving questioning / behavior transitions].
Reference: Frame your questions based on [e.g., Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction / The Great Teaching Toolkit].
Format: Present the questions clearly, and for each question, provide a one-sentence 'Why this matters' explanation.
Lesson Summary: Here is a short description of my lesson:[paste lesson summary]
Optional Bonus Prompt
Improve My Prompt
This helps teachers get better results automatically.
Here is a prompt I am using with AI:[paste prompt]
How could I improve this prompt to produce a more useful result for teaching?
Suggest additional context or constraints.
The post 10 AI Prompts Every Teacher Should Save appeared first on Danny Nics Science Fix. Written by Danny Nicholson