Teaching today involves more than just delivering lessons. Teachers are planners, mentors, tech troubleshooters, and often the first line of emotional support for students. With so much on your plate, finding tools that truly help can make all the difference.
ChatGPT is one of those tools. When used with intention, it can help you streamline planning, spark creativity, and better support individual student needs.
This list includes 50 detailed prompts made specifically for teachers. They are designed to generate useful, ready-to-apply content across a range of areas, including academic support, behavior strategies, differentiated instruction, parent communication, and college or career readiness. Each one is written to save time while helping you personalize your approach.
Whether you are exploring AI tools for the first time or looking for ways to make ChatGPT part of your everyday workflow, these prompts are here to support your teaching and free up more of your time for what matters most—your students.
1. Lesson Planning
- Create a detailed 5-day lesson plan for [subject/topic] at the [grade level], including objectives, activities, assessments, and materials.
- Generate an inquiry-based lesson on [concept] for [grade level], aligned with [curriculum/standard], incorporating student-led activities.
- Design a project-based learning unit on [theme] for [grade level] that spans [number] weeks and includes real-world applications.
- Develop a flipped classroom plan for teaching [topic] to [grade level] students with video and activity suggestions.
- Plan a differentiated lesson on [topic] for a mixed-ability [grade level] class, including support for struggling learners and challenges for advanced students.
- Create an interdisciplinary lesson combining [subject 1] and [subject 2] for [grade level], centered around the theme of [theme].
- Design a mini-unit (3 lessons) on [topic] for [grade level] that integrates technology and includes formative assessments.
- Generate a thematic week-long lesson plan around [theme] for elementary students, incorporating literacy, math, and art.
- Write a culturally responsive lesson plan on [topic] for [grade level] that incorporates diverse perspectives and voices.
- Create a substitute teacher lesson plan for [subject] at [grade level] with clear instructions, student activities, and backup materials.
2. Creating Teaching Materials
- Generate a 10-question multiple-choice quiz on [topic] for [grade level], with answer key and explanations.
- Create a worksheet with 5 practice problems and real-life applications on [concept] for [grade level] math.
- Design a fill-in-the-blank and short-answer comprehension worksheet for a passage on [topic] for [grade level] ELA.
- Write a short reading passage (200–300 words) on [topic] for [grade level], followed by 5 comprehension questions.
- Create a vocabulary list with definitions and usage examples for [topic/subject] at [grade level].
- Make a printable cut-and-paste activity on [topic] suitable for [early grade level] students.
- Design a set of flashcards with terms and images for [topic] in [subject] for [grade level].
- Generate a two-page review sheet for students preparing for a test on [topic] in [grade level] [subject].
- Create a rubric for assessing a [type of project] assignment in [subject] for [grade level].
- Write a math puzzle or riddle related to [concept] for [grade level] students that reinforces problem-solving.
3. Supporting Student Learning
- Provide a step-by-step explanation for solving [type of problem] for [grade level] students.
- Summarize the key points of [topic] in [subject] for a visual learner in [grade level].
- Create a graphic organizer to help [grade level] students understand and analyze [concept].
- Explain [topic] in simplified language suitable for a [grade level] student with limited background knowledge.
- Translate a short reading passage on [topic] into [language] for ELL students in [grade level].
- Generate a list of scaffolded questions to help a student understand [topic] from basic to advanced concepts.
- Create a visual explanation or analogy to teach [topic] to a student who struggles with abstract ideas.
- Suggest ways to reinforce [topic] at home for parents of a [grade level] student.
- Write a short motivational message or strategy tips for a student struggling with [topic].
- List 5 interactive websites or tools to support learning of [topic] for [grade level] students.
4. Promoting Critical Thinking
- Write three open-ended questions to encourage discussion about [topic] for [grade level] students.
- Create a classroom debate prompt on [controversial/ethical topic] suitable for [grade level].
- Design a scenario-based problem on [real-world issue] that requires critical thinking from [grade level] students.
- Generate a Socratic seminar question set for a discussion on [literary work/historical event].
- Write a “What if…” hypothetical scenario related to [topic] to spark imagination and discussion in [grade level].
- Create a problem-solving task that involves [math/science concept] for [grade level] and requires reasoning.
- Design a role-play activity on [topic] where students take different perspectives to argue their viewpoint.
- Develop a case study for [subject] that challenges students to make decisions based on evidence.
- Create a writing prompt that encourages reflection and analysis on [theme] for [grade level].
- Make a set of three tiered questions (easy, medium, challenging) on [topic] to encourage depth of thinking.
5. Feedback and Grading Support
- Write positive and constructive feedback for a [grade level] student who showed improvement in [area].
- Create personalized comment samples for report cards in [subject] for students at various achievement levels.
- Draft a general email to parents explaining their child’s progress in [subject] with a friendly and professional tone.
- Generate specific praise and goal-setting suggestions for a student struggling with [skill].
- Write a summary of strengths and areas for growth in [subject] for use in parent-teacher conferences.
- Create rubric criteria for evaluating a [type of assignment] in [subject] for [grade level].
- Draft peer feedback sentence starters for students to use during [type of group activity].
- Write a comment bank with 10 phrases teachers can use for grading written work in [subject].
- Generate a list of growth-focused phrases to replace “needs improvement” in student feedback.
- Draft feedback for a student who turned in a late assignment but showed strong effort in [specific area].
6. Differentiation and Accommodation
- Adapt a [topic] lesson for a student with [learning challenge] in [grade level] to make it accessible and engaging.
- Create a modified version of a [type of assignment] on [topic] for students reading below grade level.
- Design a set of challenge questions on [topic] for advanced learners in [grade level].
- Write a social story to help a student with autism understand [routine/change in school setting].
- Generate a list of accommodations for teaching [subject] to students with ADHD in [grade level].
- Simplify instructions for an activity on [topic] so that an ELL student in [grade level] can understand them.
- Create tiered assignments on [topic] for a class with varying reading comprehension levels.
- Generate visual supports (e.g., labeled diagrams or charts) to support students learning [science/math topic].
- Suggest alternative assessments for a student who cannot complete a written test on [topic].
- Write a checklist for a student with executive function challenges to stay on task during [activity type]
7. Academic Support (Expanded Prompts)
- Act as a middle school math tutor. Create a clear, step-by-step explanation of how to solve multi-step word problems involving variables. Use a real-life example that a 7th grader would understand, and provide one practice problem with a solution.
- Act as a science teacher. Design a 15-minute mini-lesson explaining Newton’s Third Law of Motion using simple terms, visuals (described in words), and an example that includes a ball bouncing or a rocket launching. End with 2 comprehension questions.
- Act as a reading interventionist. Summarize a nonfiction article appropriate for a 6th-grade reading level (on any science or history topic) in 100 words. Then generate 3 comprehension questions that cover main idea, detail, and inference.
- Act as a history teacher. Provide a short, structured overview of the causes, major events, and outcomes of the American Civil War suitable for 8th graders. Include key vocabulary terms with definitions and 2 reflection questions.
- Act as an English Language Arts tutor. Explain how context clues work using a short example paragraph. Then, ask students to find the meaning of three unfamiliar words from a similar passage using those skills.
- Act as a writing mentor for a middle school classroom. Guide a student through the process of expanding a single persuasive paragraph into a full five-paragraph essay. Include help with thesis statements, transitions, and paragraph structure.
8. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Act as a school counselor. Create a reflective journaling activity for middle school students who recently experienced conflict with a friend. Include a short scenario, 3 reflection prompts, and a calming strategy for managing emotions.
- Act as a classroom SEL facilitator. Develop a group role-play activity where students practice respectfully disagreeing with a peer in a classroom setting. Provide a scenario, sample dialogue, and follow-up debrief questions.
- Act as a peer mentor. Write a short, relatable story about a student dealing with test anxiety and using healthy strategies to stay calm and focused. The story should model emotional regulation and positive self-talk.
- Act as a teen life coach. Create 5 personalized affirmations for a student who feels overwhelmed by academic pressure and wants to build confidence. Explain how they should use the affirmations during stressful moments.
- Act as a classroom facilitator. Write a morning SEL check-in question designed to build emotional awareness and connection among students. Include suggestions for how students can respond, both written and verbal.
- Act as a behavior specialist. Suggest a strategy for helping a student stay calm when they feel frustrated or overwhelmed in class. Include a calming technique, a cue for using it, and teacher prompts to support the student.
9. Differentiation & Personalized Learning
- Act as a special education teacher. Rewrite this 6th-grade science passage into language appropriate for a 3rd-grade reading level while maintaining core content. Ensure it uses simple vocabulary, shorter sentences, and includes visual cues (described).
- Act as a gifted education specialist. Design an independent enrichment project for a 4th-grade student who is passionate about astronomy. The project should encourage research, creativity, and presentation of findings in multiple formats.
- Act as a math interventionist. Provide a scaffolded, step-by-step strategy to teach long division to a 5th grader who struggles with number placement and multi-step problems. Include a worked example and practice question.
- Act as a curriculum developer. Modify a standard science lab on plant growth to be accessible to a student with fine motor challenges. Suggest materials, alternate procedures, and peer collaboration ideas.
- Act as a reading interventionist. Design a phonics mini-lesson for a 2nd grader who struggles with vowel combinations like “ea” and “oa.” Include examples, guided practice, and one independent task.
- Act as an inclusion support coach. Suggest 3 alternative assessment strategies to replace a traditional multiple-choice quiz on a history unit, suitable for diverse learners including ELL and IEP students.
10. College & Career Readiness
- Act as a college essay coach. Help a high school senior brainstorm and outline a unique personal statement for a college application, focusing on a meaningful experience that shows growth, resilience, or leadership.
- Act as a career advisor. Recommend three career paths for a student who is passionate about both art and environmental science. For each, provide a short description, required skills, and suggested high school courses.
- Act as a guidance counselor. Explain the essential steps for a 10th-grade student to begin preparing for college, including academic planning, extracurricular involvement, community service, and exploring potential majors.
- Act as a resume coach. Help a 10th-grade student with no formal job experience write a one-page resume. Include sections for academic achievements, volunteer work, hobbies, and personal strengths.
- Act as a college admissions officer. Review this short personal statement for clarity, emotional impact, and authenticity. Suggest 3 areas of improvement and provide a stronger alternative sentence if needed.
- Act as a scholarship mentor. Write a sample essay (150–200 words) that answers the prompt: “What motivates you to succeed in your education and future goals?” Include personal tone and a strong concluding statement.
11. Teacher Efficiency & Communication
- Act as a professional copywriter. Draft a short, engaging email to parents about an upcoming science fair, including dates, student expectations, and how families can support the project at home.
- Act as a school administrator. Create a detailed 45-minute grade-level team meeting agenda focused on reviewing student math assessment data, identifying instructional gaps, and planning small-group interventions.
- Act as a translator. Translate the following school newsletter paragraph into Spanish, making sure it is culturally appropriate and understandable for families with limited formal education.
- Act as a parent liaison. Write a warm, respectful email to a parent informing them of their child’s recent improvement in classroom behavior and participation, and suggest one way to reinforce it at home.
- Act as a progress report assistant. Generate personalized comment options for students with high, medium, and low academic performance in reading. Include tone variations for growth, concern, and celebration.
- Act as a grant writer. Draft a compelling paragraph for a classroom grant proposal requesting funding for tablets that will support differentiated learning in literacy for grades 2–4.
Conclusion
As educators, your time and energy are valuable and limited. Tools like ChatGPT aren’t meant to replace your expertise, but to support it. Whether you’re using it to plan more efficiently, tailor instruction to student needs, or handle the daily demands of communication and documentation, these prompts are designed to help you work smarter, not harder.
The more you experiment with ChatGPT, the better you’ll get at shaping its responses to fit your classroom. Start small, stay curious, and feel free to adapt these prompts to match your voice, your students, and your goals. AI is just a tool. What makes it powerful is the teacher using it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Do I need to be tech-savvy to use ChatGPT in my teaching?
No. If you can type a question into Google, you can use ChatGPT. Start with clear, specific prompts. The more detailed your request, the better the output will be.
2. Is it safe and ethical to use ChatGPT with students?
Yes, with thoughtful use. You should review and edit any content before sharing it with students. Avoid entering student names or personal data, and always follow your school’s data privacy policies.
3. Can ChatGPT align with curriculum standards or IEP goals?
Absolutely. You can ask ChatGPT to generate content based on specific standards (like Common Core or NGSS) or to differentiate materials for students with IEPs. Just include those details in your prompt.
4. How do I make ChatGPT sound more like me or fit my classroom tone?
You can include instructions like “use a warm and encouraging tone” or “sound like a 5th grade teacher talking to parents.” The more you specify, the more the response will match your style.
5. What if I get a weak or inaccurate response from ChatGPT?
That happens sometimes. Try rephrasing your prompt, adding more detail, or asking for a specific format. ChatGPT improves with clear instructions think of it as collaborating with a very fast but literal assistant.