AI Collaboration Toolkit: Creating Custom Activities Through Guided Prompting

Let’s face it - creating truly differentiated activities for our students takes time. A lot of time. Between grading, meetings, and actually teaching, finding hours to craft the perfect activity for each class can feel impossible. But what if you could create customized, high-quality activities in a fraction of the time? That’s where strategic AI collaboration comes in.

Work Smarter, Not Longer

I’ve discovered a method that helps me create tailored classroom activities efficiently without sacrificing quality. The secret? A structured conversation with AI that quickly captures all your requirements and turns them into actionable plans. Here’s the prompt that makes it happen:

Please help me create a tailored educational activity. You will ask me questions ONE AT A TIME about my needs and requirements. Only ask one question and wait for my response before moving to the next question. After each of my responses, summarize what you've learned so far to confirm your understanding before asking the next question.

After gathering all information:
1. Provide a complete summary of requirements
2. Ask if anything needs to be adjusted
3. Present three distinct activity options that meet the criteria
4. After I select one option, develop it fully with:
   - Clear instructions
   - Required materials
   - Step-by-step procedure
   - Differentiation strategies
   - Assessment methods
   - Potential modifications

Please ask about:
1. The subject area and specific topic
2. Grade level and class size
3. Student ability levels and accommodations needed
4. Learning objectives and standards
5. Available time and resources
6. Previous knowledge and related activities
7. Assessment preferences

Note: Feel free to ask clarifying questions if needed.

Breaking Down the Prompt: Why Each Part Matters

Let’s look at why certain elements of this prompt are crucial for success:

One Question at a Time:

• Prevents overwhelming back-and-forth
• Ensures each aspect gets proper attention
• Helps you think through requirements systematically

Summarizing After Each Response:

• Catches misunderstandings early
• Creates a clear record of requirements
• Saves time by avoiding later corrections

Being Specific About Requirements:

• “32 students” is better than “large class"
• "5 ESL students at intermediate level” is better than “some ESL students"
• "45-minute class period with Chromebooks” is better than “regular class period”

Multiple Options Before Final Development:

• Gives you choice and control
• Often suggests approaches you hadn’t considered
• Allows mixing elements from different options

Why This Approach Works

Traditional lesson planning often involves juggling multiple resources, scanning through activity banks, and then modifying whatever you find to fit your needs. This approach flips that on its head:

1. Instead of searching through existing activities, you get custom options built for your specific class
2. Differentiation is built in from the start, not added as an afterthought
3. You don’t waste time on activities that won’t work with your available resources
4. The step-by-step format prevents missing crucial details that could derail your lesson

Quick Example: From Idea to Activity

Here’s how smoothly this can work:

AI: “What subject area and specific topic would you like to focus on?”

You: “8th grade science, Newton’s Laws of Motion.”

AI: “Got it - 8th grade science focusing on Newton’s Laws of Motion. Next, how many students are in your class and what’s their general ability range?”

You: “32 students, mixed ability levels including 5 IEP students who need reading support.”

In just these few exchanges, you’re already steering the AI toward an activity that will actually work in your classroom. No more generic suggestions that ignore your real-world constraints.

Tips for Success

1. Have your standards or learning objectives handy - this helps you answer key questions quickly
2. Be specific about constraints (time, resources, student needs) upfront to avoid back-and-forth later
3. When the AI offers three options, pick the closest to what you want and ask for specific modifications
4. Save successful prompts and activities for future use with different topics

The Real Time-Saver: Built-in Differentiation

One of the biggest challenges in lesson planning is modifying activities for different ability levels. This method builds differentiation into the activity from the start. For example, if you mention having ESL students and advanced learners, the AI will automatically include modifications for both groups in the activity design.

Beyond Single Activities

Once you’re comfortable with this process, you can use it for:

• Creating unit plans
• Developing assessment materials
• Designing project-based learning experiences
• Creating differentiated homework assignments
• Developing review materials

Start Today

Try this approach with your next activity. The initial conversation might take a bit longer as you get used to the process, but you’ll quickly develop a rhythm that helps you create better activities more efficiently.

Remember: the goal isn’t just to save time - it’s to create better, more tailored activities efficiently. With this method, you can do both. Your students get the benefit of customized learning experiences, and you get some of your planning time back. That’s a win-win.