Before You Start: The Ground Rules

Rule 1: AI generates drafts, not finished lessons. Treat AI output like a colleague’s shared resource — useful, but requiring your professional judgment.

Rule 2: Never input student data. Use generic descriptions only. See our full guide on AI and Student Data Privacy for details.

Rule 3: Specify your province. Curriculum expectations differ across Canada. Mention Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, etc., to improve alignment.

Step 1: Choose Your Tool

In 2026, the most accessible tools for lesson planning are ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini. All offer free tiers sufficient for planning.

If your board provides Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini through Workspace, use your board-supported tools for simplicity and privacy alignment.

Step 2: Write a Detailed First Prompt

Vague prompt:
"Give me a lesson plan on fractions."

Effective prompt:

Create a 60-minute Grade 4 math lesson plan in Ontario on comparing fractions with unlike denominators. Include prior knowledge, time breakdown, guided instruction, partner activity, exit ticket with answer key, and differentiation.

The difference is specificity: grade, province, prior knowledge, timing, differentiation, assessment.

Step 3: Review and Revise

Ask yourself:

• Does this align with my board’s expectations?
• Is the timing realistic?
• Are activities developmentally appropriate?
• Is assessment aligned with the objective?
• Are there factual inaccuracies?

AI provides structure. You provide expertise.

Step 4: Iterate

Use follow-up prompts to refine:

• "Shorten the warm-up to 5 minutes."
• "Increase difficulty of exit ticket question 3."
• "Add cross-curricular connection to ecosystems."
• "Modify for English language learners."

Iteration transforms a generic draft into a customized lesson.

Step 5: Build Your Template Library

Standard Lesson Plan Template

Create a [X]-minute lesson plan for Grade [X] [subject] in [province] on [topic]. Students' prior knowledge: [details]. Learning objective: [objective]. Include warm-up, instruction, activity, assessment, closing, and differentiation.

Unit Overview Template

Create a [X]-week unit plan for Grade [X] [subject] in [province] on [topic], including big ideas, essential questions, lesson overview, formative checkpoints, and culminating task.

Sub Plan Template

Create a 60-minute emergency substitute teacher plan requiring only paper and pencil, self-contained and clear.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not reviewing carefully. AI can hallucinate facts.
• Using AI once and stopping. Skill improves with repetition.
• Trying to replace your professional judgment.
• Failing to customize for your real students.

The Time Math

Prompt writing: 2–3 minutes.
AI generation: 30 seconds.
Review and refine: 5–8 minutes.
Final adjustments: 3–5 minutes.

Total: 10–15 minutes.

Compared to 30–60 minutes building from scratch, the time savings compound across a week.

Starting This Week

Choose one lesson. Write one detailed prompt. Revise once or twice. Teach it. Reflect.

AI-assisted planning is not about replacing teachers. It is about removing mechanical friction so you can focus on creativity, connection, and student understanding.

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