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Plan a substitute lesson that fits a shortened period

Practice: Setting limits and rules. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

You'll be out Thursday, and a substitute will teach your 6th grade density lab from a printed plan. Thursday is an assembly schedule, so write the plan as exactly 5 numbered steps whose minutes add up to the shortened period, under 90 words, in plain text. It must include the goggle check before any hands-on work and use only supplies that are actually available. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Just saying "make a lesson plan". The AI writes a full page with objectives, standards and bold headings, too much for a sub to follow. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 5 numbered steps, each starting with its minutes. Plain text."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 90 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part instead: "each step one sentence under 14 words."
  • Missing the schedule change. The notes say a period is 50 minutes, and the AI uses that unless you point to the office email. Try: Add: "Thursday periods are 38 minutes. The minutes must add up to exactly 38."
  • Burying the safety step. The AI often lists goggles as a side note at the end instead of a step before the lab starts. Try: Add: "Step 2 is the goggle check, before anyone touches water or cubes."
  • Letting the AI assume supplies. The AI fills a plan with slides, a video or the spring scales because they are normal for this lab. Try: Add: "Use only supplies the notes list as available."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Sets the number of steps
  • Gives the real period length
  • Puts the goggle check in
  • Limits the supplies
  • Sets a word limit

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