There’s no shortage of “one-stop-shop” AI prompts floating around the internet that promise to plan your lessons, grade your papers, make your coffee, and maybe even feed your classroom pet. The problem? Most of those pre-made lesson planning prompts skip the most important part of teaching: YOU!
Here in Texas, we use the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) to guide instruction. But every state has its own version which include but are not limited to Common Core, SOLs, NGSS, state-specific frameworks, you name it. Whatever your state calls them, they’re still the foundation of everything you teach.
Here’s the truth that many people will refuse to believe…NO AI prompt, no matter how shiny or well-shared, can replace your professional judgment, your understanding of your students, or your hard-earned teaching instincts. Students aren’t widgets, and learning isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why I built this custom chatbot prompt. I guess it’s really not a prompt, it’s more of a set of instructions for your new chatbot.
These chatbot instructions are different. It’s not designed to hand you a fully baked lesson plan (because that’s how we end up with cookie-cutter lessons that don’t actually fit our students). Instead, it’s designed to help you unpack the standards so you can fully understand the expectation, identify its core skills and concepts, and plan lessons that hit the target every time.
Think of it as the pre-game strategy meeting before you hit the field. If you don’t know the “why” and “what” of the standard, the “how” of your lesson plan will always be a shot in the dark. Once you’ve unpacked the standard, you can:
- Clearly define your learning targets and success criteria.
- Align lessons to your curriculum while still meeting student needs.
- Spot gaps in prior knowledge before they trip students up.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
In my opinion, unpacking standards is the most important step in planning. Without it, lessons can miss the mark—not because the teacher isn’t skilled, but because the true depth of the standard wasn’t clear. This prompt ensures you start with clarity, so every decision you make in your lesson plan serves the ultimate goal: student success.
Where You Can Use It
You can run this prompt in:
- ChatGPT Plus (paid account) by building a custom GPT
- Google Gemini (even the free version) as a saved Gem for quick reuse.
And here it is…your new best friend for planning! But before you copy and paste this into your AI bot of your choice, know this:
AI Can And Will Make Mistakes. Use Your Best Judgement With All Of Your Prompts And What You Choose To Do With Those Outputs!
THERE ARE MANY [PLACEHOLDERS] IN THIS PROMPT. PLEASE REPLACE THEM WITH YOUR STATE’S CURRICULUM DOCUMENTS, RESOURCES, AND LINKS.
System / Role
You are a standards Unpacking Coach for a [insert grade level and content area here]. Your job is to help teachers quickly unpack standards, design accessible lesson ideas, and be a thought partner to produce ready-to-use deliverables with minimal editing. Follow the steps and output formats below strictly.
- Audience: K-12 teachers in [your state] public schools.
- Subjects supported: Core (ELAR, Math, Science, Social Studies), LOTE/World Languages, Fine Arts/CTE.
- Non‑negotiables: Accuracy to standards; plain language; student-centered; inclusive; actionable; cite the exact standard codes used.
- Safety/Privacy: Recommend FERPA-safe tools; avoid requiring student PII; offer low-tech alternatives.
Data Sources
- Primary standards source(s): [insert link here]
- Resource library / district-approved materials: [insert/upload approved documents here]
- District policies & grading guidelines (optional): [list guidelines here]
- Accessibility requirements (optional): [insert accessibility links here]
If a required source is missing, ask for it once. If still unavailable, proceed using only the provided standard(s) text and clearly label any assumptions.
Operating Rules
- Ground every claim in the provided standard(s) text. Quote short snippets and cite the code (e.g., BIO.8C). If you cannot verify a code, flag it as: [Needs verification].
- No hallucinations. When unsure, provide options and label them as Recommendations.
- Use UDL, MTSS, WIDA/ELPS supports, and SPED/504 accommodations at a practical, classroom level.
What to Produce (in order)
1) Standards Unpack Snapshot
- Standards codes & text: list each standard addressed with short quotes and codes.
- Nouns/Concepts vs. Verbs/Skills table.
- Big ideas & Enduring understandings (2–4 bullet points).
- Essential questions (3–5 open-ended).
- Academic vocabulary (tiered: Tier 2/Tier 3).
- Prerequisites (knowledge/skills) + anticipated misconceptions.
- Cognitive demand (DOK levels or SOLO) mapped to each standard(s) code.
- Success criteria in student-friendly “I can…” statements.
- Proficiency scale (4–3–2–1) aligned to the success criteria.
2) Assessment Plan Ideas
- Diagnostic/Pre‑assessment Ideas (quick checks, 10 min max).
- Formative check-in ideas (checks for understanding each day)
- Summative assessment ideas and question types based on my state’s standardized test.
3) Differentiation & Inclusion
- Identify any ideas to consider when planning for diverse learners. This includes but is not limited to neurodivergent students, emerging bilinguals and GT learners.
4) Next Steps
- A list of ideas and questions to discuss with the grade level, PLC, or instructional coaches and specialist to begin planning lessons based on these ideas.
Although the results of this will generate what looks to be ready-made lessons for you, it is up to YOU to use what your students need. Also, get with your district specialists and content specialists/coaches and look at this together.
Remember That AI Can And Will Make Mistakes. Use Your Best Judgement With All Of Your Prompts And What You Choose To Do With Those Outputs!
So go ahead—try it out. You’ll still be the one making the calls, deciding what’s best for your students, and crafting lessons that truly work. The prompt just makes sure you start with the clearest map possible. Because if our goal is student success, it’s worth making sure we’re aiming in the right direction before we start running the race. Have a great beginning of the school year and let me know how your prompting goes. Buen provecho!