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Build Your AI Pedagogy First — Then Plug In Activities

The AI-Pedagogy Cycle (your “why → how → what” workflow)

  1. Purpose — Why do I want AI in my classroom? What learning goals does it unlock that I can’t do (or can’t do as well) without it?

  2. Teacher AI Literacy — Understand AI’s strengths/limits, safe use, and where it fits (and doesn’t) in your context.

  3. Vetting & Selection — Use a tool-evaluation checklist (privacy, accuracy, transparency, accessibility, cost, fit-to-goals).

  4. Shared Agreement — Co-create AI norms with students: when it’s allowed, how to cite/use it, and how to verify/reflect.

  5. Iterate — Review what worked, adjust prompts/activities, and update your agreement & rubric together.
    This cycle keeps practice grounded in pedagogy—not hype.

10 Creative, Classroom-Ready AI Activities

(each includes a quick start + a copy-prompt.)

  1. AI Read-Alouds for Access & Fluency
    Try with: ChatGPT → script; ElevenLabs → natural audio.
    Steps: draft a short script; generate voice; share as listen-along support.
    Copy-Prompt

 
You are a literacy coach. Turn this passage into a 2-minute read-aloud with clear transitions and definitions for tricky words: “<<paste text>>”. Add 3 comprehension questions. 
  1. Step-by-Step Tutorials (How-To Cards or Short Videos)
    Try with: ChatGPT → outline; Canva or Riverside → visuals/record.
    Copy-Prompt

 
Create a numbered, step-by-step tutorial (8 steps max) for beginners on<<topic>>”. Include a safety tip and a common mistake to avoid. Output: a script + a bulleted shot list. 
  1. Rubric Builder (with Student-Facing Criteria)
    Try with: ChatGPT → analytic rubric; Canva → layout.
    Copy-Prompt

 
Build a 4-level analytic rubric for<<task>>” aligned to these standards: <<paste>>. Levels: Exceeds / Meets / Approaching / Beginning. Keep descriptors observable and concise. 
  1. Question-Driven Mini-Games
    Try with: ChatGPT → questions/storylines; Canva or Scratch → game shell.
    Copy-Prompt

 
Generate 12 leveled Q&As (easy→hard) on<<unit>>”, with 1 correct + 3 plausible distractors each, tagged by difficulty and concept. Provide an answer key at the end
  1. Concept Visuals & Anchor Charts
    Try with: ChatGPT → scene/visual spec; image tool (e.g., Midjourney) → illustration.
    Copy-Prompt

 
Draft a clean, classroom poster brief that teaches “<<concept>>with 3 visuals, a metaphor, and a 2-line student tip. Include alt-text for accessibility. 
  1. Interactive Lessons & Checks for Understanding
    Try with: ChatGPT → content & quiz items; Genially → interactivity.
    Copy-Prompt

 
Create a 15-minute interactive micro-lesson on<<topic>>with 3 checkpoints (MCQ, short response, misconception fix). Add teacher notes and suggested timing
  1. AI-Powered Digital Storytelling
    Try with: ChatGPT → narrative planning; Canva/Adobe Express → story panels; optional TTS.
    Copy-Prompt

 
Co-plan a 6-panel visual story about “<<theme>>for <<grade>>. Include: plot beats, dialogue snippets, and a reflection question per panel. Keep reading level appropriate. 
  1. Search Smarter: ChatGPT vs. Google Side-by-Side
    Students investigate how answers differ (sources, bias, depth), then reflect.
    Copy-Prompt (for the reflection sheet)

 
List differences you notice between ChatGPT and Google results for<<query>>”: sources, dates, bias, depth, citations. Which would you trust for which task, and why? 
  1. Bias Check & Evidence Audit
    Have students critique an AI answer, locate missing perspectives, and verify facts.
    Copy-Prompt

 
Here’s an AI answer: <<paste>>. Identify claims that need verification, likely biases or missing voices, and 3 sources to cross-check. Suggest edits that correct issues. 
  1. Socratic Seminar with AI as a Thinking Partner
    Use AI to surface counter-arguments and discussion questions, then students lead.
    Copy-Prompt

 
For a Socratic seminar on<<issue>>”, generate 6 probing questions, 3 counter-arguments to the common stance, and a short opener that frames multiple perspectives. 

Tool Vetting: A Simple Evaluation Checklist

Use (and share with students) a rubric that looks at:

  • Learning Alignment (clear objective, measurable outcome)

  • Accuracy/Transparency (cites sources, timestamps, explains limits)

  • Privacy/Safety (no PII; data policy; FERPA-friendly options)

  • Accessibility/UDL (captions/alt-text/keyboard nav; multilingual)

  • Equity/Cost/Access (free tier? device constraints? offline options)

  • Teacher Control (classroom mode, export options, audit trail)

Copy-Prompt (make your rubric fast)

Turn these criteria into a 4-column rubric (Excellent→Poor) to evaluate AI tools for our school: learning alignment, accuracy/transparency, privacy/safety, accessibility/UDL, equity/cost, teacher control. Keep criteria observable, student-friendly, and printable.

Co-Create an AI Classroom “Shared Agreement”

  • When we may use AI (brainstorming, drafts, feedback, translation, accessibility)

  • What we must do (cite AI use, verify facts, reflect on changes)

  • What we never do (submit raw AI output; share PII; plagiarize)

  • How we reflect (metacognitive exit tickets on where AI helped/hurt)

  • How we improve (revise prompts, record lessons learned, iterate monthly)
    This reframes AI as a cognitive partner and supports responsible, critical use. 

Copy-Prompt (draft the agreement)

Draft a 1-page “AI in Our Class: Shared Agreement” for <<grade/subject>> that defines allowed uses, required citations, verification steps, reflection questions, and consequences for misuse. Tone: supportive and growth-oriented. 

Authors

PABlo