Happy Holid-AI-s
December 6th
It’s day 4, and here’s the plan: let AI lend a helping hand! Last year, ChatGPT stole the show, and this year, we’re here to help you grow. With prompts and tools to ease your day, try Gemini, Claude, or ChatGPT’s way. Boost your lessons, save some time, and make teaching truly sublime!
Gemini
Gemini.google.com
Combines text and visuals for creative lesson ideas.
Simplifies concepts for teaching.
Great for brainstorming strategies.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT.com
Is versatile for lesson planning.
Offers templates and activity ideas.
Engages students with role-play and Q&A.
Claude
Claude.AI
Summarizes long texts like policies or readings.
Upload PDFs for insights or edits.
Natural, conversational responses.
Festive Attendance Questions & Slides
Attendance questions can be a great way to build relationships with your students and a sense of community in your classroom. Instead of calling students’ names and hearing “Here” thirty times in response, students answer with their question to a simple question like, “Coke or Pepsi?” or “Dogs or cats?”
Coming up with these questions used to be a struggle, but now generative AI tools like ChatGPT make it quick and easy. Combine their generative capabilities with Canva’s Bulk Create feature and you can make an entire deck of winter-themed slides in seconds!
Re-Theme Your Classwork!
As the holiday season approaches, why not add a touch of festive fun to your classroom? These AI prompts are designed to help you reimagine your lessons with a winter or holiday theme, bringing a bit of cheer while staying focused on your learning objectives. Feel free to customize these ideas to suit your students' needs and your curriculum goals—after all, nothing warms the classroom like creative, seasonal learning!
Math
Help me create a winter-themed math activity focused on [specific topic, e.g., fractions, ratios, or solving equations]. For example, design a worksheet where students calculate the proportions for making hot chocolate or create a holiday budget to buy gifts within certain constraints. Include at least three different problems, and make the theme engaging and relevant to the season.
ELA
Develop a winter-themed ELA activity based on [specific topic, e.g., analyzing poetry, creative writing, or rhetorical analysis]. For example, ask students to write a short story about a magical snowstorm or analyze a holiday-themed advertisement for persuasive techniques. The activity should align with the goal of improving [specific skill, e.g., critical analysis or narrative writing].
Science
Create a winter-themed science experiment or activity that explores [specific topic, e.g., states of matter, weather, or ecosystems]. For example, suggest an experiment where students observe how salt affects the freezing point of water or analyze how animals adapt to winter conditions. Include materials needed, steps, and discussion questions.
Social Studies
Design a holiday-themed social studies lesson about [specific topic, e.g., cultural traditions, historical events, or economics]. For example, explore the history of winter celebrations around the world or simulate a gift exchange that requires students to learn about trade and currency in different countries. Ensure the activity is educational and interactive.
Go on a Virtual Field Trip
Virtual field trips offer a unique opportunity to transport your students to far-off lands and historical times. By incorporating these immersive experiences into your lessons, you can spark curiosity, enhance learning, and make your classroom come alive. Whether you’re exploring the ancient pyramids of Egypt or the International Space Station, virtual field trips provide a fun and engaging way to supplement your curriculum and bring learning to life.
Prompt: "Provide a virtual field trip for a __________________ class, along with a suggested implementation and a link to the resource."
Math
Virtual visit to the Egyptian pyramids to measure and calculate the dimensions of the structures.
Teacher can provide students with measurements and challenges to calculate angles, volumes, and surface areas.
Virtual Field Trip Link
English
Virtual tour of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre to understand the performance context of his plays.
Teacher can have students analyze stage directions, character interactions, and the overall theatrical experience.
History
Virtual visit to the ancient city of Pompeii to learn about Roman life and culture.
Teacher can have students explore the ruins, analyze artifacts, and discuss the historical significance of the site.
Science
Virtual tour of the International Space Station to learn about zero gravity experiments.
Teacher can guide students in observing experiments, asking questions, and discussing the scientific principles involved.
Virtual Field Trip Link
Festive Attention-Getters
Prompt: "Create a list of holiday-themed attention-getters for teachers to quiet down their students. Include ideas that are inclusive of different cultures and beliefs, avoiding a focus on Christmas only. Provide options for all grade levels, including some specifically for high schoolers."
Here’s a list of inclusive, holiday-season attention-getters that teachers can use. These are festive yet considerate of different beliefs:
Teacher: "It’s sweater weather!"
Students: "Time to pull it together!"
Teacher: "Walking in a Winter..."
Students: "...Wonderland!"
Teacher: "Hot cocoa..."
Students: "...Marshmallow!"
Teacher: "Winter vibes..."
Students: "...Let’s thrive!"
Teacher: "Frosty the Snowman..."
Students: "...Was a jolly happy soul!"
Teacher: "Dashing through the snow..."
Students: "...In a one-horse open sleigh!"
Teacher: "You’re a mean one..."
Students: "...Mr. Grinch!"
Teacher: "Deck the halls with boughs of holly..."
Students: "...Fa la la la la, la la la la!"
