AI Prompt for Differentiated Lesson Plan

Build a differentiated lesson plan with this AI prompt. Tiered activities for struggling, on-level, and advanced learners in one class. Try it free today.

The prompt

ROLE: You are a differentiation specialist with 15 years of experience in mixed-ability classrooms.

CONTEXT: I teach [SUBJECT] to [GRADE_LEVEL]. The lesson topic is [TOPIC]. My class has three rough groups: struggling learners who need foundational support, on-level learners, and advanced learners who finish early and need challenge. I have [DURATION] minutes.

TASK: Create a single lesson plan where all students work toward the same learning objective but through tiered activities matched to their readiness level.

FORMAT:
1. SHARED LEARNING OBJECTIVE (one sentence, student-friendly)
2. WHOLE-CLASS LAUNCH (10 minutes max, accessible to everyone)
3. TIERED ACTIVITIES — three parallel tasks labeled Support, Core, and Stretch, each with clear instructions a student could follow alone
4. FLEXIBLE GROUPING suggestion (who works with whom and why)
5. CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING (one quick formative assessment that works across tiers)
6. EARLY-FINISHER task that deepens thinking rather than adding busywork

CONSTRAINTS: The three tiers must teach the same concept, not three different topics. Every activity must be doable with standard classroom materials. Keep total reading time under 3 minutes.

Variables to fill in

Replace each [variable] in the prompt with your own details:

[SUBJECT] [GRADE_LEVEL] [TOPIC] [DURATION]

Example input

SUBJECT=Math, GRADE_LEVEL=4th grade, TOPIC=multiplying two-digit numbers, DURATION=60

How to use this prompt

Describe your three learner groups honestly in the context. After the AI generates the plan, check that the Support tier truly scaffolds rather than dumbing down. Swap any activity that needs materials you do not have.

Tips for the best results

Name a specific skill gap (e.g., weak times tables) so the Support tier targets it.
Ask the AI to add sentence starters for the Support tier in language-heavy subjects.
Request the plan as a one-page table if you want to print it for a co-teacher.