60 Powerful ChatGPT Prompts for Education [UPDATED]

Imagine a super smart computer helper that’s changing how we teach and learn. That’s ChatGPT! It’s a powerful tool, but to get the best from it, you need to ask questions in the right way. Think of it like giving good instructions – the better your instructions, the better the help you get.

This guide is packed with ready-to-use questions (we call them “prompts”) to help you talk to ChatGPT. We’ve made them for everyone in education:

• Teachers: Get ideas for fun lessons, explain tricky things clearly, and save time on planning.
• Students: Understand tough topics, get help with homework, and find new ways to study.
• Researchers: Find information quickly and get ideas for your studies.

We’ve put these prompts into simple groups so you can easily find what you need. Whether you want to create a lesson, understand a new idea, get homework help, or work on a research project, these prompts are here to help.

Tips for Users:

• Be Specific: To get the best results from ChatGPT, be specific with your requests. Use the placeholders [ ] to insert your specific details. The more detail you provide, the better the AI’s response will be.
• Iterate: If the first response isn’t perfect, refine your prompt or ask follow-up questions (e.g., “Can you make that simpler?” or “Can you add more detail about X?”).
• Define Roles: You can ask ChatGPT to “Act as a…” (e.g., “Act as a historian,” “Act as a Socratic tutor,” “Act as a curriculum developer”).
• Specify Format: Ask for information in bullet points, tables, paragraphs, etc.
• Critical Evaluation: Always review and critically evaluate the information provided by ChatGPT. It’s a powerful tool to assist, not replace, human expertise, judgment, and ethical considerations.

I. Lesson Planning & Curriculum Development

1. Comprehensive Lesson Plan:
   Generate a detailed lesson plan for a [grade level][subject] class on [topic]. Include:
   • Learning objectives (SMART goals)
   • [Number] engaging activities (with instructions)
   • Assessment methods (formative and summative)
   • Differentiation strategies for [specific student need or diverse learners, e.g., ESL students, students with dyslexia]
   • Required materials and estimated time for each activity.
2. Engaging Introduction/Hook:
   Create an engaging introduction to the topic of [topic] for [grade level] students to spark their curiosity.
3. Learning Objectives:
   Develop [number] SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) learning objectives for a unit on [topic] for [grade level] students.
4. Activity Ideas:
   Suggest [number] creative and interactive learning activities for [grade level] students to understand [specific concept or skill] in [subject]. For each activity, briefly describe the setup and learning outcome.
5. Project-Based Learning (PBL) Outline:
   Design a project-based learning (PBL) unit outline for [topic] suitable for [grade level] students. Include a compelling driving question, key milestones, potential student products, and ideas for assessment rubrics. Consider how to incorporate exploration of [real-world problem].
6. Discussion Prompts for Critical Thinking:
   Generate [number] thought-provoking discussion questions about [topic or text e.g., literary work, historical event] to encourage critical thinking among [grade level] students.
7. Managing Classroom Discussions:
   Suggest strategies for managing classroom discussions effectively and respectfully, especially when covering sensitive topics like [sensitive topic] with [grade level] students.

II. Content Creation & Concept Explanation

1. Explaining Complex Concepts Simply:
   Explain the concept of [complex concept e.g., photosynthesis, Pythagorean theorem, economic inflation] as if you were talking to a [grade level] student. Use an analogy or a real-world example to make it more understandable.
2. Summarizing Key Information:
   Summarize the key arguments, findings, and conclusions of the following text in approximately [word count] words. Identify the main thesis and supporting evidence. Here is the text: [paste text here]
3. Historical Event Summary:
   Provide a concise summary of [historical event] focusing on its main causes, key figures, and significant effects, suitable for a [grade level] history class.
4. Real-World Applications:
   Generate a list of [number] real-world examples where the [scientific principle or mathematical concept] is applied.
5. Describing Artistic/Literary Movements:
   Describe the key characteristics, influential figures, and historical significance of the [artistic movement e.g., Impressionism, Romanticism] or [literary genre e.g., Magical Realism, Gothic Literature].
6. Illustrative Story for Ethical Concepts:
   Generate a short story or narrative suitable for [grade level] students that illustrates the moral or lesson of [ethical concept e.g., honesty, empathy, perseverance].

III. Assessment & Feedback

1. Quiz/Test Creation:
   Create a [number]-question quiz on [topic] for [grade level] students at a [difficulty level e.g., beginner, intermediate, challenging] level. Include [specify types e.g., 3 multiple-choice, 2 short answer, 1 true/false] questions. Provide an answer key.
2. Rubric Development:
   Develop a rubric for assessing a [type of assignment e.g., research paper, oral presentation, science project] on [topic] for [grade level]. The rubric should include criteria such as [criterion 1], [criterion 2], [criterion 3], and [criterion 4] with descriptions for different performance levels (e.g., excellent, proficient, developing, needs improvement).
3. Providing Constructive Feedback (Teacher Perspective):
   Act as a [subject] teacher. Review the following student work on [topic] and provide constructive feedback. Focus on [specific criteria e.g., argument strength, clarity, grammar, use of evidence, structure]. Here is the work: [paste student text here]
   (Note: Be mindful of student privacy and data protection policies when pasting student work).
4. Identifying & Addressing Misconceptions:
   Generate a list of common misconceptions [grade level] students might have about [topic in subject] and suggest clear explanations or activities to address them.
5. Generating Example Answers:
   Provide an exemplary model answer to the following essay question, suitable for a [grade level] student: [essay question]

IV. Personalized Learning & Differentiation

1. Differentiation Strategies:
   Suggest [number] ways to differentiate instruction for a lesson on [topic] to support students with [specific learning need e.g., ADHD, visual impairment, gifted learners, VAK preferences] in a [grade level] classroom.
2. Resources for Struggling Students:
   Recommend [number] engaging and age-appropriate (for [grade level]) resources (e.g., videos, interactive simulations, simplified articles) to help a student understand the concept of [difficult concept] in [subject].
3. Extension Activities for Advanced Learners:
   Suggest [number] challenging extension activities related to [topic] for [grade level] students who have already mastered the core concepts.

V. Student Study Aids & Homework Assistance

1. Key Takeaways for Tests:
   What are the most important concepts/facts/formulas to remember about [topic] from my [subject] class for an upcoming test? I am in [grade level].
2. Understanding Terminology:
   Help me understand the difference between [term A] and [term B] in the context of [subject].
3. Step-by-Step Problem Solving Guide:
   Create a clear, step-by-step guide to solve [type of problem e.g., a quadratic equation, balancing a chemical equation, analyzing a poem]. Use an example like: [specific problem instance or poem title].
4. Literary Theme Analysis:
   What are the main themes in [literary work] by [author]? Provide examples from the text if possible.
5. Historical Timeline Generation:
   Generate a timeline of [number] key events related to [historical period or topic e.g., the American Civil War, the Renaissance] with brief descriptions for each.
6. Flashcard Content:
   Generate a list of [number] key terms and their concise definitions for the topic of [topic], suitable for creating flashcards for a [grade level] student.
7. Practice Question Generation:
   Generate [number] practice questions, similar to what I might see on an exam, for my [subject] class, covering [specific chapters or topics]. Include different question types if possible.

VI. Research & Information Literacy

1. Brainstorming Research Questions (Student):
   I need to do a project on [general project topic] for my [subject] class. Can you help me brainstorm [number] potential research questions I could explore?
2. Finding Credible Sources:
   Identify [number] credible academic sources (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles, reputable organizational websites, academic books) published in the last [number] years relevant to the research question: [your research question].
3. Explaining Research Methods:
   Explain the [specific research method e.g., qualitative analysis, experimental design, survey methodology] in simple terms, including its strengths and weaknesses, as if explaining to a [grade level] student or someone new to research.

VII. Creative Thinking, Writing & Presentation Skills

1. Essay Idea Brainstorming:
   Help me brainstorm [number] ideas for an essay on [essay topic] for my [grade level][subject] class.
2. Story Ideas/Prompts:
   Brainstorm [number] unique story ideas for a [genre e.g., sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction] story. Each idea should include a potential protagonist, a central conflict, and a setting. The story should be appropriate for [target audience age group].
3. Plot Development:
   Help me outline a plot for a short story about [brief story premise]. Suggest a compelling inciting incident, 3-4 key rising action points, a climax, falling action, and a satisfying resolution.
4. Character Development:
   Help me develop a character for my story. The character is a [basic description e.g., young wizard, reluctant hero, curious scientist]. Suggest potential motivations, flaws, strengths, and a character arc related to the theme of [story theme].
5. Poetry Generation (with Constraints):
   Write a [type of poem e.g., haiku, sonnet, limerick, free verse poem] about [subject or theme] with a [specific mood e.g., joyful, melancholy, hopeful] tone.
6. Presentation Outline:
   Can you help me outline a [duration e.g., 10-minute] presentation about [presentation topic]? I need an introduction, [number] main points with brief explanations, and a conclusion.
7. Critique Writing (Student Perspective):
   Critique this paragraph I wrote for my [subject] essay on [topic]: [paste paragraph here]. Focus on improving its clarity, argumentation, and use of evidence.

VIII. Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

1. Argument Analysis:
   Analyze the main arguments, underlying assumptions, and potential biases in the following statement/text: [paste statement or text here]. Identify any logical fallacies if present.
2. Pros and Cons Analysis:
   Outline the main arguments for (pros) and against (cons) [controversial issue or decision e.g., using renewable energy, implementing a school uniform policy, a specific student dilemma]. For each point, provide a brief explanation.
3. Socratic Questioning:
   Pose [number] Socratic questions to stimulate deeper critical thinking about [topic or dilemma e.g., the ethics of AI, the causes of the French Revolution].
4. Problem-Solving Scenarios:
   Present a hypothetical scenario: [describe a challenging situation relevant to a subject or real life]. Ask me to identify the core problem, brainstorm potential solutions, and evaluate the pros and cons of each solution.

IX. Language Learning & Practice

1. Translation & Tone:
   Translate the following English text into [target language], maintaining a [formal/informal/neutral] tone appropriate for [context e.g., a business email, a casual conversation]: [text to translate]
2. Grammar Correction & Explanation:
   I am learning [target language]. Please correct the grammar, suggest improvements for word choice and style, and explain the corrections for the following sentence(s): [your sentence(s) in target language]
3. Dialogue Creation for Practice:
   Create a short dialogue in [target language] (with English translation if needed) between two people discussing [topic of conversation e.g., making plans for the weekend, ordering food at a restaurant] at a [beginner/intermediate/advanced] level. I want to practice [specific grammar point or vocabulary set].
4. Vocabulary in Context:
   Provide [number] example sentences in [target language] using the vocabulary word [vocabulary word], suitable for a [learner level] learner, showing different contexts if possible.

X. STEM Exploration

1. Explaining Scientific Principles with Analogies:
   Explain the scientific principle of [scientific principle e.g., natural selection, thermodynamics, plate tectonics] using a clear analogy or real-world example suitable for a [grade level] student.
2. Solving & Explaining STEM Problems:
   Walk me through solving this [type of STEM problem e.g., physics kinematics problem, stoichiometry problem, calculus derivative] problem, explaining each step and the reasoning behind it: [problem statement and any given data].
3. Experiment Design Ideas:
   Suggest a simple and safe science experiment that [grade level] students can conduct to demonstrate the principle of [scientific concept e.g., density, acid-base reactions, plant growth].

XI. Student Success & Skill Development

1. Improving Study Habits:
   I’m looking to improve my study habits for [subject or general studies]. Can you suggest [number] effective strategies, tools, or routines I could try?

XII. Administrative & Communication (for Educators)

1. Parent Communication (General):
   Draft a professional and informative email to parents of [grade level] students about [event or topic e.g., an upcoming field trip, parent-teacher conferences, a new class policy]. Include key dates, purpose, any required action from parents, and contact information.
2. Parent Communication (Unit Overview):
   Draft an email to parents of [grade level] students explaining the upcoming unit on [topic in subject]. Include a brief overview of what students will learn and suggest [number] ways parents can support their child’s learning at home.
3. Meeting Agenda:
   Create a meeting agenda for a [type of meeting e.g., department meeting, PLC meeting] to discuss [main topic of meeting]. Include time allocations for each agenda item: [item 1], [item 2], [item 3].
4. Generating Icebreakers:
   Generate [number] engaging icebreaker questions or short activities suitable for a [grade level][subject] class at the beginning of the [semester/year/unit].

XIII. Prompts for Educational Researchers

1. Literature Review Summary:
   Provide a summary of recent research (last [number] years) on [research topic area e.g., the impact of technology on student engagement, effective strategies for teaching math to diverse learners]. Highlight key findings and emerging trends.
2. Identifying Themes in Literature:
   Identify key themes, ongoing debates, and methodological approaches in the academic literature regarding [specific educational theory or practice e.g., constructivist learning theory, project-based assessment].
3. Generating Research Questions:
   Based on the current state of research on [topic e.g., gamification in education], suggest [number] potential research questions that could address gaps or extend existing knowledge.
4. Seminal Study Analysis:
   Outline the main research questions, methodologies, key findings, and impact of [number] seminal studies on [research topic e.g., Dweck's mindset theory, Bloom's Taxonomy].
5. Research Methodology Critique:
   Explain the primary strengths and weaknesses of using [research methodology e.g., qualitative case study, quantitative longitudinal survey, mixed-methods approach] to investigate the research question: [your research question].
6. Identifying Study Variables:
   Generate a list of potential independent, dependent, and confounding variables to consider when designing a study to investigate the impact of [independent variable e.g., a new teaching intervention] on [dependent variable e.g., student test scores] in a [specific educational setting].
7. Drafting Consent Form Components:
   Draft key components for an informed consent form template for an educational research study involving [participant group e.g., K-12 students, teachers, university students] on the topic of [research topic]. Include sections for purpose, procedures, risks/benefits, confidentiality, and voluntary participation.
8. Qualitative Data Analysis Steps:
   Summarize the key steps involved in conducting a thematic analysis of [qualitative data type e.g., interview transcripts, classroom observation notes].
9. Initial Hypotheses from Data (Conceptual):
   Given an (anonymized) dataset containing information on [describe variables in dataset e.g., student demographics, attendance records, assessment scores], what are [number] initial hypotheses one could explore regarding [phenomenon of interest e.g., factors influencing academic achievement]?
10. Avoiding Statistical Errors:
    Explain [number] common statistical errors or misinterpretations to avoid when analyzing quantitative survey data on [topic e.g., student satisfaction with online learning].
11. Research Paper Structure:
    Outline a standard research paper structure (e.g., IMRaD) for a study on [research topic] that employed [research methodology]. Briefly describe the content of each section.
12. Abstract Generation:
    Generate a concise abstract (approximately [word count e.g., 250] words) for a hypothetical research paper with the following key elements:
    • Introduction/Background: [brief context and problem statement]
    • Methods: [brief description of methodology and sample]
    • Key Findings: [summary of most important results]
    • Conclusion/Implications: [main takeaway and significance]
13. Identifying Target Journals:
    Suggest [number] potential peer-reviewed academic journals that might be interested in publishing a manuscript about [research topic e.g., teacher professional development for AI integration] focusing on [specific angle or finding e.g., its impact on teacher efficacy].