Woodstock Public Schools — April 3, 2026
Your New Creative
Partner
Unlocking New Possibilities with AI
Gina Williams
Be honest...
How many of you have ever:
- Spent 30 minutes planning one lesson?
- Rewritten the same email 3 times?
- Had a lesson flop?
AI in Everyday Life
Examples students
already see
- Siri / Alexa
- Predictive text
- YouTube recommendations
- Navigation apps
Today’s Learning
Objectives
- Explore what AI is
- Discover how AI sparks creativity
- Learn simple workflows with Copilot
- Refresh familiar lessons
- Leave with ready-to-use ideas
Why Explore AI Now?
- Save time on planning
- Inspire fresh lesson ideas
- Add creative twists to routines
- Free up time for students
What Is AI?
AI is a tool that:
Recognizes patterns
Makes predictions
Generates text, images, or ideas
AI can be used to:
Brainstorm
Draft responses based on existing data
What AI Is Not
AI is not:
- A replacement for teachers
- A source of guaranteed accuracy
- Capable of emotional intelligence
If Google gives you
ingredients...
AI gives you recipe ideas.
Why Teachers Use AI
AI can help with:
You can’t do
this wrong.
- There is no “perfect” prompt
- AI expects revision
- You can always say: “Try again, but...”
Prompt Framework
How to Write a
Great Prompt
Task
“Create / Suggest...”
Details
Grade level, topic
Format
List, script, table
Constraints
Simple, fun, age-appropriate, in Spanish...
Prompt Building — Role
Who should AI
pretend to be?
- You are a K–5 reading specialist.
- You are a creative writing coach for 3rd graders.
- You are a math tutor who uses real-life examples.
Prompt Building — Task
What do you want
to do?
- Create a lesson hook...
- Write a set of practice problems...
- Suggest 5 activity variations...
Prompt Building — Details
Give grade level
+ topic
- For Grade 2 adding and subtracting within 20...
- For Grade 4 explorers of North America...
Prompt Building — Format
How should the
answer look?
- In a list
- In a table
- As a script I can read aloud
- In kid-friendly language
- To the tune of Wheels on the Bus
Prompt Building — Constraints
What guardrails
do you want?
- Keep it simple
- Use common classroom materials only
- Make it fun and age-appropriate
Prompt Example #1
Creative Hook
You are a K–5 creative lesson designer. Create a fun, 3-minute hook for a Grade 2 math lesson on place value. Make it hands-on, simple, and playful. Provide a script I can read aloud.
Prompt Example #2
Activity Ideas
You are a literacy coach. Suggest 5 new ways to teach character traits to 3rd graders. Mix movement, talk, drawing, and writing. Keep directions short and classroom-ready.
Prompt Example #3
Parent Email
You are a friendly school communication assistant. Draft a clear, warm parent email explaining our upcoming science unit on weather. Keep it brief and conversational.
Before & After
Practice Prompt
Make a lesson for fractions.
Improved Prompt
You are a Grade 4 math teacher. Create a 20-minute lesson on equivalent fractions using visual models. Include:
• A quick opener
• A guided practice activity
• A 3-question exit ticket
Keep it simple and student-friendly.
Safe & Ethical AI Use
In Elementary
- Follow COPPA + FERPA
- No identifying student data
- Teacher-facing use only
- Always review / edit AI output
- Avoid apps not approved by your district
Red Flags to Watch For
- Inaccurate information (hallucinations)
- Biased content
- Inappropriate suggestions
- Overly advanced or simplified text
- Requests for student data
Quick Wins with Copilot
- New hooks and openers
- Fresh lesson variations
- Creative prompts and center ideas
- Drafts for communication
Hands-On Workshop #1
Refresh a
familiar lesson
With new hooks, activities, and variations
Create three new, engaging ways to introduce ______.
Hands-On Workshop #2
Creative
Problem-Solving
Discussions, writing, math, communication
Create 5 fun writing prompts based on a spring theme.
Give me new ideas for math centers using simple materials.
What AI Can Do
- Support creativity
- Offer fresh ideas
- Add flexibility
- Make planning energizing
Try This Tomorrow
- Create a fun 5-minute warm-up for teaching _____
- Turn this worksheet into a game: _____
- Write a kind email about _____