Since the launch of ChatGPT, educators have encountered a range of challenges and opportunities. With the increasing availability of AI platforms and tools for education, I’ve collaborated with colleagues to evaluate several AI tools and consider their impact on teaching. In this article, I will share insights from our experience using MagicSchool and other AI tools while preparing for an elementary social studies class.
Designing Lesson Plans With MagicSchool.ai
In preparation for a unit on cultural icebergs—a concept comparing culture to an iceberg, where only 10 percent is visible and 90 percent is hidden beneath the surface—we used MagicSchool.ai. We engaged with the virtual AI guide, “Coach Raina,” to articulate our desired learning outcomes and perspectives for the unit. MagicSchool generated a comprehensive lesson plan, including objectives, learning activities, extension activities, and closure. It also incorporated collaborative learning strategies such as turn and talk, think-pair-share, and gallery walks.
My colleagues and I applied MagicSchool’s suggested 80/20 approach to lesson design. AI completed 80 percent of the initial work, which we then reviewed for bias and accuracy. The remaining 20 percent of the task involved our refinement and personalization.
Creating Content With Canva and Padlet
Our lesson aimed to help students identify the deeper cultural concepts associated with the iceberg analogy—such as values, beliefs, customs, perspectives, and roles—by examining representative buildings from different cultures. To facilitate this, we utilized Canva’s magic design feature to generate images of these buildings, saving time and ensuring high-quality visuals for our slides.
For one of the learning activities, students conducted group research based on teacher-provided readings. To maintain focus, especially given the elementary students’ limited background knowledge, we narrowed the research scope to seven representative buildings. Padlet’s create with AI feature enabled us to generate customized content quickly, and we used our professional judgment to edit and refine the materials as needed.
During the lesson, students worked with partners to read about a building of their choice and answered guided questions related to the building’s shape, color, materials, and cultural significance. To support students’ comprehension, we modeled how to identify keywords and decode unfamiliar terms before they began their group work.
Enhancing Research With Monica AI
Researching abstract topics often requires extensive reading and analysis. We used Monica AI to streamline this process during our lesson preparation. The Monica AI add-on facilitated our web search by providing article summaries, categorizing information, and linking to related pages. This approach allowed us to delve deeper into the content without becoming overwhelmed and ensured that our sources were reliable.
Refining Instructional Language With MagicSchool.ai
As we implemented the lesson plan, we encountered difficulties in helping students connect the buildings with related cultural concepts. We sought further guidance from Coach Raina on MagicSchool. The AI suggested beginning with the buildings’ appearance and function, followed by sharing historical context to guide students in identifying embedded cultural concepts. Using this framework, we focused on examples like the Egyptian pyramids and the Malaysian stilt house to teach students how to uncover related concepts effectively.
We also learned the importance of crafting precise prompts when interacting with AI. Initially, we used a general prompt like, “Can you design a lesson plan for fourth graders about different buildings?” but found that being more specific—such as, “How would you explain the connection between cultural concepts of belief with the Egyptian pyramids to a fourth grader?”—yielded better results.
Reflecting on the Use of Generative AI
Our experience with educational generative AI platforms highlighted their value in enhancing teacher efficiency in lesson planning, content creation, and instructional language development. While these tools save time, it remains essential for educators to exercise professional judgment in ensuring the accuracy and relevance of AI-generated materials. We view these tools as valuable co-pilots in the teaching process.
Although AI can automate routine tasks, simply copying and pasting AI-generated content is insufficient for meaningful learning. Instead, we see generative AI as a source of inspiration, allowing us to develop and contextualize ideas with our own creativity and expertise.
