AI can be a fun and easy way to brainstorm lesson plan ideas when teachers find themselves with writer’s block when coming out with lesson ideas. In ChatGTP you can easily ask it for lesson plan ideas of the grade level and targets you have in mind.
I asked ChatGTP to create for me a 4th-grade lesson plan on the layers of the earth and it generated the text below.
Earth’s Layers Lesson Plan for 4th Graders
Objective: At the end of this lesson, students will be able to identify the four main layers of the Earth, describe how each layer is different, and explain the importance of studying the Earth’s layers.
Materials: pictures of Earth’s layers, computers/internet access, chalkboard/whiteboard, chalk/markers
Procedure:
1. Begin the lesson by discussing what Earth is made up of. Explain that Earth’s layers include the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.
2. Ask the students what they already know about Earth’s layers. Allow them to share any knowledge they may have.
3. Explain that the crust is the outermost layer and is made up of solid rocks and soil. Show a picture of the crust on the board.
4. Explain that the mantle is the layer beneath the crust and is made up of hot, liquid rock. Show a picture of the mantle on the board. 5. Explain that the outer core is made up of a liquid layer of iron and nickel. Show a picture
When asked to provide a hands-on activity it prompted:
Hands-On Group Activity:
Materials Needed: large bowl, small bowl, sand/dirt/rocks, water, and food coloring Instructions:
1. Divide your class into groups of four.
2. Give each group a large bowl and a small bowl.
3. Ask the students to fill the large bowl with sand, dirt, and rocks to represent Earth’s crust. 4. Ask the students to fill the small bowl with water and a few drops of food coloring to represent Earth’s mantle.
5. Ask the students to carefully pour the water/food coloring mixture over the sand/dirt/rocks in the large bowl.
6. Ask the students to observe the changes that occur in the large bowl.
7. Ask the students to explain what they observe and how this activity relates to Earth’s layers.
8. Discuss the importance of studying Earth’s layers and how it helps us to better understand our planet.
It was able to generate a drop-down table with the information from the lesson and was also able to generate a multiple-choice assessment that could be used or modified for the lesson.
Table:
| Layer | Function |
| Crust | The outermost layer of the Earth, composed of solid rock and soil. |
| Mantle | The layer beneath the crust, composed of hot, liquid rock. |
| Outer Core | The layer beneath the mantle, composed of liquid iron and nickel. |
| Inner Core | The innermost layer of the Earth, composed of solid iron and nickel. |
Assessment:
1. What is the outermost layer of the Earth?
A. Crust
B. Mantle
C. Outer Core
D. Inner Core
2. What is the layer beneath the crust composed of?
A. Solid rock and soil
B. Hot, liquid rock
C. Liquid iron and nickel
D. Solid iron and nickel
3. What is the innermost layer of the Earth composed of?
A. Solid rock and soil
B. Hot, liquid rock
C. Liquid iron and nickel
D. Solid iron and nickel
4. What is the importance of studying Earth’s layers?
A. To learn about the planets in our solar system
B. To better understand our planet
C. To help us identify different types of rocks
D. To identify different types of soils
5. What is the layer beneath the mantle composed of?
A. Solid rock and soil
B. Hot, liquid rock
C. Liquid iron and nickel
D. Solid iron and nickel
6. What is the layer between the mantle and the outer core?
A. Crust
B. Core
C. Mantle
D. Inner Core
7. What is the importance of studying Earth’s layers?
A. To learn about the planets in our solar system
B. To better understand our planet
C. To help us identify different types of rocks
D. To identify different types of soils
8. What is the layer beneath the outer core composed of?
A. Solid rock and soil
B. Hot, liquid rock
C. Liquid iron and nickel
D. Solid iron and nickel
9. What is the layer beneath the inner core?
A. Crust
B. Mantle
C. Outer Core
D. None of the above
Although ChatGTP can have its faults as an academic tool for teachers it can be very beneficial in bringing more creativity to the classroom and new ideas for teachers to use.
Credit:
- Chat GTP
- Featured Image by Lexica
Iliana, Nice to see you try AI in a number of different tasks – lesson plan, create a table, do an assessment and generate a featured image.
Regarding the activity it generated – it’s clear ChatGPT never met a 4th grader. What a mess – fill a large bowl with sand, dirt, and rocks – add water and food coloring? Still not sure how that represents the earth’s crust. Besides water doesn’t penetrate to the core.
The image is very cool and sure has some layers to it. But – still kind of weird. What did you use as a prompt?
I think AI can be pretty good to brainstorm ideas, but sometimes it needs modification for teachers. When a teacher doesn’t know what type of lesson to create, relying on AI can be quite helpful, but not always will it be correct, or meet the students needs.