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One of the markers of a great teacher is their ability to craft lesson plans that keep students engaged while also meeting learning objectives. But with an already packed schedule, teachers don’t always have time to dedicate to strategic and creative lesson planning.
Teachers report spending five hours a week lesson planning. That’s one hour out of every work day! But 58% say they would benefit from having even more planning time and support to lower their workload. Combined with grading, classroom management, and professional development, lesson planning can feel overwhelming.
What if AI could help?
AI can streamline lesson planning, boost creativity, and personalize learning—without replacing a teacher’s expertise. By taking advantage of AI tools, teachers can take some of the stress out of their week with lesson plans tailored to their students’ needs.
Download 100+ AI Prompts to Share With Teachers
What Is AI for Lesson Planning?
AI-powered lesson planning tools assist teachers by generating, adapting, and optimizing lesson plans. A teacher inputs relevant information like the topic, grade level, or learning objectives, and the AI tool generates a lesson plan for the teacher to use. The lesson plan could include options for differentiation, supplemental resources, and multimodal activities.
How AI Makes Lesson Planning Easier for Teachers
If you or your colleagues are considering incorporating AI in your lesson planning, consider these key benefits:
- Saves time: AI can generate lesson plans in seconds based on objectives and standards.
- Personalizes learning: Adapt lessons with AI to ensure every student gets the support they need.
- Improves engagement: Get recommended interactive activities, multimedia, and gamified elements to make learning more engaging.
- Aligns with standards: Use AI to ensure lessons meet state and national standards.
- Supports differentiation: When securely integrated with district tools and data, AI can adjust content based on student performance data to make it easier for teachers to differentiate instruction.
How to Use AI for Lesson Plans
1. Define learning objectives and curriculum standards.
The first step to getting the best responses from an AI tool is to provide it with the information it needs to best support you. For lesson planning, this includes sharing the goals and standards you aim to address. With a platform like Panorama Solara, you can upload your state standards or district materials to the AI tool to get custom feedback and resources to suit your needs.
2. Input key details into the AI tool.
Customize your prompt even more by including key details like grade level, subject, and differentiation needs. The more detailed the input, the more tailored and relevant the lesson plan suggestions will be. Teachers can even upload a past lesson plan as a reference for the AI tool to follow a specific pattern or layout.
3. Review and refine AI-generated lesson plans.
You may get exactly what you’re looking for right out of the box, but it’s likely you’ll have to tailor and refine the AI-generated lesson plans. Review the AI output for accuracy and consider whether it will work for your students’ needs. You know your class best!
4. Customize based on student data and feedback.
The fantastic thing about AI is that it can continually improve based on new data. As you begin to roll out your lesson plans, you can share student performance and feedback with AI to prompt it to make any necessary adjustments. If the lesson is taking longer than expected, for example, you can prompt AI to make a shorter version to fit in your allotted time.
Panorama Solara securely integrates with your existing tools, pulling in data to deliver tailored, individualized insights for each student.
5. Integrate AI-generated plans with existing resources and instructional strategies.
AI is not a teacher. Be sure to incorporate AI lesson plans with the tools you already have in your toolbox. AI-generated lesson plans should complement—not replace—existing teaching materials to create a balanced and dynamic learning experience.
Addressing Concerns: Can AI Replace Teachers?
Remember that AI is a support tool, not a replacement for educators. While AI can assist with lesson planning, teachers remain the heart of the classroom and drive instructional decisions. Educators are the ones who will ensure that AI use aligns with pedagogy and best teaching practices.
Data Privacy & Security
Security and privacy are table stakes when considering AI adoption, as AI in schools must be trusted and secure. Many AI tools collect and store user data, but district leaders need to ensure that student information remains protected and that AI decisions are transparent and auditable.
Bias & Misinformation
Generative AI is trained on information created by fallible humans, so it too can make mistakes. With proper AI training, digital literacy, and critical thinking, users can determine which information is trustworthy and reliable.
Panorama Solara for Lesson Planning
Take the stress out of lesson planning with Panorama Solara, a leading customizable, district-wide AI platform. Educators can easily access a library of pre-built, research-backed prompts and tools to quickly create lesson plans—and more!
Solara can help teachers differentiate Tier 1 instruction and align their lessons to district standards. Plus, upload any text to generate reading passages matched to your students’ reading abilities.
Panorama Solara is designed specifically for K-12 education, offering:
- AI-powered lesson planning to support educators with high-quality materials.
- Personalized learning insights to help teachers craft intervention plans.
- Attendance monitoring and early intervention tools to reduce chronic absenteeism.
- Secure, district-aligned AI that protects student data and supports responsible AI use.
See for yourself how Panorama Solara can streamline lesson planning with safe AI for educators.
AI: A Game-Changer for Lesson Planning
With only so many hours in the day, teachers deserve tools that can reduce their workload and contribute to positive student growth. The goal is for teachers to have more time doing what they do best—directly supporting students.
AI-powered lesson planning can save time, personalize instruction, and enhance lesson engagement. By using AI responsibly, educators can maintain their role as instructional leaders while benefiting from AI’s efficiency and insights.
