Back Pocket Prompt #9 · Lesson planning

When they groan before you name the unit… 6 openers in 10 minutes.

A prompt for six real-world lesson openers, plus a check that they're true and actually lead to the lesson.

Coming soon

Coming soon on Instagram.

Slide 1 of 6. Photo background. Lesson planning When they groan before you name the unit… 6 openers in 10 minutes. Hooks that connect. You pick the one that fits.

Slide 2 of 6. The problem Monday starts a unit nobody asked for. You know the content matters. You also know the first five minutes decide whether anyone leans in. Brainstorming fresh hooks at 10 p.m. rarely lands. Let AI pitch. You choose.

Slide 3 of 6. Describe your class in general terms, then type: “I teach [grade] [subject]. Monday starts [unit]. Give me 6 five-minute openers that connect it to [interests, e.g. sports, gaming, part-time jobs]. Each: a question to ask, a prop or image, and the link to the first lesson.” Describe the class, never a student. Use your school-approved AI tool.

Slide 4 of 6. The human check Before you use one Monday: Is the fact or stat real? Look it up or cut it.; Does it lead into the lesson, or just entertain?; Would your kids care, or is it a 2015 trend?; Could it embarrass anyone in the room? Skip it. Pick one. Keep the other five for the next slow Monday.

Slide 5 of 6. The payoff Where your minutes go Spend the time you save greeting kids at the door by name on Monday. Planning alone: ~25 min, Searching for a hook With AI + check: ~10 min, Fact-check included

Slide 6 of 6. Keep this one in your back pocket. Save it for the unit they dread. Send it to the teacher next door. Comment POCKET and we'll DM you all 10 back-pocket prompts, free. Back Pocket Prompts · built by a teacher-developer and a data scientist

The problem: Monday starts a unit nobody asked for.

You know the content matters. You also know the first five minutes decide whether anyone leans in. Brainstorming fresh hooks at 10 p.m. rarely lands. Let AI pitch. You choose.

1. Describe your class in general terms, then type:

Your back-pocket prompt

I teach [grade] [subject]. Monday starts [unit]. Give me 6 five-minute openers that connect it to [interests, e.g. sports, gaming, part-time jobs]. Each: a question to ask, a prop or image, and the link to the first lesson.

Describe the class, never a student. Use your school-approved AI tool.

2. The human check: Before you use one Monday:

Is the fact or stat real? Look it up or cut it.
Does it lead into the lesson, or just entertain?
Would your kids care, or is it a 2015 trend?
Could it embarrass anyone in the room? Skip it.

Pick one. Keep the other five for the next slow Monday.

Where your minutes go

Planning alone~25 minSearching for a hook

With AI + check~10 minFact-check included

Spend the time you save greeting kids at the door by name on Monday.

Related prompts

Want all of them? Get the free guide, or comment POCKET on any of our posts.