LP Middle School

Middle School Lesson Plan - Generative Thinking

Mountainside has a full library of lessons plans for levels K-12 and all disciplines: English, History, STEM, Arts, etc.

Overview: 

• Grade: 7th Grade 

• Time: 2 x 50 min 

• Topic: Naming Colonial Era

Learning Goals: 

• Learn to be “in the driver’s seat” when using AI. 

• Critically evaluate and revise AI-generated ideas to improve the answers. (Focus on asking follow-up questions with outside information.)

• Re-enforce the iterative process with AI. (Not just accepting the 1^st answer.) 

• Gain a deeper appreciation of the colonial period in America. 

Materials: 

• White/chalkboard for teacher.

• Students need laptops with access to AI. 

• Blank paper for essays (or lockdown browsers.) 

• Students should have just learned about the colonial era in America.

• Attached Worksheet

Lesson Steps: 

1. Warm-up Activity (10 Min) 

• Create two columns on the board, “Major Themes” & “Major Events”

• Introduce the topic. 

• Teacher fact checks the responses and lists 4 or 5 items in each column. 

2. Explain Generative Thinking/Assignment Norms (5 Min) 

• AI suggests ideas, but the student must be in the ‘driver’s seat’. 

• Chatbot suggests names, but students do all writing.

• Students should challenge the chatbot if it says something that disagrees with previous lessons.

• Students need to use school appropriate language and not share personal info. 

3. Generate First Set of Names (5 Min)

• Students ask Chatbot for three short names for the colonial era.  (Answers should be 3 to 5 Word - similar to a chapter title in a textbook.

• Students record their question, AI’s response and their initial reaction to the three proposed names on the worksheet attached.

4. Students Request Revised Names (15-20 Min) 

• After getting the first three names student consider other things they know about the era and ask the chatbot for three revised names incorporating the new theme. (The major themes and event of the era are still on the board.)

• Students record their new question, new names and thoughts on the worksheet. 

5. Exit Ticket – Choosing Best Name (5-10 Min)

• The students write choose their favorite of the 12 names (or create their own) then write it on the worksheet.

• Students give two reasons why they like that name.

6. Day 2 Essay Writing (50 Min) 

• Teacher re-introduced assignment.

• Students either hand write or use lockdown browser to explain describe the major themes of the era and why their favorite name and best sums up the era.

  
  

Additional Thoughts: 

• Worksheets are graded for the quality of their prompts and their understanding of the era.

• Essay are graded for the quality of the name chosen, the reasons for choosing it, and their understanding of the era.  

Download worksheet

Middle School Generative Thinking Worksheet

Name: ___                                                               ______       Date: ___________

Colonial America (1700–1770)Naming the Colonial Era with AI

Sections 1 First Questions and Names

1. Original question to the chatbotWrite the exact question you asked:

2. Names suggested by the chatbot

Name 1: ____________________________________________

Comments on Name 1 (what do you like, what’s missing?):

Name 2: ___________________________________________

Comments on Name 2:

Name 3: ____________________________________________

Comments on Name 3:

SECTION 2 – SECOND QUESTION AND REVISED NAMES

1. New / follow-up question to the chatbotHow did you ask the chatbot to improve its answer?

2. New names suggested by the chatbot

Name 4: ____________________________________________

Comments on Name 4:

Name 5: ____________________________________________

Comments on Name 5:

Name 6: ____________________________________________

Comments on Name 6:

SECTION 3 – THIRD QUESTION AND REVISED NAMES

1. New / follow-up question to the chatbot:

2. New names suggested by the chatbot

Name 7: ____________________________________________

Comments on Name 7:

Name 8: ____________________________________________

Comments on Name 8:

Name 9: ____________________________________________

Comments on Name 9:

SECTION 4 – FOURTH QUESTION AND REVISED NAMES

1. New / follow-up question to the chatbot:

2. New names suggested by the chatbot

Name 10: ____________________________________________

Comments on Name 10:

Name 11: ____________________________________________

Comments on Name 11:

Name 12: ____________________________________________

Comments on Name 12:

SECTION 5 – BEST NAME AND REASONS

1. My final choice for the era name

(You may choose one of the 12 names or create your own.)

Final name: ____________________________________________

2. Why this is the best name

Give two reasons connecting what you know about the colonial era (1700–1770).

Reason 1:

Reason 2: