Week 5: Teach AI Like a Pro with Mega Prompts
VT No 298 - Mega Prompts & AI Magic Build students’ confidence and critical thinking with hands-on prompt engineering, no extra planning needed.
Hello Everyone,
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Wayne Gretzky wasn’t talking about AI prompts, but he may as well have been. This week the magic starts when you take a shot, if you don’t try, you’ll never see what’s possible.
MEGA Prompts shows that when students play with language, they don’t just write stories, they see them. Every word choice is a chance to take a shot: add a detail, shift the mood, spark a whole new image. Some prompts miss, some delight, but all of them open doors to creativity.
AI becomes a partner in this process, helping kids step out of their comfort zone and discover how imagination, risk-taking & curiosity turn into vivid visual worlds. And just like Gretzky said, taking the shot is the only way to score.
PS
Virtual Teacher is.......... FREE FOREVER
Here's What's on the MENU Today
Mind Candy - mental treats, light, fun or entertaining things for the brain.
#AIinEducation - Week 5 Mega Prompts & AI Magic
IMAGiNAIRING & Flow Writing: 2 AMAZINGLY effective techniques I use all the time. FREE Download
TO DO LIST : Make sure you do!
VT YouTube: Check out this Oldie - Here’s to the Crazy Ones
MIND CANDY
No AI was used in the making of this answer
A teacher affects eternity; a teacher can never tell where the influence stops.
Henry B. Adams
To accomplish great things we must first dream, then visualise, then plan... believe... act!
Alfred A. Montapert
And prompt AI…….
Week Five’s lesson plan is MEGA Prompts, a creative deep-dive into how words shape images with AI
Students begin by experimenting with simple words and short phrases, watching how the AI instantly transforms language into vivid pictures using Say What You See
It doesn’t take long before they realise that every word counts. A “rubber duck” is fine, but a
“A bright yellow rubber duck styled as a punk rocker, wearing a black leather vest covered in studs, safety pins and patches. The duck has a spiky mohawk hairstyle in vibrant pink with teal streaks. The duck’s expression is bold and playful, combining the cute look of a toy with edgy punk fashion. White background, high-resolution studio lighting.”
unlocks a whole new world of possibility.
Core Learning
Students explore how the clarity and detail of language changes the outcome.
A side-by-side comparison of vague vs. specific prompts sparks discussion about how AI doesn’t “imagine” like us, it predicts patterns from its training.
This helps students see why experimenting with descriptors, adjectives & settings matters when creating images.
From Prompts to Pages
The lesson flows from experimenting with descriptive prompts into building digital books. Students combine their AI-generated illustrations with hand-drawn sketches, refine layouts through feedback and shape stories that feel polished and purposeful. They share drafts with the class, reflect on improvements and celebrate how words, prompts & images come together as finished books.
Presentation & Reflection
Students write a short caption for their AI-generated images, explaining what they were aiming for with their prompt. Flow writing pushes them to reflect: How did changing the words change the picture? What surprised me?
They also discuss how their classmates’ prompts gave them new ways of thinking.
Agency & Creativity
Prompting gives kids a powerful sense of control, words become paintbrushes and language turns into art. Students see that imagination + precision = results. The classroom fills with excitement as they shout, “Try adding rainbow!” or “Make it a dragon!” and watch the images transform in real time.
By the end, the pages of the books are filled with fantastical creatures, dreamlike settings, and surreal mashups born from nothing more than words.
MEGA Prompts shows that when students play with language, they don’t just write stories, they see them. AI becomes a partner in creativity, opening doors to visual worlds that spark curiosity, laughter & wonder.
Download Week FIVE Mega Prompts & AI Magic Lesson Plan
Here’s the Link to the Webpage where new links to lessons will be added.
CLASSROOM HANDOUTS
Week 5 Spotlight Moments - Explanation and samples
Week 5 Characters from “Fantastic Mr Fox
Week 5 Say What You See Tracker - student results table and notes
Week 5 - Image Prompt Template - subject, action, style and setting scaffold
Week 5 Image Prompt Template - Art quick facts, visual features,
IMAGiNAIRING & Flow Writing
These are 2 AMAZINGLY effective techniques that I use all the time.
Imaginairing opens the imagination. Flow Writing captures raw thoughts quickly, without overthinking. Together, they can be used across any subject, science, history, creative writing, problem-solving, or reflection, to spark original thinking and rich discussion.
Here’s a FREE download on how to do Imaginairing & Flow Writing
Here’s the link to the website pages for Imaginairing & Flow Writing
When I am introducing these techniques to a class I go over these details so students understand what Flow is.
Try these techniques you will love them - they are a great way to conclude a lesson.
What IMAGiNAIRING Does
Activates Creativity – opens up the imagination before any writing begins.
Builds Focus – one minute of stillness trains students to hold an image or idea in their mind.
Engages the Senses – encourages multi-sensory thinking (see, hear, feel, smell, taste).
Encourages Risk-Taking – no right or wrong, just pure imagining.
Develops Oral Expression – sharing ideas aloud builds confidence and extends thinking.
What Flow Writing Does
Frees Creativity – breaks down perfectionism and self-editing.
Builds Stamina – students practise writing continuously for a set time.
Encourages Original Thinking – raw, unfiltered ideas spill onto the page.
Improves Fluency – words flow more naturally when there’s no stopping or rereading.
Supports Reflection – helps students process learning, imagination, or personal responses.
Together, They…
Spark Ideas – imagination first, writing second.
Encourage Exploration – push beyond surface thoughts into deeper detail.
Link Senses, Words, and Images – a full creative cycle.
Boost Confidence – no judgement, no corrections, just expression.
Work Across the Curriculum – perfect for storytelling, science observations, history reflections, art, or even problem-solving.
CHECK THESE OUT LIST
Virtual Teacher Art Page “Art does not reproduce what we see it makes us see.” Paul Klee
The Ultimate Parent Teacher Interview - by Cheryl Lacey A Guide for Parents and the companion guide for Teachers are available on Amazon.
Eclecticism: by Terry Freeman Reflections on literature, Musings on everyday life, Book reviews, Experiments in creative nonfiction writing, Humour
Terry Freedman On the subject of AI, Virtual Teacher Newsletter is currently running a series of posts on the topic of using AI in education. Well worth checking out. I’ve been a subscriber for years, and there is always something of interest.
FEEDBACK
I subscribed to your newsletter when I was a classroom teacher and found it a constant
source of inspiration for my classroom work.
Your newsletter has always been passed on to colleagues, with a 'what about...?' statement.
Now I'm an assistant principal, I still pass it on AND I still gain an insight into what might be..
Your sense of humour resonates with teachers- we really enjoyed the puns in today's newsletter!! Keep working your magic.
Anna
Wow - thank you for your words and support. I will continue with the magic, I have found it is the best teaching tool there is. Hope Magic, Wonder and making everyone feel great and supported. Please continue to send in comments and ideas and thoughts.
VT YOUTUBE
Check out the this Oldie:
HERE’S TO THE CRAZY ONES. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules…….
Apple TV Ad #1997
This Newsletter is not free, despite the misleading advertising above.
The Fee is now due. Each week you must help one colleague with AI & technology who has less knowledge than you. HELP THAT PERSON even if you have to visit their classroom or do a little research and get back to them. Trust me, this will help a lot of people get their computer classrooms running better. OK I'm trusting you!!!
Editor: Cathy Brown cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
Before you go I have a question for you:
Would you be interested in learning more about AI and how to integrate into your teaching? Would you like more information about inservice and training?
No need to decide just yet, just email me if you'd like to start the ball rolling. cathy@virtualteacher.com.au or check out the VT AI Consultancy Page.











No problem, spreading the word about the good people is well a good idea
Thanks for the mention