Ask Better

Essential question

How do I ask so AI helps me think, instead of guessing for me?

Vocabulary: prompt · role · task · constraint · verify

1. Warm-up (5 min): Show a vague ask — “Do my science project.” What’s missing?
2. Mission 1 (12 min): Three Ingredients — role + task + constraints. Kids rebuild the vague ask.
3. Mission 2 (12 min): Constraints Are Power — same question, three constraint cards. Compare outputs.
4. Mission 3 (10 min): Prompt Power — write, check, rewrite. Partner share one improved ask.
5. Close (6 min): Exit ticket — rewrite one weak homework ask. Send home the before/after artifact.

Discussion arc

• Warm-up (5 min): Show a vague ask — “Do my science project.” What’s missing?
• Mission 1 (12 min): Three Ingredients — role + task + constraints. Kids rebuild the vague ask.
• Mission 2 (12 min): Constraints Are Power — same question, three constraint cards. Compare outputs.
• Mission 3 (10 min): Prompt Power — write, check, rewrite. Partner share one improved ask.
• Close (6 min): Exit ticket — rewrite one weak homework ask. Send home the before/after artifact.

Missions in this unit

• Three Ingredients

  Build prompts with role, task, and constraints

  Prompt recipe

  Full lesson kit

• Constraints Are Power

  Use constraints to make AI output more useful

  Constraints

  Full lesson kit

• Prompt Power

  Write clearer prompts and verify answers

  Better prompts

  Full lesson kit

• Role and Goal

  Set role and goal in prompts

  Role + goal

  Full lesson kit

• Smaller Questions

  Break big asks into steps

  Chunk the ask

  Full lesson kit

• Show an Example

  Give examples in prompts

  Show examples

  Full lesson kit

• Check the Answer

  Verify AI answers

  Check answers

  Full lesson kit

• Rewrite the Ask

  Rewrite weak prompts

  Rewrite asks

  Full lesson kit

• Better or Worse?

  Judge prompt quality

  Judge prompts

  Full lesson kit

• Ask, Then Verify

  Ask well, then verify

  Ask then verify

  Full lesson kit

Standards

• ISTE 1.4.a — Innovative Designer
• ISTE 1.4.b — Design process