1 AI Prompt That Creates 3 Differentiated Assignments in 60 Seconds: Differentiated instruction strategies

International Relations Team
Mar 17
5 min read

You have 28 students. At least 5 are reading below grade level. At least 3 are ready for something harder. And you have 40 minutes to plan tomorrow’s lesson.

Differentiation isn’t the problem — time is. Most teachers know what good differentiation looks like. They just don’t have 3 hours on a Sunday night to build three versions of every assignment.

That’s exactly what this prompt fixes. One input. Three levels of any assignment, ready in under 60 seconds. No AI expertise needed.

In this post

✓ The exact prompt to copy and paste into any AI tool

✓ Real examples across 4 subjects (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies)

✓ How to use the outputs in your classroom tomorrow

✓ Tips for English Language Learners (ELL) and students with IEPs

Why Differentiation Fails (It’s Not Your Fault)

Most differentiation strategies fall apart for one reason: they assume you have time. Tiered assignments, learning menus, flexible grouping — all great in theory. All genuinely hard to build from scratch every week.

The teachers who make differentiation work consistently aren’t better teachers. They have better systems. This prompt is a system.

The Prompt: Copy This Exactly

Open any AI tool (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini — all work). Paste this. Fill in the brackets. Hit send.

COPY THIS PROMPT

You are a K–12 curriculum specialist. Create 3 versions of the same assignment on the topic of [TOPIC] for [GRADE LEVEL] students. Level 1 — Emerging: Simplify vocabulary, add sentence starters, reduce complexity. Students should demonstrate basic understanding. Level 2 — On-Level: Standard grade-level expectations. Clear, direct instructions. Level 3 — Advanced: Add critical thinking, extension questions, or real-world application. Push beyond the standard. Format each level clearly. Keep each version under 150 words. Do not label them by ability — use neutral names like "Version A, B, C."

Pro tip: The instruction to use “Version A, B, C” instead of “Emerging/Advanced” is intentional. Students notice labels. Neutral names protect dignity and reduce stigma.

Real Examples Across 4 Subjects

Here’s what the output actually looks like. Each example was generated using the prompt above — no editing, no cleanup.

English Language Arts — Grade 7

Topic: Character motivation in “The Outsiders”

Emerging	On-Level	Advanced
Why does Ponyboy feel like he doesn’t belong? Use 2 details from the story and these starters: “Ponyboy feels...” and “One example is...”	Analyze how Ponyboy’s relationship with his brothers shapes his identity. Use 2 specific scenes as evidence.	Compare how Ponyboy and Cherry Valance both feel like outsiders despite coming from different social groups. What does Hinton argue about belonging?

Math — Grade 5

Topic: Multiplying fractions

Emerging	On-Level	Advanced
Use the fraction bars provided to solve: 1/2 × 1/4 = ? Draw a picture to show your answer.	Solve and show your work: 3/4 × 2/3. Explain in one sentence what your answer means.	Marcus has 3/4 of a pizza. He eats 2/3 of his share. What fraction of the whole pizza did he eat? Now create your own real-world fraction multiplication problem.

Science — Grade 9

Topic: Photosynthesis

Emerging	On-Level	Advanced
Fill in the blanks: Plants make their own food using _____, _____, and _____. The process is called _____. The gas plants release is _____.	Explain photosynthesis in your own words. Include: inputs, outputs, and where it happens in the cell.	A plant is placed in a dark room for 72 hours. Predict what happens and explain using your knowledge of the light-dependent and light-independent reactions.

Social Studies — Grade 8

Topic: Causes of the Civil War

Emerging	On-Level	Advanced
List 3 reasons the Civil War started. For each one, write one sentence explaining why it caused conflict between the North and South.	Which cause of the Civil War do you think was most important? Write a paragraph supporting your claim with two pieces of evidence.	Historians debate whether the Civil War was primarily about slavery or states’ rights. Evaluate both arguments and explain why this debate still matters today.

How to Use This in Your Classroom Tomorrow

Option 1: Print and distribute

Print all three versions. As students come in, hand each one a version based on what you know about them. They don’t need to know why they got Version A vs. C.

Option 2: Student choice

Post all three versions. Tell students: “Start with the one that feels like a good challenge — not too easy, not impossible.” Students self-select. You circulate and nudge if needed.

Option 3: Flexible grouping

Use the assignment as an entry point. Groups work on their version, then share findings with mixed-level groups. Every student contributes something different.

For ELL Students & Students with IEPs

ELL add-on: Add this to the prompt: “Also create a Version 0 for English Language Learners. Include a bilingual word bank (English/Spanish) and visual cues where possible.”

IEP add-on: Add: “For Version 1, also include a multiple-choice warm-up with 3 options to activate prior knowledge before the written task.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Which AI tool works best for this prompt?

All major tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) produce strong results. Claude tends to follow the formatting instructions most precisely. ChatGPT often produces slightly longer outputs. Test one and stick with it for consistency.

Can I use this for any subject or grade?

Yes. The prompt is designed to be subject-agnostic. It works for K–2 phonics, high school AP, CTE electives, and everything in between. The more specific you are about the topic, the better the output.

What if the output isn’t quite right?

Reply with one line: “Make Version 1 simpler and add sentence starters” or “Make Version 3 more rigorous — add a synthesis question.” AI tools respond well to short, direct follow-up instructions.

Is this cheating or cutting corners?

You are still the teacher. You choose the topic. You evaluate the outputs. You decide which version goes to which student. AI handles the formatting task. You handle the professional judgment. That’s not cutting corners — that’s working smarter.

Try It This Week

Pick one lesson from your plan this week. Paste the prompt. Spend the 60 seconds. See what you get.

Then come back and tell us: what subject, what grade, and did it work? Your experience helps other teachers in this community.

Share this post with a colleague who needs it.

The teacher who is drowning on Sunday night. The one who says “I know I should differentiate but I just don’t have time.” Send it to them.

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