AI lesson plan generator
By Ryan Mwangi, founder · Last updated
LessonSmith writes a lesson plan for your curriculum, class and date, which you edit and export to Word or PDF, and its free demo needs no account.
The demo includes 10 lesson plans, once, with no card. After that, Pro costs $2.50 a week (KES 300) or $8 a month (KES 1,000).
Sample: a CBC/CBE Grade 9 Mathematics plan, Kenya
Generated in LessonSmith on 8 November 2026. Unedited; teacher details left out.
Area and Perimeter of 2D Shapes
Mathematics · Grade 9 · Term 1 · Strand: Geometry and Measurement · 11/06/2026
Specific learning outcomes
- Students will be able to calculate the perimeter and area of rectangles and squares accurately.
- Learners will understand the difference between perimeter and area conceptually.
- Students will apply their knowledge to real-world contexts by measuring classroom dimensions.
Key inquiry questions
- Why can two shapes have the exact same perimeter but entirely different areas?
Learning resources
- Standard classroom rulers
- Meter sticks
- Grid paper overlays
- Visual aids for understanding area and perimeter
Introduction
- Begin with a brief discussion about the definitions of perimeter and area using real-life examples.
- Ask students to visualize and share their understanding of how perimeter and area differ.
Lesson development · Step 1
- Students will use rulers to measure the length and width of their desks or mats.
- Guide students to calculate the perimeter of their chosen shape using the formula P = 2(L + W).
Lesson development · Step 2
- Students will then calculate the area using the formula A = L x W.
- Encourage learners to draw their shapes on grid paper to visualize and confirm their findings.
Conclusion
- Review the key concepts of perimeter and area, asking students to share their calculations.
- Conclude with the key inquiry question to prompt further thinking about shapes and dimensions.
Differentiation & inclusion
- For learners with attention difficulties, present content in shorter, manageable segments with frequent breaks to maintain focus.
- Students who require visualization support will use grid-paper overlays to help them understand area more concretely.
- High-ability learners will be given complex compound shapes, providing them with the opportunity to extend their learning.
- All students will have the ongoing support of visual aids and peer collaboration to enhance their understanding.
Extended activities
- Provide complex compound shapes for advanced learners to calculate both area and perimeter.
- Organize a class competition where students create their own shapes and challenge peers to find perimeter and area.
Reflection
Left blank for the teacher.
How does an AI lesson plan generator work?
You give it the curriculum, the class and a few notes on the lesson, and it drafts a complete plan for you to check and edit. LessonSmith does it in three steps.
Set your curriculum and class once
Choose your country, curriculum and class level. Levels, subjects, exam names and the registration field follow that curriculum.
Describe the lesson
Pick the subject and date and write a sentence or more on what the lesson should cover. Only those notes are required.
Generate, edit and export
LessonSmith writes all ten sections. Edit any line, ask for a change in plain words, then export to Word or PDF.
What does a LessonSmith lesson plan include?
Ten sections, under a title taken from the sub-strand or topic and a line giving the subject, grade, term and date. Reflection is left blank for you to fill in after the lesson.
| Section | What goes in it |
|---|---|
| Specific learning outcomes | What learners should be able to do by the end of the lesson. |
| Key inquiry questions | The questions the lesson is built around. |
| Learning resources | The books, materials and equipment the lesson needs. |
| Introduction | How the lesson opens and links to what learners already know. |
| Lesson development, step 1 | The first main activity, as a list of steps. |
| Lesson development, step 2 | The second main activity, as a list of steps. |
| Conclusion | How the lesson closes. |
| Differentiation and inclusion | Adaptations for learners who need more support or more challenge. You can switch this section off. |
| Extended activities | Follow-up tasks that take the lesson further. |
| Reflection | Left blank for you to fill in after you have taught the lesson. |
If your school's form uses other headings, such as learning objectives instead of specific learning outcomes, rename them once in Settings and the plans you make after that use your words.
Is the lesson plan generator free?
The demo is free: 10 lesson plans, 3 schemes of work and 10 support plans, once, with no account and no card. After that it is a paid plan, priced in dollars and in Kenyan shillings.
Pro costs $2.50 a week (KES 300) for 10 lesson plans a week, or $8 a month (KES 1,000) for 40 a month. Max costs $12 a week (KES 1,500) or $40 a month (KES 5,000) for twice as many. There is no free monthly plan; the demo is used once. Schools can pay for their teachers on the Custom plan.
Which curricula does it write lesson plans for?
Eleven, each with its own levels, subjects, exam names and term-plan name. You choose one once, and every plan after that is drafted towards it.
| Curriculum | Where | Term plan it drafts |
|---|---|---|
| CBC/CBE | Kenya | Scheme of work |
| NERDC | Nigeria | Scheme of work |
| CAPS | South Africa | Annual teaching plan |
| Standards-based curriculum (NaCCA) | Ghana | Scheme of learning |
| National Curriculum | England | Scheme of work |
| Common Core and NGSS | The United States | Unit plan |
| CBSE and NCERT | India | Unit plan |
| Australian Curriculum | Australia | Unit plan |
| FGOS/FOP | Russia | Calendar-thematic plan |
| International Baccalaureate | International schools | Unit planner |
| Cambridge International | International schools | Scheme of work |
The app runs in 9 languages: English, Kiswahili, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Dutch and Russian, and plans are written in the language the app is set to.
Sample: a NERDC JSS 2 English Studies plan, Nigeria
Generated in LessonSmith on 8 November 2026. Unedited; teacher details left out.
Writing an Introductory Paragraph and Developing a Chronological Plot
English Studies · JSS 2 · Term 1 · Theme: Narrative Essay Writing · 11/06/2026
Specific learning outcomes
- Students will be able to write an effective introductory paragraph for a narrative essay.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to develop a chronological plot in their narratives.
- Students will identify and correct common grammatical errors in their writing.
Key inquiry questions
- What elements make up a strong introductory paragraph in narrative writing?
- How can a chronological plot enhance the storytelling experience?
- What are common pitfalls in narrative writing and how can they be avoided?
Learning resources
- Chalkboard and markers for writing key points.
- Student exercise books for drafting and writing assignments.
- Printed sample texts for reference and analysis.
Introduction
- Begin the lesson by discussing the importance of a strong introduction in narrative writing.
- Engage students in a brief conversation about their favorite stories and what made the introductions effective.
- Introduce the lesson objectives and explain the focus on chronological plot development.
Lesson development · Step 1
- Guide students in identifying the key components of an introductory paragraph.
- Use a culturally relevant example from Nigerian literature to illustrate the components.
- Encourage students to brainstorm ideas for their introductory paragraphs in small groups.
Lesson development · Step 2
- Facilitate a peer-review session where students share their drafts and provide constructive feedback.
- Highlight the significance of chronological order in storytelling and demonstrate with a simple timeline activity.
- Allow students time to revise their paragraphs based on peer feedback and the lesson discussion.
Conclusion
- Summarize the key points covered in the lesson, emphasizing the importance of introductions and chronological plots.
- Encourage students to share their revised introductory paragraphs with the class.
- Assign homework where students will draft a complete narrative essay incorporating the skills learned.
Differentiation & inclusion
- For learners with speech, language, and communication needs, provide visuals and graphic organizers to help structure their thoughts.
- Students with limited proficiency in the language of instruction will be paired with peers for support in understanding writing concepts.
- Adapt the setting by allowing these learners to work in quieter areas of the classroom to minimize distractions.
- Provide additional time for these learners to complete their writing tasks to reduce pressure and enhance their learning experience.
- For learners who finish early, encourage them to help peers by providing feedback on their writing, fostering collaboration.
- Throughout the lesson, support will remain in place for all students, ensuring access to resources and teacher guidance as needed.
Extended activities
- Students can create a visual storyboard that outlines the plot of their narrative essay.
- Encourage students to write a short story based on a given prompt, focusing on strong introductions and chronological order.
- Organize a storytelling session where students can present their narratives to the class.
Reflection
Left blank for the teacher.
Can ChatGPT write lesson plans?
Yes. Given a clear prompt, ChatGPT drafts a usable lesson plan, and it handles many tasks a lesson generator does not. A new chat starts without your curriculum, term dates or school's format unless you paste them in or keep them in a project.
A purpose-built generator holds them for you. LessonSmith remembers your curriculum and its words (strand, sub-strand and TSC number in Kenya), saves each plan onto its day in your term calendar, follows your scheme of work if you link one, and exports every plan in the same section order and typeface. If you plan one lesson now and then, a general assistant is enough, and these ChatGPT prompts for lesson plans are a good place to start.
Can it plan to my term calendar?
Yes. Set your term dates, mid-term break, exam weeks and teaching days once, pick a day and choose Generate plan for this day: the generator opens with that date, and the finished plan is saved back onto the calendar.
If you have saved a scheme of work, turn on the scheme link in Settings and each lesson follows its strand, sub-strand and outcomes. The scheme of work generator drafts that scheme for the whole term.
How does it adapt a plan for learners who need support?
Pick the needs in your class from a list of ten, such as hearing impairment, autism or learning in a new language, and the differentiation section gives one adaptation for each, plus a line for learners who finish early.
Each adaptation changes how the content is presented, how the learner responds, where they work or how much time they get. For a whole plan about one learner, the support plan tool drafts an IEP in Kenya, an Individual Support Plan in South Africa and a SEN Support plan in England.
What do I need to enter?
Only the notes: a sentence or more on what the lesson should cover. The other details are optional and print in the header of the Word and PDF files: teacher, registration number, roll, grade, term, date, time, year, strand and sub-strand.
The registration field follows your system, such as the TSC number in Kenya or the SACE number in South Africa, and is left out where a system has none. Auto-fill carries the details you choose over to the next lesson. Settings, then Document format, sets the typeface, text size, heading style and section order for the preview, the Word file and the PDF alike.
How does it compare with MagicSchool, Canva and Brisk?
They differ in how you start and what you plan to. LessonSmith starts with no account and drafts to one of 11 curricula and your term dates. MagicSchool, Canva and Brisk stay free for as long as you use them, and LessonSmith does not after the demo.
| Tool | Free use | Paid, one teacher |
|---|---|---|
| LessonSmith | A demo, once: 10 lesson plans, no account | $2.50 a week or $8 a month |
| MagicSchool | A free plan for teachers, with an account | Plus, $12.99 a month or $8.33 a month billed yearly |
| Canva | Magic Write, free to teachers on Canva for Education | None needed for teachers |
| Brisk | Free for teachers, as a browser extension | None; schools and districts pay |
The MagicSchool alternatives comparison covers curricula, languages, privacy and the ways MagicSchool is ahead.
Questions
Can I use AI to create lesson plans?
Yes, as a first draft. An AI lesson plan generator writes the outcomes, activities and resources from your notes, and you check every line against your curriculum and your class before you teach it. LessonSmith treats every plan as a draft you edit.
Can I edit the plan after it is written?
Yes. Click into any section and type, or ask for a change in plain words, such as making it 40 minutes or adding more group work, and LessonSmith rewrites the plan. Every plan saves to your library, and a rewrite keeps up to five earlier versions.
How many lesson plans can I make?
The demo gives 10, once. Pro gives 40 a month and Max gives 80 a month, and both counts start again on the monthly anniversary of your subscription. Paid weekly, Pro gives 10 a week and Max gives 20, and the count starts again every 7 days from the day you subscribed.
How can I write my own lesson plan?
Start from the learning outcome, then plan how the lesson opens, two main activities, how it closes and how you will check learning. LessonSmith's guide to writing a lesson plan works through each part with a Grade 7 example.
Is a LessonSmith lesson plan approved by my ministry?
No. LessonSmith is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or certified by any ministry, examination board or curriculum authority. Treat each plan as a draft and check it against your curriculum before you teach it.
To write one by hand, the guide to how to write a lesson plan walks through each part with a worked Grade 7 example.