AI Prompt Showdown Worksheet LAB MISSION // 01
THIS OR THAT
THE AI PROMPT SHOWDOWN
Agent Name _________________
Date ___________
AI bots are like hyper-intelligent assistants—they can do amazing work, but only if you give them clear instructions . In this lab, you'll compare prompt options and crown the victor.
SKILL 01
Provide Context & Examples
AI doesn't know who you are or what you need unless you set the stage first. Give it a role, a target audience, and explicit details!
The Scenario: You need a summary of the water cycle for an elementary school science project.
PROMPT ALPHA A
"Write a quick summary about the water cycle and how it works."
No target audience or context
PROMPT BETA B
"Act as an elementary science teacher. Write a 3-step explanation of the water cycle using simple analogies for 5th graders."
Clear role & simple analogies
1. Circle the winning prompt: ALPHA or BETA
Explain your reasoning. What specific context or role-play element made the winner superior?
SKILL 02
Avoid Vague Wording
AI cannot read your mind. Phrases like "make it good", "short", or "do something cool" are too fuzzy. Swap vague words for actionable instructions.
The Scenario: You want a fitness plan to help you build physical endurance at home.
PROMPT ALPHA A
"Design a 15-minute bodyweight cardio routine focusing on endurance, with zero equipment, list each exercise and duration."
Clear, action-driven list
PROMPT BETA B
"Make a cool home workout that is not too long and helps me get in really great shape."
Vague terms: "cool", "great shape"
2. Circle the winning prompt: ALPHA or BETA
Which vague terms in the losing prompt should be replaced? What did the winner use instead?
AI PROMPTING BOOTCAMP PAGE 1 OF 2
LAB MISSION // 02
THIS OR THAT
THE AI PROMPT SHOWDOWN
Current Status LEVEL 2 CHALLENGE
SKILL 03
Add Clear Constraints
Constraints set the boundaries of your output. Specify physical limits like word count, perspective, list lengths, or words to avoid.
The Scenario: You need a sci-fi micro-story about an astronaut lost on Mars to read aloud in class.
PROMPT ALPHA A
"Write a science fiction story about an astronaut lost on Mars. Keep the length between 100-150 words, use first-person perspective, and end with a cliffhanger."
Word count, POV & ending constraints
PROMPT BETA B
"Write a short and cool sci-fi story about a lost astronaut. It should be exciting and have an interesting ending."
Vague length & open-ended structure
3. Circle the winning prompt: ALPHA or BETA
List the THREE specific constraints the winning prompt provided to guide the AI output.
1. __________________
2. __________________
3. __________________
FINAL TASK
The Ultimate Upgrade
Below is an incredibly basic, low-quality "Non-Exemplar" prompt. Use all three skills you learned today to redesign it into a spectacular "Exemplar" prompt.
Flawed Original Prompt:
"Write an email to my history teacher because I was sick yesterday."
Your upgraded prompt: Use: Context + Precise Language + Constraints!
AI PROMPTING BOOTCAMP PAGE 2 OF 2
AI Prompt Showdown Teacher Guide TEACHER GUIDE & PATHWAY
PROMPT SHOWDOWN
TEACHER INSTRUCTIONAL MANUAL
Resource Type FACILITATION GUIDE
Lesson Mission
This lesson equips students with concrete, actionable structures to write high-performing generative AI prompts. By contrasting exemplars against non-exemplars, students witness how semantic precision directly dictates output utility.
Pacing (45 Mins)
• 00-10: Hook & Intro
• 10-25: Guided "This or That"
• 25-40: Prompt Upgrading
• 40-45: Debrief & Checkout
Core Prompting Architecture
01. Persona & Context
Establish who the AI is acting as and who the final output is designed for.
02. Precision Verbs
Swap broad terms ("write about") for active operational commands ("analyze", "summarize").
03. Target Constraints
Define boundaries: word length, output structure (table, list), tone, and forbidden words.
Countering Student Misconceptions
MISTAKE 01:
"The AI knows what I mean automatically." Students expect AI to possess human mind-reading intuition. Emphasize that AI only calculates patterns based on explicit input symbols.
MISTAKE 02:
"Longer prompts are always better." Length doesn't equal quality. A very long prompt filled with redundant, contradictory instructions is worse than a tight, constrained prompt.
Classroom Facilitation Insights
Live Comparison: If you have internet access and an AI model loaded on screen, type both Prompt Alpha and Prompt Beta into the model in real time. Let students visually inspect how dramatically different the responses are.The Sandbox Test: Have students trade their completed "Ultimate Upgrade" prompts (Page 2) with a peer and manually critique them using the 3-skill rubric.
AI PROMPTING BOOTCAMP PAGE 1 OF 2
TEACHER GUIDE & ANSWERS
ANSWER KEY
OFFICIAL EVALUATION CRITERIA
Status GRADING READY
Student Sheet Answers
SKILL 1
Winner: BETA ✔ Context curator
Key Difference: Prompt B commands the AI to take on the specific role of an "elementary science teacher" and outlines the exact target audience ("5th graders"). Prompt A is generic, meaning the AI might output a overly technical, dry article.
AI Prompt Showdown Slides MISSION // BOOTCAMP SLIDE 01
THIS OR THAT:
AI PROMPT SHOWDOWN
Discover the exact difference between high-performing Exemplars and generic Non-Exemplars.
Welcome to Prompt Lab
READY TO PLAY
SKILL 01
Provide Context & Examples
SLIDE 02
Scenario: Summarize the water cycle for an elementary science project.
PROMPT ALPHA A
"Write a quick summary about the water cycle and how it works."
Non-Exemplar: Lacks context & audience.
PROMPT BETA B
"Act as an elementary science teacher. Write a 3-step explanation of the water cycle using simple analogies for 5th graders."
Exemplar: Clear persona & audience.
Why is Prompt B the winner? Discuss!
SKILL 02
Avoid Vague Wording
SLIDE 03
Scenario: Get a fitness routine to build your endurance at home.
PROMPT ALPHA A
"Design a 15-minute bodyweight cardio routine focusing on endurance, with zero equipment, list each exercise and duration."
Exemplar: Replaces fuzzy words with physical details.
PROMPT BETA B
"Make a cool home workout that is not too long and helps me get in really great shape."
Non-Exemplar: Vague terms: "cool", "great shape".
Which terms in Prompt B should be instantly deleted?
SKILL 03
Add Clear Constraints
SLIDE 04
Scenario: Write a sci-fi micro-story about a lost astronaut on Mars.
PROMPT ALPHA A
"Write a science fiction story about an astronaut lost on Mars. Keep the length between 100-150 words, use first-person perspective, and end with a cliffhanger."
Exemplar: Precise word limit, POV, and structural goal.
PROMPT BETA B
"Write a short and cool sci-fi story about a lost astronaut. It should be exciting and have an interesting ending."
Non-Exemplar: Incredibly open-ended length and style.
Spot the 3 strict constraints embedded in Prompt A!
LIVE CHALLENGE
The Ultimate Upgrade
SLIDE 05
Let's work together to upgrade this weak, non-exemplar prompt:
Underperforming Prompt:
"Write an email to my history teacher because I was sick yesterday."
Step 1 Add Persona & Context
Step 2 Use Precise Verbs
