ChatGPT Prompts and Activities for Social Studies Teachers: Using AI.DO in the Social Studies Classroom

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Tue, 29 Apr 2025

ChatGPT Prompts and Activities for Social Studies Teachers: Using AI in the Social Studies Classroom

As a middle school teacher, I’ve been fascinated by the intersection of technology and education, especially AI! Over the last several months, ChatGPT has been taking the education world by storm. I’ve been talking with colleagues about how they can use ChatGPT and Open AI in their social studies classroom. I’ve written some ChatGPT prompts and activities for social studies teachers that you can use right away in your classroom!

Using ChatGPT Prompts to Interview Historical Figures

One of the ways to use ChatGPT in the social studies classroom is with interviews. Yes, you can use ChatGPT prompts to have your students interview any historical figure.

Here’s how it works!

Create an AI.DO Account.

ChatGPT Prompt to Act or Answer as a Historical Figure

First, ask the AI to act as the historical figure you’re interviewing.

      Answer as Mahatma Gandhi. "Mahatma Gandhi, what made you want to be a part of the         Satyagraha (Indian Freedom Fight)?"

Replace ChatGPT Prompts with Historical Figures and Events

Next, replace [historical figure] and [event] with the name of the historical figure and event you’re studying. For instance, if you’re studying the Satyagraha (Indian Freedom Fight, you might ask, “Mahatma Gandhi, what made you want to be a part of the Satyagraha?”

Here’s what ChatGPT responded:

Scaffold and Differentiate for Learners

If the response is too difficult for your students to understand, ask “Mahatma Gandhi” or the historical figure of your choice to write the response at a different reading level. (You can also ask for a higher grade level to challenge students.)

For elementary school students, the prompts are designed to be more straightforward and engaging, while the prompts for middle and high school students delve deeper into the motivations, challenges, and impacts of the historical figures and events.

Follow-Up with Additional Questions

Here’s when the learning comes in! Have your students read the response and generate additional follow-up questions. I asked ChatGPT, “What was your biggest challenge during the Freedom Struggle?” Here is part of his response:

Continue the conversation with the same or any historical figure. Use these prompts in whole group discussion, independent work, or in stations.

Beginning Historical Figure ChatGPT Prompts

Here are a few prompts to get you started.

1. [Historical figure], what made you want to be a part of [event]?

2. Can you tell me, [historical figure], what it felt like to be around during [event] and what people were saying and doing?

3. [Historical figure], did where you grew up or how you were raised play a part in what you did during [event]?

4. What was really tough for you, [historical figure], during [event] and how did you get through it?

5. [Historical figure], can you tell me why [event] was so important and how it made things different than before?