Goldilocks Prompts

This worksheet helps students in Grades 5, 6, and 7 explore how the level of detail in a prompt affects clarity and effectiveness. By comparing three versions of the same prompt-one too vague, one too detailed, and one “just right”-students practice close reading, comparison, explanation, and critical thinking while learning how balanced instructions lead to better outcomes, especially when working with AI or structured writing tasks.

Skills Reinforced

• Comparing Text Versions (Grades 5-7) – Students analyze multiple versions of a prompt to identify differences in clarity, focus, and usefulness.
• Evaluating Level of Detail – Learners determine how much information is necessary to guide a strong response without causing confusion.
• Technology Literacy – The activity builds understanding of how clear, well-balanced prompts improve AI-generated or task-based results.
• Writing Precision & Control – Students reflect on how intentional word choice and detail strengthen instructions.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators with clear examples and student-friendly explanations.
• Explanation-Based Thinking – Students label each prompt and explain their reasoning, supporting deeper understanding.
• Cross-Curricular Application – Works well in ELA, technology, digital literacy, or critical thinking lessons.
• Modern Skill Focus – Connects traditional literacy skills with real-world technology use.

This Goldilocks prompts worksheet strengthens students’ ability to evaluate clarity, balance, and effectiveness in written instructions. By learning why the “just right” prompt works best, students gain confidence in crafting precise, thoughtful prompts and directions. Whether used in a classroom or homeschool setting, this no-prep printable supports strong communication, critical thinking, and responsible technology use.

This worksheet is part of our Writing a Good AI Prompt collection.