Explain like I’m [age] prompts help students turn complex ideas into clear, step-by-step explanations that fit their level. Benefits include faster comprehension, stronger recall, and fewer misconceptions during study. Recent research shows AI tutoring can boost learning efficiency compared with in-class active learning when interactions follow best-practice scaffolds Nature, 2025. Meta-analyses also show worked examples reduce cognitive load and aid novices Educational Psychology Review, 2023.
What Are “Explain Like I’m [age]” Student Prompts?
These are structured AI prompts that translate any topic into age-appropriate explanations with steps, definitions, and checks for understanding. They’re ideal for middle school, high school, and college students, plus teachers and tutors.
They differ from generic summaries by tailoring depth, vocabulary, and examples to a specific age. Try related guides like concept explainers or build mastery with a study guide generator. Sometimes it helps to try our free AI note taker and bookmark this page.
How to Use These AI “Explain Like I’m [age]” Prompts
Pick 3–5 prompts, paste your source (audio, captions, slides, PDF, or notes), then run the steps in ChatGPT or Gemini. Export the output to Google Docs or CSV when done. New to AI note-taking? Read the Get Started with AI Note Taking.
Concept Explanations by Age (1–40)
Use these to tailor depth, vocabulary, and examples to a specific learner age. They keep explanations concrete, layered, and paced with quick checks so students grasp the “why” and “how,” not only the “what.” Ideal for first passes on new or confusing topics.
- Explain [topic] like I’m [age], using simple words and short steps.
- Give a two-sentence overview of [topic] for a [age] learner.
- Break [topic] into three core ideas suited to a [age] student.
- Explain [topic] with one everyday analogy a [age] student understands.
- Summarize [topic] for [age] in bullet points, max seven bullets.
- Define [term] for [age], then give one correct and one wrong example.
- Explain why [topic] matters to a [age] learner in real life.
- Compare [topic] to [familiar thing] for [age]; highlight two key differences.
- Explain [topic] for [age] using the five-sentence “ELI5” style.
- List three misconceptions about [topic] a [age] might have, then fix them.
- Describe [topic] with a story a [age] student can visualize quickly.
- Explain [topic] to [age] using only words from a middle-school glossary.
- Create a three-step “first principles” breakdown of [topic] for [age].
- Explain [topic] with cause → effect chains suitable for a [age] learner.
- Give a one-minute script teaching [topic] to a [age] student.
- Answer “what, why, how” about [topic] in [age]-friendly language.
- Explain [topic] using a sports analogy relatable to a [age] student.
- Teach [topic] with a kitchen analogy a [age] learner would enjoy.
- Explain [topic] with a phone or app analogy suitable for [age].
- Summarize [topic] for [age] with three “if…then” statements.
- Rewrite [text] into [age]-appropriate language, preserving key meaning and order.
- Explain [topic] for [age] with emojis to cue steps and signals.
- Give two micro-examples and one counterexample of [topic] for [age].
- Explain [topic] using a timeline with three labeled milestones for [age].
- Teach [topic] to [age] with a real-world news example and takeaway.
- Explain [topic] with a checklist of five items for a [age] learner.
- Provide three “teach-back” questions a [age] student could answer after [topic].
- Explain [topic] by contrasting it with [nearby concept] for [age] learners.
- Summarize [topic] in a table outline a [age] student can follow.
- Give a two-part explanation of [topic]: short version, then longer version.
- Explain [topic] to [age] using a cause-tree with three branches.
- Create a “first week learning plan” for [topic] for a [age] student.
- Explain [topic] with three scaffolded questions a [age] student can answer.
- Describe pitfalls in learning [topic] for [age], plus fixes and cues.
- Give a “why this is hard” box for [topic] targeted at [age].
- Explain [topic] using a map of inputs, process, and outputs for [age].
- Teach [topic] with a single diagram description suitable for a [age] learner.
- Explain [topic] as a five-part checklist for [age] beginners to follow.
- Rephrase [paragraph] to fit a [age] audience while preserving key facts.
- Give a comprehension check: three quick questions to confirm [topic] understanding.
Step-by-Step Problem Solving (41–80)
These prompts convert tough processes into worked examples with labeled steps, checkpoints, and error traps. They emphasize the “do this, then that” sequence to prevent overload and support independent practice after guided walkthroughs.
- Solve [problem] step-by-step like I’m [age], and number each step.
- Show one worked example of [problem], then one practice problem for me.
- Explain each step’s purpose while solving [problem] for a [age] learner.
- Create a flowchart-style list to complete [task] without skipping steps.
- Provide three “common mistakes” for [task], plus corrections and quick checks.
- Turn [set of directions] into numbered steps a [age] student can follow.
- Show two solution paths for [problem], then state when to pick each.
- Create a decision tree for choosing formulas for [problem type].
- Explain how to check answers for [problem] using a quick inverse step.
- Convert [long paragraph instructions] into a concise, ordered task list.
- Teach [algorithm] to a [age] student with a clear input-process-output example.
- Walk through [lab procedure] safely with precautions and rationale for each step.
- Model unit conversions for [science/math] with labeled steps and units checks.
- Turn [assignment prompt] into a step plan: interpret, outline, execute, review.
- Create a troubleshooting ladder for [task] with “if-then” corrective actions.
- Provide a short, medium, long method to solve [problem], with trade-offs.
- Show how to annotate [diagram/text] to guide the steps for [task].
- Write a minimal checklist to set up and solve [problem] reliably.
- Demonstrate estimation first, exact calculation second, for [problem type].
- Create a “sanity checks” list before finalizing answers for [problem].
- Explain the reasoning behind each formula step used in [calculation].
- Turn [rubric] into a task plan with milestones and quality checks.
- Show stepwise simplification of [expression], stating rules at each transformation.
- Outline data-to-graph steps for [dataset], including axis choices and labels.
- Create a “plan, do, review” loop for practicing [skill] this week.
- Demonstrate error-finding by intentionally solving [problem] wrong, then correcting it.
- Organize [multi-part task] into today, tomorrow, and end-of-week actions.
- Write a minimal template to approach any [problem type] consistently.
- Explain when to stop, re-read, and restart a step in [task].
- Turn [grading criteria] into a self-check sequence I can run independently.
- Write a script to talk through reasoning while solving [problem] aloud.
- Convert [set of formulas] into a choose-the-right-formula flow for beginners.
- Show how to check units, magnitudes, and signs at the final step.
- Design a warm-up problem, main problem, and stretch problem for [topic].
- Create a “before you submit” checklist customized to [assignment type].
- Write stepwise notes for reproducing [experiment/task] reliably next time.
- Show how to decompose [big project] into milestones, tasks, and dependencies.
- Explain when to use examples, counters, and edge cases in [task].
- Convert [lecture notes] into an executable action list for tonight’s practice.
- Produce a one-page worked example sheet for [topic] I can print.
Vocabulary, Definitions, and Micro-Drills (81–120)
These prompts demystify jargon, build precise definitions, and create quick recall drills. They link terms to examples and non-examples so students form sharper concepts and avoid fuzzy, circular definitions that block understanding.
- Define [term] for [age], then give a one-line everyday example.
- Provide a non-example of [term] to clarify boundaries for [age].
- List three synonyms and one contrast term for [term] with notes.
- Explain [term] using a “like… unlike…” sentence pair for [age].
- Create a two-column table: term, plain-language definition for [age].
- Explain [term] with one visual description I could sketch on paper.
- Write a cloze sentence for [term] and provide the answer key.
- Generate three flashcard Q→A pairs for [term] with hints.
- Explain how [term A] differs from [term B] for a [age] learner.
- Translate [term] into plain words, then into a formal definition format.
- Give an analogy for [term] using school life or hobbies for [age].
- Create a three-question micro-quiz checking understanding of [term].
- Explain why [term] is often confused with [near term] and how to avoid it.
- Build a memory hook for [term] using rhythm, initials, or imagery.
- Give a short “teach your friend” script using [term] correctly twice.
- Explain [term] in one tweet-length message for a [age] student.
- Turn [glossary list] into plain-language cards with examples and cautions.
- Create two sentences misusing [term], then correct them with explanations.
- Explain the root or origin of [term] to deepen meaning for [age].
- Build a two-minute drill to reuse [term] in new contexts today.
- List three “look-fors” that signal [term] is present in [topic].
- Create a fill-in-the-blank definition for [term] with two distractors.
- Explain [term] via a cause→effect mini-scenario a [age] student recognizes.
- Give three cross-subject examples showing [term] in math, science, and history.
- Contrast [term] with [nearby term] using a two-row misconception table.
- Create three Yes/No identification questions to test [term] recognition quickly.
- Write a “teach it back” checklist for explaining [term] to a friend.
- Create a one-minute quiz game using [term] in four different contexts.
- Explain [term] with a tiny dataset example a [age] student can compute.
- Show how misuse of [term] changes meaning using two corrected sentences.
- Build a three-item exit ticket checking [term] comprehension today.
- Create a mnemonic for [set of terms] using initials or a short phrase.
- Provide three context sentences where [term] fits and one where it doesn’t.
- Explain the smallest unit or building block behind [term] for [age].
- Generate analogies from sports, music, and gaming to reinforce [term].
- Create a one-pager glossary for [unit] with plain definitions and notes.
- Write a “why it matters” line for each key term in [unit].
- Convert [dense definition] into two sentences and a concrete example.
- Design a three-day spaced practice plan for mastering [term set].
- Suggest quick self-explanations to speak aloud when using [term] correctly.
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Analogies, Metaphors, and Real-World Hooks (121–160)
Use real-life hooks to make abstractions concrete. Analogies, contrasts, and “like vs unlike” frames anchor memory and transfer. These prompts ask for multiple angles so learners can pick the analogy that clicks.
- Explain [topic] using a sports analogy a [age] fan understands immediately.
- Create a music-based metaphor for [topic] with tempo, rhythm, and dynamics.
- Use a cooking analogy to show inputs, transformations, and outputs in [topic].
- Explain [topic] with a travel analogy: map, route choices, checkpoints.
- Relate [topic] to social media features a [age] user recognizes quickly.
- Use a team-sports analogy to show roles and coordination inside [system].
- Create a budgeting analogy to explain constraints and trade-offs in [topic].
- Explain [topic] using a school schedule analogy for dependencies and timing.
- Use a house-building analogy for layers, foundations, and finishing in [topic].
- Relate [topic] to gaming mechanics: levels, stats, and resource management.
- Explain [topic] with a garden analogy for growth, pruning, and seasons.
- Use a library analogy to describe storage, retrieval, and indexing in [topic].
- Contrast two analogies for [topic], then choose which fits [age] best.
- Explain [topic] with a traffic analogy for flow, bottlenecks, and rules.
- Use a puzzle analogy to show parts, patterns, and fits within [topic].
- Relate [topic] to fitness training: warm-up, sets, recovery, and progression.
- Create a weather analogy to show variability, averages, and extremes in [topic].
- Explain [topic] with a restaurant analogy: orders, queueing, and service speed.
- Use a theater analogy to show roles, scripts, cues, and timing in [topic].
- Relate [topic] to coding: inputs, functions, loops, and outputs explained simply.
- Explain [topic] using a banking analogy: deposits, interest, and withdrawals.
- Create a photography analogy for focus, exposure, and composition in [topic].
- Use a mailing analogy to describe addressing, routing, and delivery in [system].
- Explain [topic] with a marketplace analogy: buyers, sellers, and prices moving.
- Relate [topic] to teamwork: coordination costs, communication, and handoffs.
- Use a festival analogy for scheduling, capacity, and safety within [system].
- Explain [topic] using a map legend analogy for symbols and meaning.
- Relate [topic] to streaming: buffering, bitrate, and latency explained simply.
- Use a construction crane analogy to show leverage and constraints in [topic].
- Explain [topic] with a recycle-bin analogy for filtering and cleanup steps.
- Connect [topic] to health habits: inputs, routines, and feedback over time.
- Use a museum analogy: curation, labeling, and visitor paths inside [topic].
- Explain [topic] using a postal stamp scarcity analogy for value signals.
- Relate [topic] to playlists: ordering, transitions, and grouping principles.
- Use a vending machine analogy to show inputs, choices, and outputs.
- Explain [topic] with a classroom analogy: roles, routines, and rules in action.
- Use a relay race analogy to show sequencing and handoff timing in [topic].
- Relate [topic] to photography editing: filters, noise reduction, and export.
- Explain [topic] with a board game analogy: rules, strategy, and probability.
- Create two micro-analogies for [topic]; label which fits [age] best and why.
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Exam and Assignment Helpers (161–200)
Turn explanations into ready-to-use study assets: outlines, checkpoints, practice questions, and quick audits. These prompts support ethical studying by clarifying ideas, not writing full assignments for you.
- Summarize my notes like I’m [age], then convert into a study outline.
- Extract key ideas from [slides] for [age], then generate practice questions.
- Turn [article] into a three-level outline with definitions for [age].
- Create five recall questions and answers about [topic] for a [age] student.
- Design a two-page study guide for [topic] with checkpoints and examples.
- Generate mixed-difficulty practice problems for [topic] with short solutions.
- Make a five-minute warm-up quiz to refresh [unit] quickly before study.
- Build a one-sheet “equations and meanings” reference for [unit] tonight.
- Write three short explanations for likely exam distractors about [topic].
- Turn [rubric] into a pre-submission checklist for my [assignment type].
- Explain the most testable ideas from [chapter] for a [age] student.
- Create two “teach-back” prompts I can answer aloud after studying [topic].
- Generate a last-day review plan with 30/30/30 study blocks for [unit].
- Provide five oral exam practice questions with model outlines, not full answers.
- Turn [lecture transcript] into sectioned notes with key terms and takeaways.
- Create practice items that target my three weakest skills in [topic].
- Draft a mini-lesson to teach a classmate one tricky idea from [topic].
- Build a spaced schedule for [unit]: today, +2 days, +1 week, +1 month.
- Generate exam-style short answers from [notes], then provide concise solution keys.
- Create mixed retrieval prompts that interleave [topic A], [topic B], [topic C].
- Convert [project brief] into milestones, deliverables, and acceptance checks.
- Write three candidate thesis statements for [prompt], with pros and cons.
- Outline a five-paragraph structure for [essay prompt] with evidence slots.
- Suggest paragraph topic sentences from [notes] that align with my thesis.
- Turn [outline] into a revision plan focusing on clarity and logic first.
- Generate citation-ready claim→evidence→reasoning frames for [argument topic].
- Create five quick oral rehearsal prompts to practice explaining [topic].
- Design a rubric-based self-check for clarity, accuracy, and source use.
- Turn [teacher feedback] into a prioritized revision list with time estimates.
- Create five potential exam traps for [topic] and how to avoid each.
- Build a night-before plan: summarize, quiz, explain aloud, sleep, quick warm-up.
- Design a peer-review checklist focused on argument clarity and evidence strength.
- Create three reflection prompts after the test to capture learning improvements.
- Turn [chapter objectives] into measurable checkpoints with sample evidence.
- Generate five quick-explain prompts to practice “ELI[age]” out loud tonight.
- Create a two-column cheat-sheet: idea and shortest valid explanation.
- Write three “spot the error” items for [topic] with corrected versions.
- Design a calm test-start routine: read, mark verbs, plan, then answer.
- Make mixed-format items: MCQ, short answer, and explain-your-reasoning.
- Create a two-week review calendar balancing new learning and spaced retrieval.
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Printable & Offline Options
Prefer paper? Print this page, export your AI outputs to PDF, or compile study guides for classrooms. See our full hub of student prompts at /students/prompts/. Many sections work well as single-page checklists for quick reviews.
Related Categories
- Explain Concepts Prompts
- Lecture-to-Notes Prompts
- Study Guide Prompts
- Quiz and Flashcard Prompts
- Academic Writing Prompts
What does “Explain Like I’m [age]” actually change?
It constrains vocabulary, length, and examples to a specified age. That forces clear definitions, fewer assumptions, and step-by-step scaffolds. Use it to preview new topics, remediate confusion, or warm up before practice. Pair with worked examples and brief quizzes for stronger retention.
Can I use these prompts for any subject?
Yes. Insert your topic or term and set the age. For math and science, add unit checks and estimation. For humanities, add claim→evidence→reasoning frames. Always cite sources and follow your school’s academic integrity policy.
How many prompts should I run per study session?
Three to five is enough. Build one explanation, one worked example, and one quick quiz. Save outputs in a single doc for spaced review. Over time you’ll reuse your best prompts as templates.
Will AI explanations be accurate enough for exams?
Quality varies by input and model. Cross-check with class materials. Use comprehension checks, non-examples, and teacher feedback. Studies suggest well-structured AI tutoring can aid learning, but validation remains essential.
Where can I learn more about prompt strategies?
See recent work on prompt engineering in education and AI literacy. As a start, review the Nature study on AI tutoring effectiveness and the worked-examples meta-analysis linked above.
Final Thoughts
Age-tuned, step-by-step explanations speed up understanding, reduce cognitive load, and improve recall. Use this library to convert hard topics into simple language, solid examples, and ready-to-print study aids. Want more? Start AI note-taking instantly for free with our AI note taker at /f.
References: Nature, 2025; Educational Psychology Review, 2023; Education Week, 2024.
