Unique AI Tools for Teachers With Creative Classrooms

Every teacher has had a unit go flat. You know the feeling: you spend ages organizing group projects, building elaborate writing prompts, or prepping for a student showcase—only to get blank stares or, worse, a sea of identical slideshows. As someone who teaches creative writing, modern literature, and a cross-curricular "maker" elective, I’m always on the hunt for new ways to spark true creativity in my classroom—not just fill time with digital busywork.

This year, I set a goal: use AI only when it adds something genuinely new—not just to automate what I already do well. The result? A shortlist of tools (a few you won’t find on every trending list) that changed how my students write, design, and present. Here’s what worked best in my creative classroom—with real examples, the curveballs, and one tool I almost skipped (hint: Kuraplan) that surprised me the most.

1. Fliki – Student-Directed Story Adaptations (Not Just Videos)

Most people use Fliki to create explainer videos, but we flipped it: students rewrote classic fairy tales with a modern twist, then used Fliki to turn their stories into animated episodes or radio plays. Narrating and editing their own work gave my quietest writers a public voice—and for ESL students, it was a safe playground for pronunciation and narrative structure. Not every product was polished, but every student became an author, editor, and director.

2. Kuraplan – Project Planning Without the Clichés

I resisted Kuraplan at first—I thought it would give me canned, unimaginative outlines. But the real magic was plugging in offbeat project ideas like "Build a Community Mythology" or "Redesign Your Neighborhood in 2125." Kuraplan mapped out timelines, formative feedback points, and even suggested family interview templates. I never followed its units exactly, but its backbone freed me up to make each project truly my own while keeping me (and my students) from getting lost.

3. Magicbook – Picture Books as Assessment (and Not Just for Kids)

Elementary teachers already know Magicbook, but here’s the twist: I let middle and high schoolers use it to summarize their research projects or personal essays as children’s picture books. The challenge? Explaining "bioethics" or "my immigration story" using image prompts and simple language. These books became the surprise hit at our school expo—parents, younger students, and even admin browsed them, making my students rethink audience and clarity in a whole new way.

4. Suno AI – Collaborative Soundtrack Projects

Need an outside-the-box project that works for shy and outgoing kids? My creative writing class teamed up with science and art classes to script short documentaries about "the world in 2050." After writing and storyboarding, students used Suno AI to create original theme songs or soundscapes. Suddenly, even non-musicians contributed: some wrote lyrics, some designed album covers, others pieced together ambient sound effects. Group work became play, not just division of labor.

5. Gamma – Live-Action Pitch Decks for Passion Projects

Bored of slideshow assignments? I challenged students to choose a problem to solve (“How could we make school lunches more sustainable?”) and used Gamma to build rapid-fire, visually stunning pitch decks live in front of the class. Gamma’s design smarts let students focus on logic, visuals, and flow—instead of getting lost in formatting. We even held Shark Tank-style panels, and for the first time, every student was excited to present.

6. People AI – Character Interviews & Worldbuilding

Writers and avid roleplayers, this one is for you: I had students create original characters for our dystopian fiction unit, then "introduce" them to historical figures or each other using People AI's chat features. Kids got instant, nuanced feedback about their characters’ backstory, voice, and logic—and some wild debate moments (“What would your character say to Harriet Tubman at a train station?”). The experience breathed new life into worldbuilding, history connections, and empathy.

7. Jungle – Collaborative Revision Games

Peer review, but make it actually fun: Jungle generated flashcards with common writing mistakes and craft techniques. Students sorted and solved them in groups before tackling their own drafts. I even let them add "wildcard" cards about voice, imagery, or pacing for extra challenge. Writing workshop finally felt less like check-the-box editing and more like a real writer’s room.

Final Reflections: Creativity (and Tech) Are for Everyone

If I’ve learned anything, it’s this: the best AI tools don’t just make life easier—they open doors to student voices I couldn't reach before. Don’t treat AI like a digital worksheet machine; treat it as a bridge to publish, produce, remix, and share work in the real world. Pick one project and see where students take it—odds are, the most creative results will surprise you (and your admin).

Have an unexpected AI win in your creative classroom? I’d love to swap stories. In the meantime, here’s to fewer copy/paste assignments and more wild, real-world student projects this year.