How to turn a lesson into classroom slides

Write the grade, how long the class is, and what students should be able to do by the end. Formulas, graphs, and solids land on the page so you can edit them — they are not screenshots.

Start classroom slides

1. Write the class you are going to teach

Don't just type “cube PPT.” Write the grade, the time, and what students should be able to do by the end. We wrote: Teach a 40-minute Grade 8 lesson on the cube. Class of 28, first time they meet cube volume. By the end they should write S = 6a² and V = a³, compute both for a cube with side a = 4 cm, and see how volume grows on y = x³ for x from 0 to 6. Put a labeled cube, not a photo of a cardboard box. Put the formulas on the slides so they can be edited, not as screenshots. If you put y = x³, the axes need a readable scale. Follow class order: the net, the two formulas, a worked example at a = 4 cm, then two minutes of practice. Don't make a pretty cover with no math.

Then click Generate outline.

CreatePPTX home with a Grade 8 cube lesson in the box, including formulas, a = 4 cm, a graph, and a labeled solid — Put the whole class in the box, then click Generate outline.

2. After you send it, leave this tab open

A progress bar will show up. Stay on this page until it finishes. When it's done, slides start on their own.

If you close the tab and don't come back, the slides may not be ready. Open the project again to continue.

Progress screen. Stay on this page until the slides are ready — Stay on this page. When the progress bar finishes, slides start on their own.

3. Page one should be something you can teach from

This run opened on a cube made of six squares, with side a labeled. That's a page you can point at. If page one is only a cover and a box photo, the prompt probably wasn't specific enough.

If a page is wrong, change that page.

Classroom slide with a labeled cube and a note that it has six square faces — The solid and the side length are on the page. You can point at them.

4. Formulas should be editable, not pictures

On the next page, S = 6a² is a formula you can click into and change. If you click it and it's just an image, you won't be able to change a to 5 later.

Surface-area slide with S = 6a² as an editable formula — This is the line that has to stay on the board.

5. A graph needs axes

The “volume grows with y = x³” page should have axes and a scale. If you only get a table, or one giant formula in the middle, students can't see how volume grows.

If the graph is missing, don't redo the whole deck. Use Math on the right.

y = x³ page with notes on the left and a function graph with axes on the right — This time the axes are there. If you only got a table or a giant formula, insert a function graph next.

6. Math is a figure picker

Math on the right toolbar opens a figure picker. Function graph puts axes on the slide. Solid puts a box with centimeter labels.

You can't put a function graph and a solid on the same page. If you need both, use two pages.

Choose a math figure, including Function graph and Solid — Pick the graph or the solid here. Don't paste a screenshot from another app.

7. Insert a function graph, then change it to y = x³

When you insert it, the default is often a straight line, y = x. Select it, click Edit expression, and change it to y = x³.

If it lands on top of a formula, drag it out of the way.

A function graph with axes inserted on a check page, overlapping the formulas — The axes are on the page. The default is often y = x. This class needs y = x³, so edit the expression.

8. If you need a solid, insert Solid

Math → Solid drops a box with centimeter labels. This run showed 5 cm on an edge — something you can point at.

A page that already has a function graph won't take a solid. Switch to another page and insert it there.

A labeled 5 cm solid inserted on a summary page next to the formulas — The edge has a length. That's the insert, not a photo of a box.

9. If you ask AI to add a formula, save first

Write the new formula in AI edit on that page, for example: Add the formula V = a³ to this page as an editable formula, not an image.

If you just inserted a figure, you'll be asked to save first. Save, then send.

AI edit box asking to add V = a³ as an editable formula — Save first, then send. Change this page only.

10. Export PPT and take it to class

When it looks right, click Export. Choose PPTX if the classroom PC runs PowerPoint. Choose PDF if you just need to send a file.

Export menu with Export PPTX highlighted on the surface-area formula slide — If you'll keep editing on the classroom PC, choose PPTX.

If it still doesn't feel like a class

“Cube PPT” isn't enough. Write the grade, how long the class is, and what students should be able to do by the end. Say the formulas should be editable, the solid should have a side length, and the graph should have axes.

The handout is already a PDF or Word file?

See How to turn a PDF or Word file into slides. If you have no file and need a briefing, see No file? Write a briefing from scratch.