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Discovering the World of AI Through Reading and Writing (Grades 5-8)

This course introduces 5th-8th graders to how AI works through reading, writing, and interactive activities. Learners will explore AI and create their own project while learning to use AI responsibly.
Class

What's included

6 live meetings
5 hrs 30 mins in-class hours
Homework
1-2 hours per week. 3-6 throughout the class
Projects
1-2 throughout the class
Assessment
1-2 throughout the class
Certificate of Completion
1 after class completion

Class Experience

US Grade 5 - 8
Class Description: AI Explorers: Discovering the World of Artificial Intelligence
In this engaging six-week course, students in 5th through 8th grade will explore the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Through a combination of reading, writing, research, and interactive activities, learners will gain a solid understanding of how AI works, how it impacts our lives, and how to use it responsibly. 

Each week, we will dive into exciting AI concepts, from how machines learn to how they understand language, and students will get hands-on experience working with AI tools. 

By the end of the course, students will have created their own AI-inspired project, developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills along the way.

Class Experience:
In this course, students will embark on a journey into the world of AI with a variety of interactive lessons. We’ll cover six core topics:

What is AI? – Understanding AI basics through reading, discussion, and personal reflection.
How AI Learns – Exploring how AI uses data to learn and make decisions through guided research and writing.

AI and Language – Discovering how AI processes and understands human language.

Using AI to Improve Writing – Hands-on writing activities where students will use AI tools to edit and improve their writing.

Responsible Use of AI – Investigating the ethics of AI and understanding its responsible use.

AI Projects and Reflection – Creating and presenting an AI-inspired project based on personal interests.

Structure:

Each class begins with an engaging discussion based on a short, student-friendly article or video related to the week’s topic.
Students will participate in activities such as writing exercises, research, and group discussions.
We’ll make use of AI tools like Grammarly or chatbots, allowing students to see AI in action as they work on real-world tasks.
Homework assignments will include real-world applications like tracking patterns in their own lives or experimenting with AI tools at home.

Teaching Style:

My teaching approach is highly interactive and student-centered. I encourage questions, curiosity, and critical thinking in every class.
We will use a mix of discussions, interactive searches, slides, and hands-on projects to help students understand AI concepts in a fun and relatable way.
While I guide the course with structured lessons, I ensure there’s plenty of room for students to explore their own ideas, fostering creativity and confidence in their learning.

Student Interaction:

Students will interact with me throughout each lesson, especially during group discussions and one-on-one feedback during project creation.
Learners will also engage with each other in collaborative activities like shared research and class discussions on ethical AI issues.
Each student will have opportunities to share their work, reflect on what they’ve learned, and present their final AI projects to the class.

By the end of the course, students will leave with a deeper understanding of AI’s role in the world today and practical skills they can apply in both their academic work and personal lives.
Learning Goals
Understand the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence: By the end of the course, students will be able to explain what AI is, how it works, and identify examples of AI in their daily lives.
Demonstrate the ability to use AI tools for writing and research: Students will use AI writing assistants and chatbots to improve their writing and research skills, showing a clear understanding of how these tools can enhance their work.
learning goal

Syllabus

Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
6 Lessons
over 6 Weeks
Lesson 1:
What is AI? (Reading and Exploration)
 Article Reading (Group): The group reads the article, "How AI is Changing the World" from Time for Kids.

Discussion & Reflection (Group Activity): Each student shares what stood out to them from the article, followed by a class discussion on how AI affects daily life.

Writing Prompt (Individual): Students write a paragraph on how they think AI could help them personally (e.g., at home, in school, or for hobbies).

Homework (Real-World Task): Ask students to observe how AI shows up in their 
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
How Does AI Learn? (Research and Writing)
 Guided Search (Group): Demonstrate how to search for an article on AI learning patterns.
Writing Assignment (Individual): Students write a summary of the article, focusing on how AI uses data to learn and make decisions.
Discussion (Group): Discuss what makes AI "smart" and what types of patterns it learns.
Homework (Real-World Task): Students create a simple "data journal" where they track patterns in their own daily habits. They’ll present these patterns to show how AI might learn from them. 
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Week 3: AI and Language (Reading and Writing)
 Article Reading (Group): The group reads "How AI Understands Language" from Kids Discover.
Writing Activity (Individual): Students write a short dialogue between themselves and a fictional AI assistant, imagining how the AI would respond to their questions.
Interactive Search (Group): As a class, use a chatbot tool like Google’s AI Experiment to explore how it answers questions.
Homework (Real-World Task): Assign students to have their own conversations with an AI assistant (like Siri or Alexa), 
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Using AI to Improve Writing (Writing and Revision)
 Interactive Writing (Individual): Each student writes a story or essay, then uses a tool like Grammarly to see how AI suggests improvements.
Discussion (Group): Evaluate the AI’s suggestions and how the students can apply this to their writing process.
Reflection (Individual): Students write a short paragraph reflecting on how AI can help them become better writers.
Homework (Real-World Task): Students revise a past writing assignment using an AI tool and bring both versions to class. 
55 mins online live lesson

Other Details

External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined March, 2020
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am a certified educator with extensive experience teaching English Language Arts to elementary and middle school students. My background includes developing engaging, student-centered lesson plans that foster critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. Additionally, I have a deep understanding of integrating technology into education, specifically in the use of AI tools for personalized learning. Through my professional experience and passion for teaching, I have successfully created curriculum that combines AI literacy with core academic skills, helping students develop both technical knowledge and ethical awareness of AI’s role in today’s world. In 2019, I completed my Master's Thesis, "Multi-Modal Integration in the English Language Arts Classroom," and have been excited to see my vision unfold as the world discovers and collaborates with AI!

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Live Group Course
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$3

weekly or $15 for 6 classes
1x per week, 6 weeks
55 min

Live video meetings
Ages: 11-14
2-8 learners per class

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