AI Curriculum for Second Grade

Teaching AI to young kids doesn't have to be hard. Here's my simple 11-week plan for second graders that makes AI fun and safe.

What Makes This Work

Kids learn best when they can touch, see, and play. This plan uses hands-on activities instead of boring lectures.

Each week focuses on one big idea. Kids build on what they learned before.

Week 1: What is AI? Start with story time. Read books about robots and computers. Ask simple questions like "Can computers think?"

Week 2: How AI Learns Play pattern games with blocks and colors. Show kids how computers find patterns just like they do.

Week 3: Robots and AI Build robots with craft supplies. Let kids draw their dream robot. Talk about what jobs robots can do.

Week 4: AI Around Us Go on an AI hunt! Find automatic doors, voice helpers like Alexa, and smart TVs. Kids love finding AI everywhere.

Week 5: Talking to AI Practice talking to Siri or Google. Role-play conversations. Kids learn that AI can listen and respond.

Week 6: Making Pictures with AI Use simple AI tools like Canva to create images. Kids type what they want and watch AI bring it to life.

Week 7: Story Time with AI Ask AI to write short stories. Watch kids' faces light up when they see their ideas become stories.

Week 8: AI as a Study Helper Show how AI can teach new things. Ask it to explain games or share fun facts about animals.

Week 9: Simple Coding Use ScratchJr with AI help. Kids make basic programs and see their ideas come to life.

Week 10: Staying Safe with AI The most important week! Teach digital safety, being honest online, and never sharing personal info.

Week 11: Show and Tell Kids share their favorite AI projects. They explain what they learned and made.

Kids get excited about AI when it's not scary or confusing. They learn that AI is a tool to help, not replace, human creativity.

By the end, second graders understand AI basics and know how to use it safely.

The children should have created images, written stories, and built programs. They will have asked great questions and stayed curious all year.

Ready to try this with your kids? Start small and let their curiosity guide you.

What questions do your kids ask about AI?