First Grade AI Curriculum

I am creating an AI curriculum for homeschoolers that includes the first grade level.

Step 1: Understanding AI

This involves discussing what is natural versus what humans create.

What is a computer? Examine the computer being used and discuss its components.

How does AI interact with us? AI can listen through various devices, recognize faces on phones, and engage with us through our typing and speaking.

Humans developed AI to interact with us and create amazing things like stories, images, and more.

Step 2: Use AI to create an image:

I recommend visiting https://canva.com/ and entering a simple prompt based on the child's idea. For Canva, version

Today I used:

Create an image of Jonathan and his poodle. The image should be simple enough for a first-grade book.

Step 3: Create a story.

Allow the children to request a story written at the first-grade level. I would suggest starting with chatgpt.ai. An example could be: “Create a 50-word story about Jonathan and his poodle at the first-grade level.”

The response I received was:

Jonathan has a fluffy poodle named Coco. They love playing fetch at the park. Coco jumps high to catch the red ball. After playing, Jonathan gives Coco yummy treats. Coco wags her tail and licks Jonathan's face. Jonathan hugs Coco tight. Best friends forever, Jonathan and Coco are very happy.

Step 4: Look up information about something learned in class.

Allow the children to ask for more information about something they have learned. You might try Claude.AI this time so that they see that there are multiple AIs out there.

My information example is: "Tell me more about George Washington and include something fun while writing at the first grade level."

George Washington was the first president of the United States. He was a very important man who helped start our country.

George Washington was born a long time ago in 1732. He lived in a place called Virginia. When he was young, America was not its own country yet. It belonged to England, which is far away across the ocean.

George Washington was very tall and strong. He had to fight in a big war to help America become free from England. This war was called the Revolutionary War. George was the leader of the American army. He was very brave and helped his soldiers win the war.

After the war was over, the people in America needed to pick their first president. They all wanted George Washington because he was such a good leader. He became president in 1789 and helped make the rules for how our country should work.

Here's something fun about George Washington - he had wooden teeth! Well, not really wooden, but people used to think that. His teeth were actually made from things like cow teeth, hippo teeth, and even gold! He lost most of his real teeth when he got older, so he had to wear fake ones. The fake teeth made it hard for him to talk and eat sometimes.

George Washington was also very good at riding horses. He loved animals and had lots of pets at his home called Mount Vernon. He even had a pet parrot!

We remember George Washington every February on Presidents Day. His face is on the dollar bill and the quarter coin. We call him the "Father of Our Country" because he helped America become the great nation it is today.

This is an effective way to introduce AI to first-graders. I anticipate that they will generate more image ideas and stories for AI to create throughout the school year.