Junior Adventures in AI: Exploring Artificial Intelligence

This course aims to introduce 3rd-grade students to the fascinating world of artificial intelligence in an age-appropriate, engaging, and enjoyable manner. By familiarizing students with AI tools and concepts, they can better understand the increasingly digital world around them and develop essential skills for the future. Through hands-on activities, games, creative exercises, and a fun final project, students will be encouraged to think critically and creatively about AI and its potential while fostering collaboration and cultivating problem-solving skills.

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Fun and Simple Final Project: "AI Superheroes"
For the final project, students will work in teams to create a short comic strip featuring AI-powered superheroes. They will use ChatGPT to help generate ideas, storylines, and character backgrounds, incorporating their own creativity and imagination. They will use Midjourney to generate graphics to enrich their final projects. Students can draw their own illustrations or use AI-powered tools like NVIDIA Canvas for creating scenes. The comic strip should have 3-5 panels and include a beginning, middle, and end. Students will present their comic strips to the class and explain how they incorporated AI tools in their project.





Course Outline:
Session 1: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence 
  • What is Artificial Intelligence?
  • Examples of AI in everyday life
  • Simple explanation of how AI works

Session 2: ChatGPT - A Friendly AI Helper 
  • Introduction to ChatGPT
  • A simple demonstration of ChatGPT
  • Hands-on activity: Asking ChatGPT questions

Session 3: Midjourney - Plan Your AI Journey 
  • Introduction to Midjourney
  • A simple demonstration of Midjourney's graphic generating prompt
  • Hands-on activity: Planning a dream vacation using Midjourney

Session 4: AI music
  • Introduction to AI Music tools
  • A simple demonstration of AI music tools
  • Hands-on activity: Make your own music

Session 5: AI in Our Lives 
  • AI voice assistants: Siri and Alexa
    ◦ What they do and how they work
    ◦ Hands-on activity: Asking Siri or Alexa questions
  • AI in games and toys
  • AI in movies and cartoons
  • AI helpers around us

Session 6: Jobs and AI 
  • Simple explanation of how AI can change jobs in the future
  • Exploring future jobs involving AI
  • Group discussion: How can AI help us in our future jobs?

Session 7: Being Responsible with AI 
  • Understanding the importance of using AI responsibly
  • The importance of fairness and kindness in AI
  • Group discussion: How can we make sure AI is used for good?

Session 8: AI Games and Activities 
  • Quick, Draw!
  • AI Dungeon (guided and moderated)
  • Rock, Paper, Scissors with AI
  • Teachable Machine

Session 9: AI-Powered Art with NVIDIA Canvas 
  • Introduction to NVIDIA Canvas
  • Demonstration of how NVIDIA Canvas works
  • Hands-on activity: Creating simple scenes and landscapes with NVIDIA Canvas
  • Sharing and discussing students' creations

Session 10: Introduction to the Final Project - "AI Superheroes" 
  • Explaining the final project concept and guidelines
  • Forming teams and brainstorming ideas
  • Introduction to AI tools for the project, such as ChatGPT and NVIDIA Canvas

Session 11: Working on the Final Project 
  • Teams work on their AI superhero comic strips using AI tools
  • Teacher supervision and guidance as needed
  • Finalizing comic strips and preparing for presentations

Session 12: Final Project Presentations and Reflection 
  • Studelnts present their AI superhero comic strips to the class
  • Group discussion on the projects and the overall learning experience
  • Reflecting on the fun and exciting things AI can do
  • Course summary and closing thoughts