AI & Technology for Ages 9–12: Program Guide

Children learn how AI works, where it goes wrong and how to use it carefully, always checking what it says. The focus is on thinking, not on screens.

The six modules (ages 9–12)

Module 1: AI Fundamentals

Children explore how AI learns from examples, what goes in and out, and where it can be wrong.

What a child might do. Shows how changing an example can affect classification or output.

Try at home (about 2 minutes). Sort a handful of objects into two groups with your child, then change one object and see if the group changes. Talk about how a computer might get this wrong.

Module 2: AI Tools & Applications

Children learn to pick the right tool for a job and to check what it gives back.

What a child might do. Explains when a supervised AI tool is helpful and when human checks are needed.

Try at home (about 2 minutes). With you beside them, ask an AI tool a simple question you already know the answer to. Discuss what was right, what was missing and when a person should double-check.

Module 3: Prompt Engineering

Children learn that clear instructions give better results, and practise improving them.

What a child might do. Compares prompts and selects a clearer result with reasons.

Try at home (about 2 minutes). Give a person, not a computer, the instruction "draw an animal". Then ask for a clearer one, like "a small brown dog sitting down". Compare the two drawings.

Module 4: Generative AI

Children make something with AI help and fix the mistakes or details that are off.

What a child might do. Creates an age-appropriate output and revises factual or presentation mistakes.

Try at home (about 2 minutes). With you present, ask AI for a short story about a favourite animal. Read it together and find one fact or sentence to correct or improve.

Module 5: AI Research & Reasoning

Children investigate questions with AI and check claims against reliable sources.

What a child might do. Checks claims against provided references and identifies unsupported statements.

Try at home (about 2 minutes). Take one fact an AI tool gives you and check it in a book or a trusted website together. Talk about whether the two agree.

Module 6: Testing & Improving AI Solutions

Children try an AI-assisted idea on sample inputs, notice where it fails and improve it.

What a child might do. Uses sample inputs and feedback to evaluate a supervised non-code AI-assisted result.

Try at home (about 2 minutes). Think of a simple rule, such as "sort these toys by size". Test it on five different toys, see where it breaks and adjust the rule.

Common questions

Does my child need to know coding?

No. Children explore examples and ideas, write clear instructions and test results, without writing code.

Is it safe for children to use AI?

Classes are led by a teacher and children learn to check outputs and sources. At home, we suggest using AI tools together with an adult.

Other programs

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Want your child to practise with a teacher and other children?

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