Curriculum map
Topics are listed in the order we suggest teaching them. The “Mapping to the big ideas” column links each topic to the big ideas in AI: perception, representation and reasoning, learning, natural interaction, and societal impact.
| Unit | Grades | Mapping to the big ideas | Lesson | Printables | Cece stories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intro to AI What AI is and where students already meet it. |
K–5 | All five, as an overview | Resource collection Flexible | 11 printables | Cece's Big AI Adventure Cece and the Bot That Saved the Garden (Sorta) Cece and the MarketBot Mix-Up |
| Coding Step-by-step thinking: unplugged games, Blockly and first Python. |
2–8 | Representation & Reasoning | Resource collection Flexible | In the lesson files | Cece and the Amazing Botley: The Coding Conundrum Cece and the Curious Case of Code Crunching |
| Machine Learning How machines learn from examples, and what goes wrong with poor data. |
3–5 | Learning | Complete lesson 60 minutes | 17 printables | Cece's Machine Learning Expedition: Full Speed Ahead |
| Neural Networks How layers of simple 'neurons' pass information and learn. |
3–5 | Learning, Representation & Reasoning | Complete lesson 60 minutes | 20 printables | Cece's Robo-Romp Through Neural Networks |
| Facial Recognition How computers compare faces, and the privacy questions that raises. |
3–5 | Perception, Societal Impact | Complete lesson 60 minutes | 12 printables | Cece and the Case of the Misidentified Face |
| AI Ethics & Bias Where unfair results come from, and how to spot biased data. |
3–5 | Societal Impact | Printables and story only | 13 printables | Cece and the Fairness Fiasco |
| AI & Transportation How vehicles and traffic systems sense, predict and decide. |
3–5 | Perception, Societal Impact | Complete lesson 60 minutes | 17 printables | Cece and the Engineering Design Process Cece and Max's Super Duper Smart Transport Plan Cece and the Self-Driving Surprise |
| AI & Environment Using AI to save energy and water in a community. |
3–5 | Societal Impact | Printables and story only | 2 printables | Cece's Big Robot City Plan |
The DEAR Method
The four-step cycle behind every lesson. We developed it so one facilitator with printed materials can teach AI where devices are scarce.
Design
Build the lesson around a question students care about.
Educate
Teach through stories, games and hands-on investigation.
Assess
Check understanding by watching students work, not only by quizzes.
Refine
Use what you saw to improve the next session.
See the method in action in the Facial Recognition lesson, which walks through a full 60-minute session.
Standards
Lesson pages list the standards their teaching guides reference, drawn from the Common Core State Standards, NGSS, the CSTA K–12 Computer Science Standards and the ISTE Standards for Students. Please confirm the alignment for your own curriculum before formal planning.
More for teachers
- Lessons built by our AI Teacher Fellows for math, science, ELA and history.
- Teacher resources: lesson template, discussion guide, family letters and the evaluation toolkit.