Lesson 1 - What is AI?
Overview
Estimated Time (Without optional slide): 45 minutes
Learning Objective (SMART Goal):
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to define AI, recognize where it is used in daily life, and understand that AI learns from human input and patterns in order to begin thinking critically about AI-generated content.
Materials Needed:
✔ Once Upon a Bot (for AI story generation)
✔ HeyGen Video (teacher-created AI-translated video)
✔ Lesson 1 Presentation
✔ Whiteboard & Markers (for discussion and brainstorming)
✔ Optional: Laptops/Tablets (if teachers choose to extend activities or allow AI exploration)
Step 1
HOOK
Spot the Difference – AI-Generated Video
The hook introduces students to AI-generated content through a video translation activity, sparking curiosity about how AI modifies information. They watch a teacher-created or AI-translated video where the voice, lip-syncing, or accent may seem "off" and are asked to identify what feels unnatural. This engaging start sets the stage for the mini unit, encouraging students to question AI’s role in content creation and think critically about how AI alters information without true understanding.
Teacher Tip:
If you are bilingual, film yourself in another language and translate it using HeyGen. If not, you can record a student who speaks another language, making the activity more relatable.
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You could also use the provided example video for less preparation; however, this might make it harder for students to guess since they won’t be familiar with the original voice and accent for comparison.
​ For a detailed guide on how to use HeyGen, click here:
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Show a video of your translated video—but note that the original was in another language (e.g., German).
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Ask students: "Can you guess what is wrong with this video?"
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Give them time to observe and think before discussing.
Make sure to cut off the HeyGen logo if possible, to make it less obvious.
4. Show the original video (the one without AI translation).
5. Think-Pair-Share:What changed between the two videos?Why do they think this happened?
6. Summarize their findings and explain that AI can modify content in many ways, such as translating videos, generating text, or creating images.
Optional Discussion Questions
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Have you ever seen a video where something felt "off"?
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How could this AI translator help us in everyday life? (communication with people that speak other languages!)
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Can AI think like a human?
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Why do you think people might trust AI content too quickly?
Step 2
Main Part
This lesson serves as a simple introduction to AI, giving students a basic understanding of what AI is and where they encounter it in daily life. The presentation is detailed and fully scripted so that any teacher can use it, but also includes a link for personal adaptation to fit different classrooms.
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The lesson is primarily teacher-centered to ensure a time-efficient approach, making it easy to integrate into a busy curriculum. However, it can be adapted for a more student-centered experience by:
✔ Letting students create their own AI-generated story instead of just observing an example.
✔ Encouraging more interaction with ChatGPT, allowing students to ask questions directly.
✔ Including partner or group discussions to encourage deeper thinking.
✔ Taking advantage of the suggested adaptations to fit different student needs and classroom setups.
It’s important to note that this is just a starting point—it’s not meant to explain how AI works in depth or dive into complex discussions. Instead, it provides students with a foundation they can build on in later lessons as they explore AI tools and begin to think more critically about AI’s role in the world.
Presentation slides & Explanation
​It is better to view the presentation through the Canva link, as links, animations, and videos do not work in the PDF.
​Transition from the video activity into the presentation by asking, "What was wrong with the video? How did AI change it?" Explain that today’s lesson will introduce AI, what it is, and how it works. (Do not show this slide before the Video activity so keep the surprise)
Ask students to guess what AI means before revealing the full term Artificial Intelligence. Encourage them to break it down—what does "artificial" mean? What does "intelligence" mean?
​Explain that AI is called ‘artificial’ because it is not real intelligence—it is made by humans. AI can help with many tasks, but it does not think on its own like people do.
​Activate prior knowledge by asking students what they already know about AI. Let them brainstorm and share their ideas, encouraging them to think beyond just ChatGPT.
​Read the definition aloud and explain that today’s lesson will explore what AI is and what it can do. Use simple language and let students ask questions if anything is unclear.
Provide a quick roadmap of the lesson so students know what to expect. Let them know they will learn important AI vocabulary, see examples, and try out an AI tool together.
Introduce the first two words:
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Prompt (the instruction given to AI). Example: When you ask ChatGPT a question, that is a prompt!
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AI Tool (a program that uses AI). Example: I used an AI tool to create the video we watched earlier!
Introduce the next two words:
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Generate (AI creates something new). Example: An AI tool can generate a story, picture, or music!
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Pattern (AI follows repeated actions to make guesses). Example: We will explore patterns later!
Teacher Tip: Point out the vocabulary on the display wall if used so students know where to find these words later.
​Ask students to guess how AI learns and where it gets information from. Let them discuss before moving to the next slide for the answer.
​Reveal that AI gets information from humans—either from the internet or from what programmers teach it. Emphasize that without human input, AI wouldn’t know anything!
​Explain that AI learns by recognizing patterns in human behavior and data. Use the sky color example to illustrate how AI might repeat incorrect information if enough people say it’s true.
​Ask, "Are humans always correct?" (No!) Then ask, "So is AI always correct?" (No!) Discuss why AI mistakes happen and why we should always check AI-generated information.
​Ask students if they have ever used AI without realizing it. Let them make guesses before explaining that AI is part of many everyday tools. Encourage students to list AI tools they use daily (e.g., ChatGPT, voice assistants, YouTube, online games, Alexa, Siri, quizzes). Write their answers on the board.
​Many people only think of AI as chatbots, but there are so many different AI tools! Explain that AI can also generate pictures, compose music, and recommend content.
​Show how AI can generate stories based on prompts. Introduce Once Upon a Bot, a tool that can create picture books (free version: 3 stories per week).
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Go to OnceUponABook:
​Ask students to come up with a fun story idea and enter it into Once Upon a Bot. Encourage them to visualize the story in their heads first, then compare it to what AI generates.
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Discuss the importance of giving clear instructions (prompts) to AI. Ask students: Did the AI story match what you imagined? Why or why not?
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​Announce that in the next AI lessons, students will use different AI tools to create their own stories. Let them know they will experiment with chatbots, image generators, and more!
-> If this is the only time given this project and lesson could be ended here as a brief introduction to AI.
​Reveal that teachers also use AI—it can help them find resources, create quizzes, or generate images. If possible, refer to any AI-generated images used in past lessons to surprise students!
​Explain that AI is a massive field, but today we will focus on just one small part. Introduce an example of how AI is used to generate books.
​End the lesson by encouraging students to think critically about AI. Ask, "Do you think AI always gives the right answer?" and "How can we make sure AI helps us instead of misguiding us?"
Introduce Artie the Robot as a fun and friendly AI character that will appear throughout the AI lessons. Artie helps make learning about AI more engaging and can be a visual reminder of AI concepts.
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💡 Teacher Tip: If teachers want to add more slides, activities, or worksheets, Artie can be copied into Canva presentations and materials to keep the AI theme consistent and engaging. This allows for easy customization while maintaining a structured learning experience.
Optional:
Will take a more time due to getting laptops, logging in, explaining the instructions etc.
If school policy allows, this activity gives students hands-on experience with AI chatbots. Since ChatGPT is officially for ages 13+, some schools may restrict access, but if permitted, here’s how it can be safely controlled in the classroom:
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Alternative Approach: If individual access isn’t possible, the teacher can use a projector to demonstrate ChatGPT by entering example prompts as a class.
Final Word
And There You Go!
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You just taught your first AI lesson and showed your students that you, as a teacher, can introduce AI with minimal preparation!
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Maybe the AI fever has caught you, and you're excited to continue this project—or perhaps you're inspired to dive deeper into AI education and become an expert yourself.
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If you’re curious to explore more, check out the further resources section for articles, tools, and guides to help you stay informed about the role of AI in education. The future is here—let’s make sure our students are ready for it!