Computing+AI
Grades 6–8 lessons that develop AI literacy, computational thinking, and coding skills through AI-assisted and agentic coding.
Unit 0: Optional Block Coding Foundations
This optional unit gives students a short bridge into block-based coding before they begin the main Computing+AI sequence. It is intended for classes that need extra practice with core ideas such as sequences, events, loops, variables, conditionals, functions, and debugging. The activities should be adapted for the CreatiCode environment, while selected ACT3 Scratch materials can be used as reference versions until CreatiCode-specific lesson plans and starter projects are finalized.
Learning Objectives
- Navigate a block-based coding environment.
- Use sequences, events, and loops to control program behavior.
- Use variables, conditionals, and functions in simple interactive projects.
- Debug code by predicting, running, observing, and revising.
Lesson 0.1: Getting Around CreatiCode
Optional bridge lesson for students who need an introduction to the CreatiCode workspace, sprites or objects, the stage or scene, running code, saving work, and remixing projects.
50 minutesLesson 0.2: Sequence and Events
Students review how a program runs commands in order and how events start actions. The CreatiCode version should use simple sprites or objects and start/click/key events.
50 minutesLesson 0.3: Loops and Animation
Students use repeated actions to create movement or animation in CreatiCode. This lesson can adapt ACT3's loops and animation activities while replacing Scratch-specific steps with CreatiCode blocks.
50 minutesLesson 0.4: Variables and User Input
Students create and update variables, store user input, and display changing values in a simple CreatiCode project.
50 minutesLesson 0.5: Conditionals and Functions
Students use if/then logic and reusable functions or custom blocks to organize behavior in an interactive CreatiCode project.
50 minutesUnit 1: Introduction
Lesson 1.1: Getting Started with CreatiCode
Lesson 1.2: Build Your First Scene
Lesson 1.3: Build Your First Game
Lesson 1.4: Intro to AI & CreatiCode
Basic AI concepts (generative vs. predictive), overview of CreatiCode features and AI blocks/tools.
50 minutesUnit 2: AI-Assisted Creation
Lesson 2.1: Searching/Generating Backdrops with AI
How to search for AI-based backdrops and generate new ones using clear prompts.
50 minutesLesson 2.2: Searching/Generating Sprites with AI
Lesson 2.3: Project: “Journey of a Waterdrop”
Combining AI backdrops and sprites to create a story or illustration; using AI image editing tools to fix issues or generate variations.
100 minutesLesson 2.4: Ethics Discussion: AI-generated Images
Discuss key ethics questions such as copyright and inappropriate contents generated by AI
50 minutesLesson 2.5: Learning with CreatiCode XO
Lesson 2.6: Debugging with CreatiCode XO
Lesson 2.7: Using XO to Generate Quizzes
Employing XO to generate coding quizzes and verify answers.
50 minutesOptional 1: Using XO for Project Design
Optional 2: Getting Feedback from XO
Lesson 2.8: Generative AI Tools Assessment
Recapping core AI tool usage and assessing prompt writing skills with a short assessment covering both image generation and XO usage.
50 minutesUnit 3: Text-Based AI Apps
Lesson 3.1: Introduction to the ChatGPT Block
How the ChatGPT block functions in CreatiCode, including parameters like prompt, temperature, and output variable. Activity: Test different parameter settings to observe effects on AI outputs.
50 minutesLesson 3.2: A Simple “Ask-Me-Anything” App
Creating a basic text-based conversation flow (user input → ChatGPT → sprite “says” response). Activity: Wire up a simple “ask and wait” block to ChatGPT and display the response in a speech bubble.
50 minutesLesson 3.3: A “Chat with Einstein” App
Prompting ChatGPT to “role-play” as Einstein, introducing role prompts.
50 minutesLesson 3.4: An Improved Chat App
Enhancing chat functionality with streaming responses and refined prompt techniques.
50 minutesLesson 3.5: An MBTI Personality Test App
Lesson 3.6: Effective Prompting with the TIRE Method
Learning the T.I.R.E. method for effective prompting and conducting an assessment.
70 minutesOptional 1: “Guess a Historical Figure” Game
Adjusting prompts to change an app’s logic for a guessing game.
50 minutesLesson 3.7: AI-based Story Writer
Leveraging ChatGPT for creative text generation, using a non-chat user interface
50 minutesLesson 3.8: A Quiz Writer
Optional 2: An AI Book Writer
Optional 3: A Cloze Game
Creating complex prompts to produce fill-in-the-blank texts.
70 minutesOptional 4: 2 Chatbots Debating Each Other
Setting up two AIs to engage in debate with each other.
70 minutesOptional 5: Who’s the Spy?
Using ChatGPT as a reasoning engine to drive an interactive detective game.
80 minutesLesson 3.9: Group Project A
Apply learned prompting techniques and app development skills to build a new app.
200 minutesUnit 4: Voice & Vision AI Apps
Lesson 4.1: Speech to Text Recognition
Converting spoken words from a microphone into text.
75 minutesLesson 4.2: Text to Speech Synthesis
Lesson 4.3: Talk to an AI Sprite
Combining speech-to-text with ChatGPT and optional text-to-speech.
50 minutesLesson 4.4: AI Voice Translator
Integrating speech-to-text with ChatGPT and adding optional text-to-speech.
50 minutesLesson 4.5: Vision-based AI Assistant
Developing a multi-modal AI that can interpret camera images.
80 minutesLesson 4.6: Introduction to AI Motion Sensor
Lesson 4.7: Bouncing Ball with Motion Sensor
Using motion input to move sprites or detect collisions.
50 minutesOptional 1: AI for Hand Tracking
Optional 2: Fitness Game Using Body Pose
Designing a game using body pose input (for example, squatting to move a sprite).
90 minutesLesson 4.8: Group Project B
Apply all learned lessons to create a new app, particularly utilizing voice or vision-based AI capabilities.
200 minutesUnit 5A: Advanced AI Apps
Lesson 5A.1: Text Summarization: Product Review
Summarizing or analyzing large blocks of text (e.g., product reviews) using ChatGPT.
70 minutesLesson 5A.2: Text Summarization: Web Search
Using the web search block to fetch snippets and then summarizing them with ChatGPT.
60 minutesLesson 5A.3: Tool Use: Math Calculations
Instructing ChatGPT to perform math calculations using a calculator tool.
65 minutesLesson 5A.4: Tool Use: Web Search
Optional 1: Tool Use: An AI-Powered Calendar Assistant
Enable LLM to utilize Google Sheets as storage for calendar events
120 minutesOptional 2: A QA Bot Using Semantic Search (RAG)
Building or importing a knowledge base and embedding/indexing it for semantic retrieval.
110 minutesOptional 3: Image Analysis: Number Recognition
Scanning image data block by block to classify shapes.
110 minutesLesson 5A.5: Group Project C
Leveraging advanced LLM capabilities (text processing/summarization, reasoning, tool use, semantic search) to develop a new app.
200 minutesUnit 5B: Agentic Coding Tools
Lesson 5B.1: Introduction to Agentic Coding
Lesson 5B.2: Debugging with XO Agent's Help
Lesson 5B.3: Getting Started with the Agentic Coding Studio
Explain how the studio works and complete a first challenge step by step
45 minutesLesson 5B.4: Project A: Cookie Clicker Game
Work on a challenge in the studio
45 minutesLesson 5B.5: Project B: Whack-a-Mole Game
Work on a challenge in the studio
90 minutesLesson 5B.6: Project C: Flappy Bird Game
Work on a challenge in the studio
90 minutesLesson 5B.7: Project D: Tower Defense Game
Work on a challenge in the studio
90 minutesLesson 5B.8: Project E: Space Shooter Game
Work on a challenge in the studio
90 minutes