Hour of AI: A Free Intro to Artificial Intelligence for Kids

352: The Hour of AI

Code.org has transformed its annual Hour of Code into the Hour of AI, offering a wide variety of free, interactive activities that help students understand artificial intelligence—not just coding. Some of the resources we tried out are:

1. AI Quests

An interactive, story-driven adventure that teaches real-world Artificial Intelligence applications. Meryl tested the natural-disaster quest on flooding and found it highly engaging and educational.

2. Design a Custom Product (Adobe Express)

Students use text prompts inside Adobe Express to design a custom product. A great introduction to generative AI tools—and perfect for creative learners.

3. Two Truths and an AI

A game where students identify real vs. generated images. Available in versions for younger and older students, with multiple difficulty levels.

4. Coding + AI Activities

For students who love programming, the Hour of AI still includes options that blend artificial intelligence concepts with familiar platforms such as:

• Minecraft

• Roblox

• Python

• And more

5. AI Quest Bot (by Magic School)

From the team behind Magic School AI, this quest-style activity lets students answer questions, earn points, and deepen AI understanding.

6. Multiplayer Puzzle Game Creator

A standout for puzzle-lovers and game designers: students can build a multiplayer puzzle game in under an hour.

7. BrainPOP – AI Dilemma: Helper or Hero

Includes a video plus downloadable teacher resources. Some materials note limited-time free educator access.

8. Vibe Coding

Several activities highlight “vibe coding.” Meryl will cover this in depth next week, so stay tuned for a full explanation!

9. Mastering Prompt Engineering

A short activity designed to help students learn how to prompt Artificial Intelligence tools more effectively.

10. How Does AI Work? (Girls Who Code)

A mini-course that goes deeper than a typical one-hour activity—perfect for students wanting more detail on AI fundamentals.

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Want to Go Beyond the Hour of AI?

 

Intro to AI Unit Study (Grades 6–12) — $20

A complete, self-paced unit study covering:

• What AI is

• Ethical concerns

• Responsible use

• How AI systems are trained

• Hands-on activities

• Built-in answer keys

Purchase once—use with the whole family.

Full-Semester AI Class (Grades 7–12)

A 16-week, asynchronous, half-credit high school course with:

• Weekly deadlines

• Virtual discussions

• Tool-based exploration starting around Week 5

• Graded assignments

• A deep dive into how AI works, how to use it responsibly, and how to evaluate tools

Links Mentioned

• Hour of AI

• Intro to AI Unit Study

• Semester-Long AI Class for teens

• FundaFunda Education on Instagram (@fundafundaeducation)

 

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Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.