👩‍🏫 How to Explain by Age Group

• Elementary (K–5)

  • “Input is what you give to the computer to get an answer, like asking a question or giving an instruction.”

• Middle School (6–8)

  • “An input is the starting information that AI uses to figure something out or give a result. It can be words, pictures, numbers, or more.”

• High School (9–12)

  • "Input refers to any data or prompt given to an AI model. The model processes this input to generate predictions, answers, or actions.”

🚀 Classroom Expeditions

Mini-journeys into AI thinking.

• Elementary (K–5)

  • Have students give the teacher step-by-step instructions to make a sandwich, then follow them exactly. What happens when a step is missing or unclear? The instructions are the input. If the input isn’t clear, the output won’t be right either.

• Middle School (6–8)

  • Let students type different questions or phrases into a chatbot or voice assistant. Compare how the responses change based on the input. AI uses your input to generate its response, tiny changes can shift the whole answer.

• High School (9–12)

  • Have students collect examples of AI-generated content (ads, chatbot replies, AI art) and guess what kind of input might have created each one. Then discuss: how does the input shape what’s produced, and what responsibility does the user have? This flips the script. Students reverse-engineer the input, building awareness of how questions and prompts guide AI outcomes.