MAT-SA AI Explorers
Syllabus · Grades 4 to 7

AI Explorers

A 12-week journey from the first idea of thinking machines to today's chatbots. Learners find out how AI works, use it safely, check what it tells them like a quality inspector, and build a small solution to a real problem.

Course outline

Blended: online lesson + weekly workshop
Start 00 Week 1

Start here

How the course works, the Explorer safety pledge, and a short starting check.

Learners will be able to
  • Know how to move around the course and find your next activity
  • Agree to the Explorer safety pledge
  • Complete the baseline check so we can measure your progress
Welcome, Explorer · 10 minStarting check · 20 min
Module 01 Weeks 1 to 2

The birth and evolution of AI

From Alan Turing's question in 1950 to today's chatbots: the key moments in the story of AI.

Learners will be able to
  • Explain what artificial intelligence means
  • Place key AI milestones in the right order
  • Tell real AI history apart from science fiction
From a question to a chatbot · 15 minModule 1 check · 8 minPut AI history in order · 10 min Understand
Module 02 Weeks 2 to 3

How AI actually works

Data, patterns, training and predictions, and why AI sometimes gets things wrong.

Learners will be able to
  • Explain data, training and prediction in your own words
  • Tell ordinary programs apart from AI that learns
  • Explain why AI makes mistakes, including made-up answers
Learning from examples · 15 minModule 2 check · 8 minAI or ordinary program? · 10 min Understand
Module 03 Week 4

Generative AI and good prompts

What generative AI can make, how to ask clear questions, and how to use AI to learn without letting it do the learning.

Learners will be able to
  • Name the kinds of content generative AI can create
  • Improve a weak prompt using Task, Context, Format and Check
  • Explain how to use AI as a study helper honestly
Asking AI clear questions · 15 minModule 3 check · 8 minPrompt makeover · 10 min Understand
Module 04 Weeks 5 to 6

Cybersecurity and digital citizenship

Strong passwords, phishing and scams, deepfakes, privacy, your digital footprint, and what to do about cyberbullying.

Learners will be able to
  • Create a strong passphrase and explain why it is strong
  • Spot at least 4 warning signs of a phishing message
  • Explain deepfakes and digital footprints
  • Know the Stop, Block, Save, Tell steps
Staying safe online · 20 minModule 4 check · 8 minSpot the phishing signs · 12 min Protect
Module 05 Weeks 7 to 8

AI, quality and critical thinking

Think like a quality inspector: set acceptance criteria, find defects in AI answers, find the root cause, and improve the result.

Learners will be able to
  • Write acceptance criteria for a piece of work
  • Find and classify defects in an AI answer
  • Use 5 Whys to find a root cause
  • Improve a result with Plan, Do, Check, Act
Think like a quality inspector · 20 minModule 5 check · 8 minAudit the AI answer · 20 min Verify
Module 06 Week 9

Coding, data and building

Algorithms, sequence, decisions and loops; reading simple data; testing and debugging; and the limits of AI-written code.

Learners will be able to
  • Write an algorithm with sequence, a decision and a loop
  • Read a simple chart and describe a pattern
  • Test and debug a small program
  • Explain why AI-written code must be tested
Algorithms, data and testing · 15 minModule 6 check · 8 minBuild the password checker · 10 min Build
Module 07 Week 10

AI in the real world

How AI is used in health, farming, factories and car manufacturing, why people stay in charge, and the careers it creates.

Learners will be able to
  • Give an example of AI in health, farming and manufacturing
  • Explain why human oversight is needed
  • Name three careers connected to AI
Where AI is already working · 15 minModule 7 check · 8 minWhere does it belong? · 10 min Build
Module 08 Weeks 11 to 12

Innovation challenge

Use everything you have learned to design, test and present a solution to a real problem at school or in the community.

Learners will be able to
  • Define a real problem and who it affects
  • Design a solution that uses AI or technology responsibly
  • Test it against acceptance criteria and improve it
  • Present it clearly, including its limits and safeguards
From problem to prototype · 15 minModule 8 check · 8 minTeam project and showcase · 180 min Build
Finish End Week 12

Finish line

The final check. It uses the same questions as the starting check, so you can see how much you have grown.

Learners will be able to
  • Complete the final check on your own
  • Compare your result with your starting check
Final check · 20 min