MAT-SA AI Explorers
Syllabus · Grades R to 3

Junior Explorers

Picture stories, games and sorting activities that introduce young learners to clever machines, how computers learn, giving clear instructions and staying safe online. Every screen can be read aloud.

Course outline

Blended: online lesson + weekly workshop
Start 00 Week 1

Start here

Meet the Explorers, learn the safety promise, and do a short starting game.

Learners will be able to
  • Log in with help
  • Say the Explorer safety promise
  • Complete the starting game
Hello, Explorer! · 10 minStarting game · 10 min
Module 01 Weeks 1 to 2

Clever machines, then and now

A story of people who dreamed of thinking machines, and the real clever machines we use today.

Learners will be able to
  • Name some machines we use every day
  • Tell the difference between real machines and pretend movie robots
Clever machines · 10 minModule 1 check · 5 minReal or pretend? · 10 min Understand
Module 02 Weeks 2 to 3

How computers learn

Computers learn from lots of examples, just like we do.

Learners will be able to
  • Explain that computers learn from examples
  • Sort examples into groups to 'teach' a computer
Learning from examples · 10 minModule 2 check · 5 minTeach the computer · 10 min Understand
Module 03 Week 4

Giving clear instructions

Computers and robots do exactly what we say, so instructions must be clear and in the right order.

Learners will be able to
  • Give step-by-step instructions
  • Put steps in the right order
Robots follow steps · 10 minModule 3 check · 5 minMake a sandwich · 10 min Understand
Module 04 Weeks 5 to 6

Keeping safe online

Some things we keep private. We never talk to strangers online, and we always tell a grown-up.

Learners will be able to
  • Know which information to keep private
  • Know to tell a trusted grown-up
  • Know that passwords are secret
Safe and smart online · 10 minModule 4 check · 5 minSafe to share? · 10 min Protect
Module 05 Weeks 7 to 8

Is it true? Checking together

Not everything we see or hear is true. We check with books and grown-ups.

Learners will be able to
  • Ask 'How do we know?'
  • Check a fact with a book or a grown-up
  • Know that computers can be wrong
How do we know? · 10 minModule 5 check · 5 minTrue or not true? · 10 min Verify
Module 06 Week 9

Step-by-step games

Coding without a computer: arrows, steps and fixing mistakes.

Learners will be able to
  • Follow and create step-by-step instructions
  • Find and fix a mistake in the steps
Steps and bugs · 10 minModule 6 check · 5 minWash your hands · 10 min Build
Module 07 Week 10

Helpers who use technology

Nurses, farmers and mechanics all use technology to help people.

Learners will be able to
  • Name helpers who use technology
  • Say what they use it for
  • Think about a job they might like one day
Technology helpers · 10 minModule 7 check · 5 minWho uses this? · 10 min Build
Module 08 Weeks 11 to 12

Show and tell

Share what you learned: how computers learn, how to stay safe and how to check.

Learners will be able to
  • Share one thing about how computers learn
  • Share one safety rule
  • Speak clearly to the group
Get ready to share · 10 minShow and tell · 40 min Build
Finish End Week 12

Finish line

The final game, with the same questions as the starting game.

Learners will be able to
  • Play the final game
  • See how much you have grown
Final game · 10 min