If you’re a middle school science teacher, you’re probably no stranger to the endless lesson planning, grading, and classroom management that comes with the territory. And now the world has decided to add AI to complicate things?! Well, I’m here to tell you that adapting to a world where AI is useful in the classroom actually doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it sounds. There are exciting ways to incorporate AI tools into your science lessons that require minimal planning and effort. Want to hear more about fun AI activities for students? Keep reading!
AI can be a great way to introduce students to critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and real-world applications of technology. Let me be the first to tell you – AI isn’t going anywhere. So, part of our role as teachers now includes helping students learn to use AI productively. Instead of just letting students ask AI for answers, they can use it as a tool to enhance their learning and challenge their understanding. In this blog, I’d love to show you some of my ideas for making this happen for your students!
Before we dive into these fun AI activities for students, don’t forget to check out an amazing resource called Kidgeni for safe and engaging AI tools that can be used in the classroom. Use my Kidgeni discount code LANEY for 20% off credits!
Now, let’s talk lesson plans, educational AI activities, and engaging ways to bring AI into your science classroom!
I want to give you a few ideas for using AI in your regular lesson planning. These activities can be adapted to just about any unit of your choice, take minimal planning, and could be the breath of fresh air that your plans need.
If you’re looking for more general advice about using AI in education, read my blog on Tips for Using AI as a Science Teacher.
Ask students to use an AI text generator like Kidgeni or ChatGPT to create a short science fiction story based on a specific topic they are studying. Then, in small groups, instruct students to revise the story by identifying areas where the AI bot made errors, lacked creativity, or used vague language. Their goal is to edit and improve the AI-generated story to make it more engaging and scientifically accurate. Create specific requirements such as adding certain vocabulary terms.
Pro Tip: Have each group read their revised story to the class. Then have the class vote on which story was their favorite. Doing so reiterates important concepts and demonstrates the ways that individual creativity can make content sound much more interesting!
Students ask an AI chatbot to generate a Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) response on a specific area of science, but they must request that the wildly intelligent robot insert FIVE ERRORS in the response (without identifying where they are). Students then work to identify the mistakes and make corrections.
Pro Tip: Have students generate the original response in pairs, but complete the corrections separately. Then have partners share with each other and discuss the differences in the changes they made.
If you think your students aren’t aware of AI, you should try talking to them about it. One of our roles as science teachers is to help students think scientifically about things that are happening in the world around us. At the beginning of the year, what better way to build rapport and trust, encourage positive student interactions, and spark interest in different applications of science in the real world than to have an AI debate!
Choose a real-world issue like machine learning in medicine, facial recognition technology, or AI’s ethical use in social media. Give students time to independently use an AI bot to generate arguments for and against the issue. After reviewing the AI’s responses, have students build their own arguments for or against the issue. Finally, organize students into two groups – for vs. against – and conduct a structured class debate.
Pro Tip: If your class can’t quite handle a whole group debate (for example, if you think it will turn into just a few students doing all of the debating), form small groups with members from each team, then have a mini debate for each group in front of the rest of the class. You can even have groups debate sometime in the future so that they have something to look forward to – maybe at the end of a unit!
Before conducting an experiment, have students ask an AI chatbot to predict the results based on the variables provided. Then, after performing the experiment, ask students to write a reflection comparing the actual results with AI’s prediction and analyze any similarities and/or discrepancies.
When students are presented with an activity that involves creativity or art, certain students will be thrilled, while others would rather avoid using their creative side at all costs. Ask students to create a comic to explain a science concept. Then, if they would like, have students use an AI image generator like Kidgeni (use my Kidgeni discount code LANEY for 20% off credits!) to create characters and scenes. Students can copy and paste images onto Google Slides for easy organization of the comic!
Combines science, storytelling, and creativity, but doesn’t limit students based on their drawing abilities (thanks, Kidgeni!)
Helps students visualize complex concepts
Reinforces comprehension through humor and narrative
Alright, I’ll admit, this one isn’t really much of an activity, but more so a fun experiment to help students have some fun with AI. Use it if you have a little extra time one week or are looking for a short closing activity one day.
Students can use AI platforms like Kidgeni and ChatGPT to generate stories or simple back and forth conversations between scientists and other historical figures or celebrities. For example, a student could use AI to create a dialogue between Galileo and Abraham Lincoln, or perhaps between Freddie Mercury and Marie Curie. The possibilities are endless. Have students read the stories to their class if time allows. It’s both fun and educational to hear how famous people may discuss their contributions to society with one another. This short experiment also allows students to explore how AI interprets historical events and compare them with real-world scenarios.
Loving these fun AI activities for students? Great! But perhaps you’re looking for something tailored to a certain science unit. You’re in the right place! I have created a variety of AI activities that can be easily incorporated in your science instruction without sacrificing rigor. Check out a few of my resources here:
As adults, we know that AI can be a helpful tool. For students, figuring our how to use AI appropriately is a learning process that is just beginning. No matter the subject area you teach, AI can probably be incorporated in engaging ways that expose students to its proper usage.
I hope that the fun AI activities for students I explained help you turn AI technology into a learning tool in your classroom rather than a shortcut for easy answers. Whether through writing prompts, debating, experimenting, or creating, AI can enhance the learning experience of today’s students in new ways.
If you’re ready to take your AI education to the next level, don’t forget to check out Kidgeni, and use my Kidgeni discount code LANEY for 20% off credits!
