AI Education for Young Children (PreK-2): Nurturing Curious and Creative Thinkers

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Journal of Technology-Integrated Lessons and Teaching Cover. Volume 6, Issue 1, 2026.
Lesson PDF Lesson DOCX Presentation Questions Rubric
Published: Jun 19, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13001/jtilt.v5i1.10321
Keywords:
AI Education, Early Childhood Education, AI4K12

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Sohheon Yang
Indiana University
Anne Winiger
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5654-234X

Abstract

This curriculum introduces PreK-2 students to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to foster curiosity, agency, and ethical awareness. Structured around the AI4K12 framework, the 12 themed lessons cover four phases: 1) digital technology, 2) representation and reasoning, 3) natural interaction and perception, and 4) ethics and societal impact. Individual activities are designed to span 20-30 minutes. Students engage with various web tools, drawing supplies, and screen-free robots. The curriculum cultivates curiosity and ethical awareness of AI. Student questions, discussions, and ideas evidence learning. Students also create their own AI. Assessment occurs through classroom observation, conversation, and student-made artifacts.

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How to Cite
Yang, S., & Winiger, A. (2026). AI Education for Young Children (PreK-2): Nurturing Curious and Creative Thinkers. Journal of Technology-Integrated Lessons and Teaching, 5(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.13001/jtilt.v5i1.10321
Issue
Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026): Journal of Technology-Integrated Lessons and Teaching
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Article
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Author Biographies

Sohheon Yang, Indiana University

Sohheon Yang is a Ph.D. candidate at Indiana University specializing in Instructional Systems Technology. Her teaching practice focuses on early childhood and teacher education, with a particular emphasis on technology integration. Recently, she has facilitated numerous workshops for pre- and in-service teachers on AI education. Her teaching and research aim to foster student/teacher agency.

Anne Winiger

Anne Winiger is an experienced kindergarten teacher in the Midwestern U.S. with more than 25 years of classroom experience. She possesses expertise across all early learning standards, including English Language Arts, literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies. She values developing students’ foundational skills through a playful and ethical learning process.