Example Projects

Elementary School (Grades 3–5)
Track 1

  • Imagine designing a friendly AI tool that would remind students to walk safely to and from school or their bus stop.
  • Imagine designing an AI tool that would help students find lost items.
  • Create an AI tool that recognizes and tracks kind behaviors using stories, pictures, or role-playing.
  • Build a mock-up or simulation of a robot that recognizes recyclables vs trash.
  • Propose an app that uses AI image recognition to help find and match lost pets with owners.
  • Imagine a reading helper that listens and gives encouragement, correcting pronunciation and flow.

Track 2 - Since most AI tools require users to be 13 years old, the educator would have to do the technical pieces with input from the students.

  • Design an AI tool that would help students find lost items.
    • User Interface for Reporting/Querying
      • Natural Language Input: Students can verbally describe or type details about their lost item.
      • Example: "I lost my blue water bottle, the one with the stickers, probably near the gym after lunch."
    • Structured Data Collection: The AI prompts for key details:
      • Item Type (e.g., backpack, phone, jacket, water bottle)
      • Distinguishing Features (e.g., color, brand, unique markings, stickers)
      • Last Known Location (e.g., classroom, library, gym, specific area)
      • Time Lost (e.g., "this morning," "yesterday afternoon")
      • Student's Contact Information (for notification purposes)
    • Centralized Lost & Found Database:
      • "Lost" Item Log: 
        • Stores all reported lost items with their descriptions and student contact info.
      • "Found" Item Log
        • School staff (or potentially other students) can log items they find, including location found and a detailed description.
        • Images of found items could also be uploaded.
    • Matching Algorithm
      • Uses keyword matching, fuzzy logic, and potentially image recognition (if images are provided for found items) to cross-reference "lost" reports with "found" items.
      • Prioritizes matches based on item type, unique features, and spatial/temporal proximity.
    • Proactive Matching Alerts 
      • If a match is found, the AI immediately notifies the student.
      • Example: "Good news, [Student's Name]! I think I found your blue water bottle! A bottle matching your description was found near the gym entrance this afternoon. Please check with Mrs. Chen in the main office to retrieve it."
    • Search Guidance
      • If no immediate match is found, the AI offers helpful advice.
      • Example: "I haven't found a match for your [item] yet, [Student's Name]. Keep an eye out in your usual spots or try retracing your steps. I'll keep looking and let you know if anything turns up!"
    • Follow-up
      • The AI could periodically check in with the student about the status of their lost item until it's found or marked as unrecoverable.
    • Underlying Technology and Integration:
      • Natural Language Processing (NLP): For understanding student queries and generating friendly responses.
      • Machine Learning (ML): To refine safety risk assessment, improve matching accuracy, and personalize interactions.
      • Cloud Infrastructure: For database hosting, processing power, and scalability.

Middle School (Grades 6–8)
Track 1

  • Propose a system that uses AI to predict when lockers will be in use and reduce hallway congestion.
  • Create a plan for an AI that monitors classroom lights, temperature, and suggests energy-saving tips for schools.
  • Propose an AI assistant to help with social media use and mental health
  • Propose an AI drone that monitors school crossings and suggests safer traffic patterns.
  • Create a plan for AI-assisted bee drones to identify and pollinate plants.
  • Design a concept for a tool that uses text or voice analysis to detect emotions and provide support resources.
  • Develop a prototype or storyboard of an AI that scans messages (anonymized) for bullying and offers de-escalation tips.

Track 2

  • Create an AI tool that determines which snakes or mushrooms are poisonous from images.
  • Develop an algorithm to detect gestures, such as sign language.
  • Create an AI tool that predicts what song a user will listen to based on their listening history.
  • Create an AI tool to design healthier and more economical meal plans for families.

High School (Grades 9–12)
Track 1

  • Propose an AI tool to optimize school bus routes for fuel efficiency, student safety, and shorter commutes.
  • Design a tool to help families find housing within their household budgets.
  • Propose an AI method or tool that could make your school or community safer.

Track 2

  • Sample computing topics using Python: animal sound identification, plant trait identification, material property predictions for construction, energy storage.
  • Design a solution to help local food pantries predict demand, reduce waste, and optimize distribution routes.
  • Build or prototype a chatbot that provides personalized homework help to classmates or younger students using NLP.
  • Use open data to create a predictive model identifying jobs for students or their families.
  • Develop an AI assistant that helps citizens understand local legislation or report community issues more easily.
  • Create an algorithm to better segment arteries in the human body. 
  • Create an algorithm that communicates to the user how much energy is used when prompting an AI. 

Educators

  • Propose an AI tool to develop customized learning plans for students.
  • Propose an AI tool to identify job skills or a “skills report card” for students to go alongside their academic transcript.