This virtual two-session professional development helps K–12 educators integrate computer science (CS) into their existing curriculum through interactive storytelling and AI-supported lesson design. Teachers explore how students can create and share projects such as choose-your-own-adventure stories, escape room games, and app-style experiences that combine writing, visuals, audio, and interactivity to deepen content learning across subjects.
Educators begin by experiencing a student-facing project and then use the Elementari AI lesson generator to create a standards-aligned lesson tailored to their grade level, topic, and instructional time. Each lesson includes a structured student writing organizer, built-in scaffolds (such as sentence starters and word banks), and assessment tools to support multilingual learners and diverse student needs. In the second session, teachers test and refine their lessons through peer feedback. By the end they will leave with a tested, classroom-ready lesson and a free upgrade to use Elementari will all their students.
This virtual 2-day (6-hour) professional development helps K–12 educators integrate computer science (CS) and artificial intelligence (AI) into their existing curriculum through interactive, cross-curricular lesson design. Using Elementari, teachers design lessons where students create and publish projects that connect coding with writing, storytelling, and content learning. The focus is on making CS integration practical, accessible, and aligned to diverse student needs, including multilingual learners.
By the end of the PD, educators will create a tested, classroom-ready Elementari lesson. Each lesson includes a standards-aligned plan, a student writing organizer with built-in scaffolds (such as sentence starters and word banks), assessment tools, and a clear strategy for classroom implementation.
Session 1: Experience Learning and Generate a Classroom Lesson
Educators begin by working through a guided Elementari activity from a student perspective. This experience demonstrates how coding supports writing and storytelling while introducing key CS concepts such as sequencing, events, functions, interactivity, and debugging.
Participants then explore how students create interactive projects such as choose-your-own-adventure stories, escape room games, and app-style experiences. These projects combine writing and coding with built-in supports such as structured organizers, scaffolded prompts, illustration libraries, and options for recorded voiceovers, music, sound effects, and multiple story paths. They will also review a range of student published projects from multilingual learners to students with diverse needs to see how all students can succeed and express themselves through writing and coding.
In the second half of the session, educators transition from learner to designer. Using the Elementari AI lesson generator, they input their grade level, topic, and instructional time. The tool generates a complete lesson, including writing supports, organizers, assessment materials, and standards alignment.
Session 2: Test, Refine, and Plan for Implementation
Educators review and analyze their AI-generated lessons, focusing on clarity, alignment, and accessibility. They evaluate how effectively the lesson supports student writing, content learning, and differentiation, and identify areas for refinement.
Participants also examine how the AI lesson generator works, including prompting strategies, how structured lesson components are generated, and how to evaluate outputs for accuracy, bias, and alignment to instructional goals.
Through peer feedback and collaborative testing, educators revise their lessons and strengthen scaffolds, differentiation, and student supports. They also explore classroom strategies such as peer feedback routines, group roles, and collaborative structures.
The session concludes with implementation planning. Educators determine where the lesson fits within their curriculum, how it will be delivered, and how it will support their students. Teachers leave with a tested, classroom-ready lesson and a clear plan for implementation.
