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Every day, AI becomes more prominent. That means it’s extremely important that schools show students how to appropriately interact with it.

During the edLeader Panel “AI Literacy and Digital Responsibility in K-5: What Educators and Leaders Need to Know,” Steve Dembo, Director of Digital Innovation at Western Springs School District 101 (IL), Dr. Kimberly Robertson, Executive Director of Choice Schools and Programs at Guilford County Schools (NC), and Matthew Bannon, former teacher and current Director of Curriculum at Robo Wunderkind, discussed how schools can bring AI literacy into K-5 classrooms to prepare students for the modern world.

AI literacy is a vital part of digital citizenship. With so many tools just a click away, schools need to help students understand how AI actually works.

By examining how AI generates responses to prompts and its pros and cons, teachers help students protect themselves online, recognize and question information, and use it responsibly. So much of what is online is AI generated—students must have a foundational understanding of how AI works, how it can help, and its downsides, like biases and misinformation.

Introducing AI to Students

Introducing AI to students is both important and simple. Students want hands-on experience, and there are online and offline resources that can provide that. Teachers can also discuss AI responses with students, including how and why the AI responded as it did, what worked and didn’t, and how prompts can be refined for better results.

As students’ understanding grows, schools can integrate AI literacy into existing subjects, further building students’ familiarity with using it responsibly. By making it a part of existing subjects, students develop AI literacy in a variety of areas. For example, AI can be used in math with AI sorting games for data management, science by examining how AI helps study the different fields, and ELA by using vocabulary builders, creating stories, and exploring biases.

With AI changing rapidly, it’s also important for teachers to show their students how AI can get it wrong. They can discuss when to and when not to use AI, exploring its limits. An example of this is having AI perform data processing and then fact-checking results. Another way is by having AI count letters in words and examine why it struggles with that task.

Using a Critical Eye

Students must be critical of AI, not just unquestioningly accept results. They should analyze responses to their prompts and question how AI got those results—a cyclical process starting with looking at the prompt used. Examine if the tool being used is the right one. Look for data or biases that could skew results. Try to induce bias, even. Question if this tool is safe. From there, students can modify their original prompts and repeat the process as needed.

5 Steps to AI Literacy

There are five initial steps for districts to take when implementing a K-5 AI literacy initiative:

1. Determine what AI literacy looks like for the district, including clarifying why it matters and establishing an implementation timeline and framework.
2. Build teacher confidence through ongoing professional development with a focus on pedagogy, ethics, and practical tools.
3. Allow time to scale across the district, including planning and implementing a pilot program, providing training and integration, and a full district rollout.
4. Make sure there is equity in access, support, and curriculum resources across all schools, ensuring inclusivity of groups that are historically marginalized.
5. Celebrate successes and communicate data across schools.

If schools want students to succeed, then AI literacy is a critical piece. By making it a foundational part of K-5 education, schools ensure that students are prepared to face the changing world with confidence and the ability to think for themselves.

Learn more about this edWeb broadcast, AI Literacy and Digital Responsibility in K-5: What Educators and Leaders Need to Know, sponsored by Robo Wunderkind.

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Artificial Intelligence in Education is a free professional learning community where educators can hear from a range of experts, developers, and solution providers on this fast-developing new technology that will have an unprecedented impact on human life.

Robo Wunderkind is a comprehensive STEAM Program designed to help PK–5 schools bring hands-on learning and AI literacy into the classroom without overwhelming teachers. The STEAM solution combines modular robotics, block-based coding, and age-appropriate AI concepts to spark curiosity and deepen student engagement in STEAM.

With the integrated STEAM Hub, teachers can start using the ready-to-go curriculum in less than a day. Professional development ensures they quickly gain confidence and mastery of these concepts. In addition, Robo Wunderkind offers structured implementation planning and ongoing support to make classroom rollout seamless and deliver lasting impact.

Since launching in the U.S. in 2022, Robo Wunderkind has rapidly expanded to over 200 schools, reaching 50,000 students as of September 2025. Recognized as the Best STEM Solution in the 2025 EdTech Awards, Robo Wunderkind leads the way in innovation for early STEAM education. The program aligns with ISTE and CSTA standards for PK–5, ensuring that students receive high-quality, standards-based instruction in STEAM and AI.

Article by Jon Scanlon, based on this edLeader Panel