With Computer Science Education Week just a few weeks away, and the introduction of Hour of AI this year, we wanted to provide educators with resources for running a hands-on coding and AI literacy lesson in the classroom. This activity uses a micro:bit and CreateAI to build a machine learning model that responds to the physical x, y, z accelerometer values of the micro:bit.
This activity can be done in one-hour, requires no experience and is perfect for all ages. At least one micro:bit and USB cable is required. This activity can be enhanced by using a battery pack, or rechargeable wrist strap like CHARGE for micro:bit.
What Is Hour of AI?
Hour of AI is a global initiative designed to help students spend just one hour learning the fundamentals of artificial intelligence. Much like Hour of Code, it focuses on accessible, approachable activities that don’t require previous experience with programming or AI.
Hour of AI is running in conjunction with Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) which runs from December 8-14th, 2025.
The goal of this Hour of AI activity is to help demystify what AI and machine learning is, build a foundational understanding of key AI literacy topics, and empower students to think critically about AI technology shaping their world.
Hour of AI lowers the barrier to entry—teachers don’t need to be AI experts, and students don’t need prior coding knowledge. With a guided activity and the right resources, any classroom can participate.
Lesson Plan Overview
This Hour of AI activity will consist of students using a micro:bit and CreateAI to train their own machine learning model on a waving action. This this process, students will see firsthand how machine learning models can exhibit bias depending on the data it's trained on. Students will then discuss our responsibility as both the creators of the machine learning model and as consumers of AI in general.
This hands-on activity helps to illustrate abstract AI literacy topics in a tangible way.
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Key Takeaways - Why AI Literacy Matters
AI is already present in the tools students use every day: search engines, recommendation systems, translation features, and even the apps on their phones. But many students (and adults!) still see AI as a mysterious “black box.”
Hour of AI Activities like this can help students:
- Understand how AI models learn from data
- Recognize that AI systems can make mistakes
- Spot bias and unfairness in automated decisions
- Think critically about AI outputs instead of accepting them at face value
- Become responsible creators and users of technology
Standard Alignment
This activity aligns with national standards including CSTA (data, algorithms, machine learning), ISTE (computational thinking and digital citizenship), and NGSS practices related to data collection, analysis, and real-world problem-solving. For more Standard alignment, see our Crosswalk Document.
Looking for more Hour of AI Activities?
For more activities like this, including digital and game-based activities, visit: https://csforall.org/en-US/activities/hour-of-ai
If you're planning to run an Hour of AI event during CSEdWeek, you can register your event to help track global impact: https://csforall.org/en-US/hour-of-ai/how-to/k-12educator
