Part of the AI for Families resources for schools developed as part of the online professional development course The AI-Empowered Teacher, this activity gives families and educators an opportunity to explore how AI can be used to support creativity and critical thinking, not just replace them.

Activity

Purpose: This activity invites families and educators to co-explore how AI can be used to support creativity and critical thinking, not just replace them. Together, you’ll experiment with a playful AI tool, reflect on what creativity looks like in your home, and consider how schools can design learning that keeps the human spark alive.

Try an AI Tool Together

Pick a free, family-friendly AI tool and explore it together for 10–15 minutes. Use one of the examples below or try your own:

• Image Generator (e.g., DALL·E): Create wild inventions or imaginary worlds.
• Music Tool (e.g., MusicFX): Generate beats or remix music.
• Story Generator: Create characters or co-author a short story.
• Idea Generator (e.g., ChatGPT): Ask silly questions or generate inventions to solve everyday problems.

Let your child take the lead in asking questions, making choices, or interpreting the results.

Reflection Questions

After exploring, use these prompts to guide your conversation:

• What did we notice about how the AI helped us create?
• What parts felt fun, surprising, or limited?
• When did it feel like we were being creative — and when did it feel like the AI was doing the thinking?
• What do we think schools should focus on when students use AI tools?

Values Reflection – What Is Worth Protecting?

Ask each family member to answer this: “In school, I hope students still get to [fill in the blank] — even with AI in the picture.”

Create a Family Statement

Together, write a one-sentence statement you’d want a school to consider as they design AI-rich instruction.

For Example: “We believe students should use AI to explore ideas, but never to replace their own
voice.”

About This Activity

These resources were developed with support from the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) through a collaboration with the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation and the Kentucky Department of Education, New Mexico Public Education Department, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and Wyoming Department of Education. The materials reflect shared priorities across the four states while allowing schools and districts to adapt them for their local communities.