22 April 2026
Helping Young Learners Understand AI: Introducing Barefoot AI Explorers
Artificial intelligence is already part of children’s everyday lives – from voice assistants and recommendation systems to image‑generation tools and smart devices.
As educators, the challenge isn’t whether children will encounter AI, but how we can help them understand it in a way that is meaningful, age‑appropriate and empowering.
That’s where Barefoot AI Explorers comes in.
Developed by Barefoot in collaboration with Ciena, Barefoot AI Explorers is a set of classroom‑ready resources for pupils aged 5 to 11, designed to help young learners develop a clear and balanced understanding of what AI is, how it works, and how it is used in the world around them.
What is Barefoot AI Explorers?
Barefoot AI Explorers is made up of two sequenced units of learning, carefully designed to build pupils’ understanding. The resources are practical, discussion‑led and cross‑curricular, meaning they can be confidently delivered by teachers without specialist technical knowledge.
Rather than focusing on coding or complex algorithms, AI Explorers encourages curiosity, questioning and critical thinking, essential skills for navigating an AI‑enabled world.
Through hands‑on activities, storytelling, exploration and reflection, pupils learn not only what AI can do, but also its limitations, helping them develop a healthy and realistic understanding of technology.
What will pupils learn?
Across both units of learning, pupils will explore a range of key concepts, including:
How computers are trained to complete tasks
How feedback helps improve computer performance
How computers are trained with data
How AI generates images and text – and how this differs from human creativity
How to recognise misinformation and disinformation created using AI
Two levels, designed for your classroom
Level 1: Ages 5–7
Level 1 gently introduces younger pupils to foundational ideas. Children explore what it means to “train” a computer, practise giving feedback, examine AI‑generated images, and collect simple data to help answer questions.
These activities are playful, interactive and discussion‑based, making abstract ideas accessible while encouraging children to talk about their thinking and reflect on what they observe.
Level 2: Ages 7–11
Level 2 builds on this foundation and looks more closely at how AI fits into the wider world. Pupils explore how technology has changed over time, what kinds of data are needed to train AI models, and how AI generates text differently from a human writer.
Learners also investigate how AI tools can be used within simple programs to solve problems, before critically examining the role of AI in creating misinformation and disinformation.
Building confident, critical digital learners
At its heart, Barefoot AI Explorers isn’t about turning children into AI experts – it’s about helping them become curious, critical and confident learners.
By exploring both the possibilities and the pitfalls of AI, pupils are better prepared to engage thoughtfully with technologies that will continue to shape their futures. They learn that AI tools can be powerful and creative, but also that human judgment, values and responsibility still matter.
Join the Barefoot AI Explorers Live Lesson on 4th June
To celebrate AI Awareness Day, schools are invited to join a special AI Explorers Live Lesson on 4 June.
Led by Ben Davies, Barefoot’s Primary Subject Lead and the creator of AI Explorers, this interactive session offers pupils a taster of the programme through engaging activities, expert guidance and practical examples. Classes from across the country will be joining together to explore AI in a fun and accessible way.
It’s a great opportunity to bring AI Explorers to life, enhance classroom learning, and spark curiosity among your pupils.