Course 2 — The Rising Builders · Instructor Guide

For: ages 12–15 · Format: live online · Sessions: 14 × 75 min

This is your teaching guide for Course 2. Every session is a self-contained facilitator script — a timed agenda, what to say / show / ask, live-coding demos, the activity, an answer key, and teaching notes. Open the session you're about to teach and run it top to bottom.

What the course covers

1. Unit 1 — Applied AI & Data Science (Sessions 1–4): Python, working with datasets, building a prediction model, and what AI can and can't do.
2. Unit 2 — Research & Engineering (Sessions 5–8): how real research works, reading and writing science, and building electronics with Arduino.
3. Unit 3 — Competition & Portfolio (Sessions 9–12): turning work into a competition entry, a written report with peer review, and a final presentation.
4. Bonus — Generative AI (Sessions 13–14): how LLMs work, and building with generative AI responsibly.

What students produce

• A working prediction model and a small data-science project.
• A research report + an engineered/data prototype.
• A competition-ready project and a portfolio piece, plus a course certificate.

Tools (all free)

Google Colab (Python in the browser) · Tinkercad Circuits (Arduino, no hardware) · Google Sheets · free datasets — the exact links are in each session's Resources.

How each session is structured

Before-class prep (open the right Colab notebook / Tinkercad circuit to screen-share) → timed agenda (Hook → Teach → Activity → Check for understanding → Wrap-up + homework) → Teaching notes (misconceptions, common coding errors, fast-finisher extensions, low-tech fallback) → Vocabulary → Resources. Code is framed as "Type/run this together" so you can live-code with the class; ⚠ Watch for callouts flag the common mistakes.

Sessions

Unit 1 — Applied AI & Data Science

1. Session 1 — Speak Python
2. Session 2 — Playing with Data
3. Session 3 — Your First Prediction
4. Session 4 — What AI Can (and Can't) Do

Unit 2 — Research & Engineering

1. Session 5 — Think Like a Scientist
2. Session 6 — Read Like a Scientist
3. Session 7 — Hello, Hardware!
4. Session 8 — Build a Smart Gadget

Unit 3 — Competition & Portfolio

1. Session 9 — Enter the Arena
2. Session 10 — Polish Your Project
3. Session 11 — Write It Up & Peer Review
4. Session 12 — Showtime! (Final Showcase)

Bonus — Generative AI

1. Session 13 — How Generative AI Works
2. Session 14 — Build with Generative AI

Ready? Open Session 1 — Speak Python