Two pillars, taught side-by-side by NORTH instructors: Engineering (Python + AI) and Literacy (reading, writing, and voice). Every student gets both. Open and free to browse. Students learn in cohorts with their teacher — no student accounts required.
// COPPA/FERPA: no student logins. No personal data collected.
// Pick a pillar
Every NORTH lesson maps to one of the 5 Big Ideas in AI — the K-12 framework used by educators worldwide. Districts get instant standards alignment. Students see how every lesson fits the bigger picture.
Big Idea 1
Perception
Computers perceive the world using sensors — cameras, microphones, text. The data that goes IN shapes everything that comes out.
Big Idea 2
Representation & Reasoning
AI represents knowledge as data structures and reasons over them — rules, graphs, vectors. This is where 'thinking' happens.
Big Idea 3
Learning
Computers can learn from data. This is what 'machine learning' means — finding patterns in examples instead of being told the rules.
Big Idea 4
Natural Interaction
AI interacts with humans through language, speech, and gestures. Designing that interaction well is a skill of its own.
Big Idea 5
Societal Impact
AI changes how people live, work, and make decisions — and not always for the better. Every builder is responsible for what they ship.
// Framework: AI4K12 "5 Big Ideas in AI" · CSTA-aligned
// Pick a track
// Module 1 · Week 1 · 2 sessions
Understand what code is, what a program does, and how computers follow instructions.
2 lessons
// Module 2 · Weeks 2–3 · 4 sessions
Write working Python code: print, variables, simple math. No installation.
4 lessons
// Module 3 · Weeks 4–5 · 4 sessions
Use if/else and loops to make programs that adapt and repeat — and ship your first text-adventure game.
4 lessons
// Module 4 · Weeks 6–7 · 4 sessions
Lists, dictionaries, and reading real data — the foundation of every game, creative tool, or dataset.
4 lessons
// Module 5 · Weeks 8–9 · 4 sessions
AI demystified — pattern matching, training data, why models get things wrong.
// Optional external tools
4 lessons
// Module 6 · Weeks 10–11 · 4 sessions
Write Python that classifies things based on rules — the foundation of every model, game AI, and recommender.
4 lessons
// Module 7 · Week 12 · 2 sessions
When AI helps, when it hurts, and who decides — for games, creative tools, and community apps.
2 lessons
// Module 8 · Weeks 13–16 · 8 sessions
Build, document, and present a Python program you're proud of — a game, a creative tool, or a community helper. Your choice.
// Optional external tools
4 lessons
This is the real curriculum — Python from zero through production AI, paired with reading, writing, and voice from ages 9 through 18. Taught by NORTH instructors, tracked by the classroom teacher.