Student learning · Grades K–2, Grades 3–5 · 30 minutes
News From the Future Circle
Young learners hear friendly pretend news about helpers that might exist someday, draw or act out one helpful thing and one tricky thing, and vote on a class rule for the helper.
Children are already growing up with talking speakers, apps that answer questions, and toys that chat. In this circle, the teacher reads short, friendly pretend news stories from the future, like a robot helper at the library or a pen pal that is an AI. For each one, children find one helpful thing and one tricky thing, act it out or draw it, and then vote on a class rule for the helper. The big idea: new helpers can be great, and we still get to think, check, and make rules about them.
In this packet
- Handout A: Pretend News Cards (cut-apart cards)
- Handout B: Helpful and Tricky (worksheet)
- Handout C: Family Connection: News From the Future (worksheet)
- Facilitator key (last page)
TCEA ELE indicators
- S5.2 I can use creativity and logic to find innovative solutions.
- AI2.2 I can identify potential ethical issues in AI applications and propose solutions.
- S2.3 I am aware of the potential risks of sharing content online.
- AI1.3 I am aware of the current limitations and potential biases in AI systems.
Full facilitator guide: mglearn.github.io/eles/activities/news-from-the-future-circle.html
Handout A for News From the Future Circle
Pretend News Cards
PRETEND NEWS. Print on cardstock at 150%. The backs are teacher talk notes; print them on a separate sheet.
Card 1 · Pretend News, 2031
The library has a new robot helper! It rolls down the rows and helps kids find books.
Card 2 · Pretend News, 2030
A homework app can talk! Kids ask it questions out loud, and it talks back.
Card 3 · Pretend News, 2032
Our class got a new pen pal. The pen pal is an AI!
Card 4 · Pretend News, 2033
A teddy bear that tells bedtime stories? This one talks!
Card 5 · Pretend News, 2034
The lunchroom robot sorts the recycling so the playground stays clean!
Card 6 · Pretend News, 2031
A new drawing app turns kids' words into pictures!
Card 7 · Pretend News, 2035
A reading buddy robot listens to kids read out loud and cheers them on!
Card 8 · Pretend News, 2036
New glasses tell you the name of every bird you see at recess!
Handout B for News From the Future Circle
Helpful and Tricky
This is PRETEND news from the future. Draw your ideas. You can add words if you want.
The helper I picked (write it or draw a tiny picture):
ONE HELPFUL THING the helper does:
ONE TRICKY THING that could happen:
My rule for the helper: "We should..."
Handout C for News From the Future Circle
Family Connection: News From the Future
Dear families: today we heard PRETEND news about helpers that might exist someday. We found one helpful thing and one tricky thing about each, and voted on a class rule. Try it together at home.
Today my class heard pretend news about:
Ask your child: "What was one helpful thing? What was one tricky thing?" Write or draw what they say.
Together, make up your own pretend headline about a helper that might come to your home someday. Draw it here.
Our family rule for talking helpers at home (like a smart speaker or a learning app):
Optional, for the teacher: something your child said that surprised you.
Facilitator only for News From the Future Circle
Answer key and notes
Handout A: Pretend News Cards
- Card 1 · Pretend News, 2031
- Helpful: finds books fast; helps when the librarian is busy. Tricky: it could pick the wrong book; it can't give a hug or know you like a librarian does. Rule choices: "Check with the librarian if the robot seems wrong." "Take turns with the robot." "Robots help, but people choose." Grown-up note: robots that roll around and carry things already work in some stores, hospitals, and restaurants.
- Card 2 · Pretend News, 2030
- Helpful: answers questions when a grown-up is busy; explains things in new ways. Tricky: its answers can be wrong; it might remember what you say. Rule choices: "Ask a grown-up if an answer seems wrong." "Never tell it where you live." "Try it yourself first." Grown-up note: voice assistants and some learning apps already answer spoken questions.
- Card 3 · Pretend News, 2032
- Helpful: writes back right away; knows lots of facts. Tricky: it isn't a real person and doesn't have feelings; it might make things up; it shouldn't get your address or photos. Rule choices: "Remember it's not a person." "Never send it private things." "Keep writing to real pen pals too." Grown-up note: AI chatbots can already write friendly letters and stories.
- Card 4 · Pretend News, 2033
- Helpful: new stories every night; can read when grown-ups are tired. Tricky: it might be listening when you don't know it; a story might be scary or silly-wrong. Rule choices: "Grown-ups check what it can hear." "Turn it off when you're done." "Real stories with family still count most." Grown-up note: some toys can already talk and connect to the internet.
- Card 5 · Pretend News, 2034
- Helpful: less trash; helps the planet. Tricky: it might put things in the wrong bin; what if it breaks? Rule choices: "Still sort your own tray." "Tell a grown-up if it makes a mistake." "Thank the people who fix it." Grown-up note: some recycling centers already use robots with cameras to help sort materials.
- Card 6 · Pretend News, 2031
- Helpful: makes pictures fast; helps kids who find drawing hard share ideas. Tricky: whose picture is it, yours or the app's? It could make fake pictures of real people. Rule choices: "Say when a picture was made by an app." "Never make pictures of real kids without asking." "Keep drawing by hand too." Grown-up note: AI tools can already make pictures from typed words.
- Card 7 · Pretend News, 2035
- Helpful: extra reading practice; patient every time. Tricky: it might not understand every voice or accent; kids who speak two languages might get marked wrong. Rule choices: "Read to people too." "Tell the teacher if it doesn't understand you." "The robot helps; the teacher decides." Grown-up note: some reading apps already listen to children read aloud and give feedback.
- Card 8 · Pretend News, 2036
- Helpful: learn about nature; notice more birds. Tricky: the name could be wrong; a camera pointed at people could take pictures they didn't agree to. Rule choices: "Look closely yourself before you believe it." "Point the camera at birds, not at people." "Check a bird book too." Grown-up note: some phone apps can already name a bird from a photo or its song.