CSEdWeek · December 7-13, 2026
The Hour of AI 2026,
a guide for K-8 families
Every December, Computer Science Education Week celebrates computer science, and the Hour of Code is now the Hour of AI: one-hour, hands-on activities that show kids how AI works. Here is when it is, how to take part at school or at home, and which activities fit grades K-8.
Independent guide. iMasterly is not affiliated with the Hour of AI, CodeAI or CSTA. Official site: HourofAI.org.
Key dates for 2026
| November 16, 2026 | First look at this year's new Hour of AI activities |
| Saturday, December 5, 2026 | CSEdWeek Kickoff Summit for teachers (free and virtual, with a free CSTA account) |
| December 7-13, 2026 | Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) |
| December 7-11, 2026 | The school week the Hour of AI guide calls "the big moment" |
| December 9, 2026 | Grace Hopper's birthday: CSEdWeek's Professional Learning Series for teachers |
| Any time | Hour of AI activities are available year-round |
Sources: csedweek.org, Hour of AI how-to guide, Hour of AI FAQ.
What the Hour of AI is
The Hour of AI builds on the Hour of Code. CodeAI, the nonprofit formerly known as Code.org, says "The Hour of Code is now the Hour of AI," and organizes it with a coalition of partners. Each activity takes about an hour, needs no AI or coding experience, and works with laptops, tablets or no devices at all. The catalog has activities from CodeAI and from partners such as Google, Microsoft, LEGO Education, Minecraft Education, Adobe and the Scratch Foundation.
Sources: HourofAI.org, code.org/hourofai, Hour of AI FAQ.
How to take part
Run it in class
Sign up at HourofAI.org (optional) for reminders, the toolkit and free webinars, pick an activity, try it and skim its teacher notes, then run it whole-class or in stations. You can request a classroom volunteer when you sign up.
Do it at home
The official FAQ says the Hour of AI is for learners at home too. Choose an activity for your child's grade, sit with them for the hour, and ask what surprised them about how the AI worked.
Make it school-wide
The how-to guide suggests one person signs up, shares the catalog with every teacher and librarian, and picks one day for a school-wide Hour of AI.
Source: Hour of AI how-to guide.
Hour of AI activities for grades K-8
These CodeAI activities are listed on code.org/hourofai with their grade bands. The full catalog on HourofAI.org has more, including partner activities and unplugged ones; filter it by grade.
| Activity | Grades | What kids do |
|---|---|---|
| Mix & Move with AI | Grades 2-12 | Design a dancer, mix music and choreograph a routine, using AI prompts. |
| Music Lab: Jam Session | Grades 2-12 | Remix tracks while learning sequencing and generating beats with AI. |
| Minecraft tutorials | Grades 2-12 | Build and explore in Minecraft while learning basic computer science. |
| AI for Oceans | Grades 3-12 | Train a real machine learning model to tell sea creatures from trash. |
| Dance Party: AI Edition | Grades 3-8 | Learn AI ideas while making a virtual dance party. |
Source: code.org/hourofai, checked October 16, 2026. New activities are announced on November 16.
After the hour: train your own AI
If the hour sparks questions like "how does it actually learn?", our Train Your Own AI lets a child teach a real model by example (apple, not apple), watch the clues it uses get stronger, then test it and try to fool it. No code and no download. It is not an official Hour of AI activity, just a next step at home or in class.
More on AI for kids
Common questions
When is the Hour of AI in 2026?
The Hour of AI connects with Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek), which runs December 7-13, 2026. The official how-to guide calls the school week of December 7-11, 2026 the big moment, but the activities are available year-round, so a class or family can do it any time.
What is the Hour of AI?
A global initiative of one-hour, hands-on activities that introduce artificial intelligence, from kindergarten to adults. It builds on the Hour of Code: Code.org, now called CodeAI, says "The Hour of Code is now the Hour of AI." It is organized by CodeAI and a coalition of partners.
Do you have to register?
No. Signing up at HourofAI.org is optional. It gets you reminders, new activity announcements and the first look at this year's activities on November 16. Teachers can also request a classroom volunteer when they sign up.
Can my child do the Hour of AI at home?
Yes. The official FAQ says the Hour of AI is for every learner in classrooms, libraries, homes and community centers. Pick an activity from the catalog that fits your child's grade, and do it together in about an hour.
Do we need a computer?
No. The official FAQ says activities run on computers, tablets and phones, and some need no computer at all: look for activities marked unplugged. Pairs can share one device.
Which Hour of AI activities suit grades K-8?
On code.org/hourofai, Mix & Move with AI, Music Lab: Jam Session and the Minecraft tutorials are listed for grades 2-12, AI for Oceans for grades 3-12, and Dance Party: AI Edition for grades 3-8. Partner activities from Google, Microsoft, LEGO Education, Minecraft Education, Adobe and the Scratch Foundation are in the full catalog.
Is Train Your Own AI an official Hour of AI activity?
No. iMasterly is not part of the Hour of AI and is not affiliated with CodeAI or CSTA. Train Your Own AI is our own follow-up for children who want to keep going after their hour.
Keep the curiosity going
One hour is a start. Let your child train a real AI by example and see exactly why it gets things right, and wrong.
Train your own AI →The Hour of AI is a global initiative by Computer Science Education Week [csedweek.org] and the Hour of AI [HourofAI.org] to introduce millions of students to artificial intelligence.