In Punahou’s fifth-grade Design Technology & Engineering class, students are combining imagination, engineering and artificial intelligence to create mythical creatures that exist only in the “Wilds of Wonder.”
The project, designed by teacher Dee Ching, asks students to invent mythical creatures by combining three animals together. To spark ideas, students turn to AI programs MagicSchool and Canva, writing detailed prompts to generate inspiration.
Ching encourages students to treat AI as a partner in learning rather than a replacement for thinking. She notes that the more specific the students are with their prompts, the more original and useful the AI responses become. The process also reinforces the importance of asking thoughtful questions and interpreting information critically.
Once their creatures are imagined, students work in pairs to build three-dimensional models using cardboard and craft materials. Each model must include a robotic feature – an LED, motor or sensor – to add movement, light or interactivity. The hands-on construction encourages problem solving, collaboration and experimentation.
The experience culminates in presentations to visiting classes, where students share both their physical models and the imaginative worlds behind them. By blending firsthand construction with emerging technology, “Wilds of Wonder” demonstrates how AI can be integrated into the classroom as a tool that enhances creativity, teamwork and innovation.
Photos by Kathleen Connelly