Show-and-Tell Workshop
You have learned so much about creating with AI: being the boss of your idea, feeling honest pride, telling people when AI helped, sharing kindly and safely, collaborating, and breaking big dreams into small steps. Now it is time to practice putting it all together in a Show-and-Tell Workshop. Show-and-tell is when you present something you made and talk about it. It is one of the most important skills a creator can have.
What Makes a Great Presentation?
A great show-and-tell has three parts: The WHAT — What did you make? Describe it clearly so your audience understands right away. The HOW — How did you make it? This is where you tell them about your steps, your choices, and whether an AI tool helped. The WHY — Why does it matter to you? What are you most proud of? What do you hope people feel when they experience it? Those three questions — what, how, why — give your audience a complete picture. And they show off your thinking, not just your finished creation.
Presenting your creation is an act of courage and generosity. You are saying: I made something, and I am willing to share it with you. That takes guts — and it always gets better with practice.
Here is an example of a great show-and-tell by a student named Ana. Ana made a short illustrated poem about the ocean. She said: 'What I made: I wrote a six-line poem about the feeling of standing at the edge of the ocean. Then I gave an AI art tool instructions to make a picture to go with it — I described the colors and the mood I wanted. How I made it: First I wrote the poem completely on my own. Then I practiced describing what I imagined the picture looking like — that was the hardest part! I tried four different prompts before the picture felt right. Why I am proud: I did not know I could write a poem until I tried. And I learned that being specific in my instructions makes a huge difference. I hope my poem makes you feel like you are really standing at the beach.' Every part of that — what, how, why — helped the audience appreciate what Ana truly accomplished.
Flashcards — click each card to reveal the answer
A few tips for presenting: Speak slowly and clearly — your audience needs time to understand. Make eye contact — it helps people feel connected to you and your work. It is okay to be nervous — nerves mean you care, and caring makes presentations better. Practice at least once before the real thing — rehearsing out loud makes a big difference.
You do not need to memorize a script. Just know your three answers: what, how, and why. If you know those, you can always find the words.
In a show-and-tell, which part is where you explain that an AI tool helped you?
Ana practiced her description of the ocean picture four times before it felt right. What does this show?
Your Show-and-Tell Practice
- Think of something you have made recently, or pick your favorite idea from this module.
- On a piece of paper, write three headings: WHAT, HOW, WHY.
- Under each heading, write 2-3 sentences answering that question about your creation.
- If an AI helped, include that in your HOW section — remember, honesty is good!
- Practice presenting all three sections out loud in front of a mirror, or to a pet, or to a stuffed animal.
- When you are ready, present it to a real person: a family member, a friend, or a classmate.
- Notice how it feels to share something you made. That feeling is the reward for being a creator.