AI in a preschool lesson on the mystery of a crown

The application of artificial intelligence in the teaching process of the “Crown Mystery”  

Guo Ziyun, Jiang Shan, Wei Jia  

Pujiang Ruihecheng Kindergarten, Minhang District, Shanghai  

Abstract:This study focuses on the challenges encountered in the implementation of the “Crown Mystery” lesson plan and teaching materials for middle-class students. It analyzes in detail the difficulties related to capturing and transforming children’s interests, the lack of innovation in story content, poor suitability of teaching materials, bottlenecks in creating visual materials, poor voiceover quality, and insufficient teaching interaction. To address these issues, this study describes in detail the strategies for using AI tools in generating text, creating images, producing videos, and optimizing voiceover, as well as the specific steps and methods for solving these problems.    

Keywords:AI tools; the mystery of the crown; creation of teaching materials    

When applying the “Crown Mystery” micro-lesson to the teaching practices in middle classes, the limitations of traditional teaching methods and technical tools become increasingly apparent. The specific issues are complex in multiple dimensions, which significantly hinders the teaching effectiveness and the learning experience of children.  

I. Problems encountered in the preparation of the “Mystery of the Crown” teaching plan and courseware  

(1) The challenges in capturing and transforming children’s interests  

The interests of middle-class children are transient and fragmented in nature; their attention is easily influenced by colors, dynamic elements, and life experiences. It is difficult to track the changes in children’s interests dynamically through traditional observation records and questionnaire interviews. For example, during earlier research, it was found that children showed interest in cartoon animal characters. However, during the “Crown Mystery” activity focused on animals, some children’s attention quickly shifted to natural phenomena outside the classroom. Moreover, teachers lack effective ways to transform children’s interests into educational content, resulting in stories that do not align well with their interests, and thus failing to stimulate their desire to explore actively.  

(II) The content of the stories lacks innovation and appeal  

Most of the current stories about the “Crown Mystery” are presented in a traditional puzzle-solving format. The plot develops in a linear manner, lacking interactivity and interest. The animal characters in these stories are monotonous, and the clues provided do not create any sense of suspense, making it difficult to meet the children’s desire to explore new things. In teaching practice, teachers try to incorporate real-life elements to create innovative stories. However, due to limitations in creative experience and knowledge, the new stories still suffer from logical inconsistencies and an imbalance between educational goals and interest, resulting in low child participation and an inability to effectively achieve the educational objectives in the field of science.  

(3) The challenge of ensuring that teaching materials meet the needs of young children  

Traditional teaching materials consist mainly of static images and diagrams, such as simple animal fur cards and flat footprint illustrations. They lack dynamic interactive features, making it difficult to clearly illustrate the process of reasoning based on clues. In terms of digital resources, existing animated videos have problems such as poor quality of the images and too rapid pacing of the storylines, which do not match the cognitive level of young children. During the teaching process, children show obvious fatigue towards these materials, and it is difficult for them to understand the scientific inquiry method of “reasoning based on clues” through these materials.  

(4) The bottleneck in the creation of visual materials for stories  

After the new stories are created, there are numerous challenges in producing the corresponding pictures and videos. There is a shortage of resources in the online material libraries that match the story plots and educational themes, and there are also copyright issues. Teachers who create pictures and videos themselves are limited by their artistic skills and technical abilities, making it difficult for them to produce high-quality visual content. For example, when depicting the happy moment when the little animal finally finds the crown, since all the characters in the story are created by the teachers themselves, the existing pictures on the internet cannot accurately represent the details of the scene or the complete characters, which makes it difficult for children to establish connections between the different elements in the story.  

(5) The disconnect between the voice acting effect and the young child’s cognition  

In traditional teaching methods, adult voices tend to have a mature tone and a monotonous intonation, making it difficult to create animal characters that are suitable for young children’s understanding. When children perform their own voice acting, their ability to express words clearly and the quality of their recording equipment limit their performance; as a result, their pronunciation may not be clear, and their emotions may not be effectively conveyed. During the storytelling process, a dull voice cannot enhance the appeal of the story, thereby reducing the children’s ability to engage with and understand the story’s content.  

(6) Teaching lacks context and depth in interaction  

The traditional interactive teaching method in science classes is based on a one-way question-and-answer format, where the teacher asks questions and the children answer. There is a lack of immersive environments during the teaching process. In this approach, children merely respond passively to the teacher’s questions, and it is difficult for them to fully engage in the puzzle-solving scenario related to the “Crown Mystery”. For example, during the clue-deduction phase, the teacher only describes verbally the clues related to animal fur, footprints, and fruits, without creating a realistic exploration environment. As a result, children cannot have a sense of immersion, and they lack the motivation to explore actively and think deeply. This single-type interaction mode not only fails to stimulate children’s curiosity and desire to learn, but also hinders the development of their scientific inquiry skills and logical thinking abilities.  

II. Selection of AI tools and teaching application strategies  

In response to these challenges in teaching, artificial intelligence technologies offer diverse solutions. By selecting appropriate AI tools and integrating them according to the needs of the “Crown Mystery” lesson, the quality of teaching resources and the interest of the teaching process are effectively improved.  

(1) Selection and application of document generation tools  

1. Comparison and selection of tool functions. DouBao and DeepSeek each have their own advantages in natural language processing capabilities. DouBao has strong abilities to understand educational contexts; it can quickly generate structured story frameworks based on teaching objectives, and is particularly skilled at translating scientific knowledge into language that is easy for children to understand. For example, in the creation of stories about “the mystery of the crown,” DouBao can automatically design story plots that include suspenseful twists and interactive questions, in line with the core goal of “using animal clues for reasoning.” DeepSeek, on the other hand, excels in logical reasoning and knowledge integration; it can improve the relevance of the clues within the story, ensuring the rigor of the scientific reasoning process.  

2. Strategy for the collaborative use of tools. In actual creation processes, a collaborative approach is adopted: “Doubao generates the initial draft, then DeepSeek optimizes the text”. First, Doubao creates story texts that are suitable for children’s language patterns. Next, DeepSeek checks the relevance of the clues and the alignment with educational objectives. As a result, a story script that is both engaging and scientifically sound is produced.  

(II) Selection and application of image generation tools  

1. Adaptability of Doubao AI-generated content. The Doubao AI painting function allows for the creation of high-precision illustrations based on text descriptions. Its advantage lies in its ability to accurately understand the needs of educational scenarios. In the “Mystery of the Crown” lesson, teachers can input a description such as “panda, squirrel, pig, zebra, elephant, and duck celebrating in the forest”, and Doubao AI can quickly generate vividly colored illustrations with well-defined characters. It also allows for multiple adjustments to the style and details, ensuring that the images match perfectly with the story. Additionally, the materials generated by Doubao AI are free from copyright issues, providing a safe environment for the development of teaching resources.  

(3) Selection and application of video generation tools  

Integration of the features of CapCut and Jieming AI. As a professional video editing tool, CapCut offers powerful capabilities for editing footage, adding effects, and creating scene transitions. In the production of the “Mystery of the Crown” video, CapCut is used to combine images and audio materials, as well as to add animations and interactive buttons. Jieming AI, on the other hand, is focused on generating dynamic video content; it can transform static illustrations into smooth animated scenes. By importing the animal movement animations created by Jieming AI into CapCut for further editing, the storytelling becomes more dynamic and visual, thereby enhancing the appeal of the story.  

(4) Selection and application of voice generation tools  

Innovative applications of the voice-over function in iCopy. The intelligent voice-over feature of iCopy offers a variety of childlike voice options, allowing adjustments to the speaking speed, tone, and emotional intensity. During the voice-over segment for “The Mystery of the Crown”, teachers can assign characteristic voices to different animal characters: a lively, childlike voice for the little rabbit, and a mischievous voice for the monkey character. Additionally, iCopy enables the addition of ambient sounds, such as thrilling sounds, hints for solving puzzles, and victory sounds, thereby creating an immersive auditory experience and effectively addressing the issue of the disconnect between traditional voiceovers and children’s understanding.  

III. The approaches and methods used by AI tools in the production process of “The Mystery of the Crown”  

Application of content generation tools  

1. Usage steps. First, open DouBao and clearly state your requirements in the input field. For example, “Targeting middle-class children, around the theme of ‘The Mystery of the Crown’, with the core goal of reasoning based on animal clues, generate a story framework that includes suspenseful twists and interactive questions, and uses child-friendly language.” After clicking send, DouBao will quickly create a draft of the story. For instance, the beginning of the story might be “The crown in the forest suddenly disappeared! The little animals are very worried. Little detectives, please help find it. Clue 1: There is a white fur at the place where the crown was lost. Who could it be? Kids, guess!”. After creating the draft, copy and paste the story content into DeepSeek, and enter “Please check the rationality of the clues in this ‘The Mystery of the Crown’ story, optimize the relevance of the clues, ensure a rigorous scientific reasoning process, and also make sure the story meets educational goals.” DeepSeek will analyze the story, adjust unreasonable clues, such as making the characteristics of the animals that appear later closely related to the previous clues, so that the logic of the story is smoother.  

2. The way of solving problems. With the powerful comprehension ability of DouBao in educational scenarios, story frameworks that suit the language habits and teaching objectives of young children can be quickly created. This solves the problem where teachers have difficulty turning children’s interests into teaching content, and the stories lack innovation. By using DeepSeek to optimize the logic of the stories, the reasoning process is made scientific and rigorous, preventing any logical gaps in the stories. As a result, the stories become more attractive and educational, and their quality is significantly improved.  

Application of image generation tools  

1. Usage steps: Open the Doubao AI painting function, and describe in detail what the image contains in the input field. For example, “Create a high-resolution illustration featuring pandas, squirrels, little pigs, zebras, elephants, and ducks, all gathered for a party in a dense forest. The panda holds bamboo in its arms, with a happy expression on its face; the squirrel holds a pinecone and jumps around; the little pig is round and is dancing joyfully; the stripes on the zebra are clearly visible under the sunlight; the elephant uses its long nose to roll ribbons; and the duck barks and flaps its wings. The overall image has bright colors and a childlike atmosphere, and it is presented in a cartoon style.” After clicking “Generate”, if you are not satisfied with the image result, you can request changes, such as “Make the sunlight in the image brighter, and make the expressions of the animals more vivid.” Doubao AI will generate the image again according to your requests until the desired effect is achieved.  

2. The way in which problems are solved. The Doubao AI drawing function accurately understands the educational needs described by teachers, and generates high-quality illustrations that closely match the story plot. This solves the problems of limited online resources, copyright issues, and teachers’ lack of artistic skills. Its ability to adjust the style and details multiple times ensures that the images effectively depict the story scenes, helps children establish connections between different elements, and enhances the visual clarity of the story.  

Applications of video generation tools  

1. Usage steps: First, import the static illustrations generated by DouBao AI into iMeng AI. Then, enter the command “Convert these illustrations into dynamic videos, making the animals move around. Show their process of searching for the crown – for example, the panda looking around, the squirrel moving quickly, and the piglet running hard. The video should be smooth, and each animal’s movements should be natural.” After iMeng AI generates the dynamic video, import it into CapCut. In CapCut, edit the video, remove any unnecessary segments, and add transition effects such as fade-ins and fades-out, as well as sliding effects, to make the transition smoother. Additionally, apply animation effects, such as flashing effects for the clues, to highlight important elements. Interactive buttons can also be added, such as a “Click to reveal the answer” button during the reasoning phase, to enhance children’s participation. Finally, add background music – choose lively and energetic music to create a tense yet fun atmosphere.  

2. The way of solving problems. By using iMeng AI to transform static illustrations into dynamic videos, the dynamics of the clues are enhanced, thereby solving the problem of the lack of dynamic interactive features in traditional teaching materials. The editing capabilities of iCut, the ability to add effects, and the setting of interactive buttons make the videos more engaging and interesting. This aligns with the cognitive level of young children, enhancing the attractiveness of the stories and their interest in learning, thus creating an immersive learning environment.  

Application of voice-over generation tools  

1. Usage steps. Import the video that has been edited into CapCut, and then proceed to the voice-over section. Choose the appropriate voice for each animal character: for example, use a young and lively girl’s voice for the little rabbit, and a mischievous boy’s voice for the monkey. Adjust the speech rate to be appropriate, and change the tone according to the character’s emotions. For instance, when the animal is in a hurry to find the crown, the tone should be faster and higher; when it discovers a clue, the tone should express surprise. Add ambient sound effects; include tense background music in the scene where the crown is lost, and add alert sounds when the clue is found, as well as a victory sound when the crown is successfully found. After completing the voiceover and sound effects, listen to the entire video. If there are any areas that need improvement, make further adjustments.  

2. Ways to solve problems. The intelligent voice generation feature of iCopy offers a variety of childlike voices and flexible adjustments to speech rate and tone, thereby addressing the issues of a lack of relevance between adult voices and young children’s understanding, as well as the poor effectiveness of independent voice production by young children. By adding rich ambient sound effects, an immersive auditory experience is created, which enhances the appeal of the story. This makes it easier for children to immerse themselves in the story and deepen their understanding of it.  

IV. Analysis of the effectiveness of AI in solving the “Crown Mystery”  

After using AI tools to optimize the teaching plan and materials for “The Mystery of the Crown”, the teaching effectiveness improved significantly. Based on observations in the classroom, it was found that the average duration of children’s focus during story narration increased from 8 minutes to 15 minutes, and the phenomenon of distraction decreased by 40%. In terms of evaluating the teaching effectiveness, a questionnaire survey was conducted among children’s parents. The results showed that 85% of the parents reported that their children showed greater interest in scientific exploration, and 78% said that their children could clearly describe the reasoning process involved in the stories, indicating significant improvement compared to before. During classroom interactions, children actively participated in discussions about reasoning processes 60% more often; they shifted from passively answering questions to actively presenting their own ideas and questions. This effectively helped develop children’s scientific inquiry skills and logical thinking abilities. These data and evidence clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of AI in facilitating problem-solving and innovative educational practices.  

V. Experience and Reflection  

1. Experience summary. First, tool collaboration and integration: During the process of creating teaching resources, each AI tool has its own advantages. By using these tools in a collaborative manner, maximum efficiency can be achieved. For example, the combination of DouBao and DeepSeek in text generation, as well as the integration of various tools used for creating images, videos, and voiceovers, provide comprehensive solutions for the development of teaching resources. Second, precise input of requirements: When using AI tools, clear and detailed requirements are essential to obtain high-quality results. Teachers need to clearly understand the teaching objectives and the needs of the children, and accurately translate these into instructions that AI tools can understand, so as to produce teaching content that meets expectations. Third, emphasis on user experience: When using AI tools to create teaching resources, the cognitive level and learning experience of the children should be taken into consideration. The funness of the story content, the visual quality of images and videos, and the auditory experience of the voiceovers all need to be considered in light of the children’s ability to understand them, in order to improve teaching effectiveness.

2. Reflection and Outlook. During the implementation process, some problems were also identified. Some teachers are not proficient in using AI tools, which affects the efficiency of creating teaching resources. In the future, it is necessary to strengthen the AI technology training for teachers. Additionally, although AI tools can generate a variety of teaching resources, there is still room for improvement in their integration with actual teaching scenarios. In the future, further exploration can be carried out on the integration of AI with virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies, in order to create a more immersive learning environment for young children. As AI technology continues to develop, it is hoped that more AI tools and functions specifically designed for early childhood education will emerge, providing stronger support for educational innovation and promoting the development of early childhood education toward a more intelligent and personalized direction.