Turing’s Imitation Game

This worksheet is designed for students in Grades 6-8 to build reading comprehension, analytical thinking, and philosophical reasoning through an excerpt from Alan Turing’s 1950 essay Computing Machinery and Intelligence. Students explore the concept of the “Imitation Game,” now known as the Turing Test, and examine Turing’s arguments about whether machines can think, using guided questions to interpret ideas, evaluate predictions, and reflect on ethical implications.

Academic Focus

• Analyzing Informational & Philosophical Texts (Grades 6-8) – Interpret complex ideas and arguments in a foundational AI text.
• Early AI Theory & the Turing Test – Understand the purpose and significance of the Imitation Game.
• Historical & Ethical Perspectives – Connect postwar scientific thinking to modern debates about intelligence and ethics.
• Evaluating Arguments & Predictions – Assess claims, evidence, and foresight within Turing’s reasoning.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with middle school ELA, science, and social studies standards.
• Guided Discussion Questions – Support interpretation, evaluation, and thoughtful written responses.
• Vocabulary & Concept Building – Introduces key terms related to AI theory and philosophy.
• Flexible Use – Ideal for history of technology units, philosophy-in-ELA lessons, seminar discussions, or homework.

This printable worksheet helps students engage deeply with one of the most influential texts in artificial intelligence. By analyzing Turing’s ideas and reflecting on their implications, learners strengthen comprehension, argument evaluation, and written expression while gaining insight into the intellectual roots of AI. Suitable for classroom or homeschool use, this no-prep activity encourages thoughtful discussion about intelligence, ethics, and how early ideas continue to shape modern technology.

This worksheet is part of our History of AI collection.