AI Timeline Gaps

This worksheet is designed for students in Grades 5-7 to strengthen research skills, reading comprehension, and chronological reasoning through an exploration of artificial intelligence history. Students complete a partially filled timeline by adding missing names, dates, and innovations-such as ELIZA, IBM’s Deep Blue, and OpenAI’s GPT-3-helping them see how AI developed from early theory into real-world applications over time.

Learning Goals

• Chronological Sequencing (Grades 5-7) – Place major AI milestones in the correct historical order.
• Research & Information Retrieval – Locate accurate facts from trusted sources to complete timeline gaps.
• Understanding Technological Progress – Recognize how AI innovations build on earlier ideas and discoveries.
• Contextual & Critical Thinking – Analyze how breakthroughs connect across decades and influence modern technology.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with social studies, science, and ELA standards.
• Inquiry-Based Learning – Encourages independent research and curiosity-driven exploration.
• Structured Timeline Format – Supports organized thinking and visual understanding of history.
• Flexible Use – Ideal for history of technology units, STEM integration, enrichment, or homework.

This printable worksheet helps students develop a comprehensive understanding of artificial intelligence by actively engaging with its historical timeline. By filling in missing milestones and reflecting on progress across decades, learners strengthen research, synthesis, and critical thinking skills. Suitable for classroom or homeschool use, this no-prep activity supports interdisciplinary learning while helping students connect past innovations to today’s AI-powered world.

This worksheet is part of our History of AI collection.