A Cautionary Tale

This worksheet is designed for Grades 7 and 8 to help students engage in close literary reading, theme analysis, ethical reasoning, and critical thinking through a thought-provoking narrative about a future shaped by total reliance on artificial intelligence. By examining how AI controls daily decisions related to health, transportation, scheduling, and relationships, learners explore autonomy, personal agency, technology dependence, and long-term societal consequences.

Academic Focus

• Literary Reading & Theme Analysis (Grades 7-8)
  Students analyze a short narrative to identify themes such as autonomy, convenience, and loss of human judgment.
• Ethics & Societal Impact of Technology
  Learners reflect on how widespread AI decision-making could affect individuals, relationships, and communities.
• Evaluating Overreliance on AI
  Activities encourage students to consider what may be gained and what may be lost when humans defer too much responsibility to machines.
• Critical Thinking & Reflection
  Students support interpretations with text evidence and thoughtful explanation.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Developed by educators to connect literary analysis with modern technology issues.
• Engaging Narrative Format
  Story-based structure supports deeper comprehension and discussion.
• Cross-Curricular Integration
  Fits well in ELA, social studies, technology literacy, or ethics units.
• Supports Discussion & Writing
  Promotes reflection, debate, and written response.

This printable worksheet helps students strengthen skills in reading comprehension, thematic analysis, ethical reasoning, and technology evaluation. By exploring a cautionary future shaped by automation, learners develop a deeper understanding of human responsibility, independent thinking, and balanced technology use. It’s a meaningful, no-prep resource that works well in both classroom and homeschool settings while encouraging thoughtful engagement with the role of AI in society.

This worksheet is part of our Would You Trust AI collection.