Critical Thinking Activities for Teens

These critical thinking activities for teens can be done at home or in the classroom with little to no preparation or materials.

This is a work in progress. I will add more activities over time.

1. Scrutinizing Beliefs
2. Personal Identity Short Story

Bonus: Critikid's Resources for Teens

Activity 1: Scrutinizing Beliefs

Step 1

Have your teen(s) list at least 3 of their beliefs. Optionally, choose one of each: a fact, a value, and a prediction.

• Fact: “Homework improves test scores.”
• Value: “Curfews are fair.”
• Prediction: “Banning phones in class will raise grades.”

Step 2

Explore these questions about each belief (in writing or discussion):

1. Why do I believe this?
2. What evidence* do I have for this belief?
3. Might this belief be wrong? How would I find out?
4. What would it take to change my mind?

*Values do not necessarily require evidence, but they should be supported by reasons. This could have been answered by question 1.

Step 3

State an opposing view to one of these beliefs clearly. Make an argument in favour of it.

Then ask: “Would a real supporter say I represented their view well?”

Activity 2: Personal Identity Short Story

Use this short story to get teens thinking about the philosophical concept of personal identity (what makes you “you”). This story is a simplified version of Derek Parfit’s thought experiment. Older teens (ages 17-19) may prefer to read the original text, which can be found in Chapter 10 of Reasons and Persons.

The Story: Field Trip to Mars

Today, your class is taking a field trip to Mars! To get there and back by dinner, students will be transported with a teleportation machine called the Space-Hopper. Your class gathers at the machine.

"How does the Space-Hopper work?" you ask.

Your teacher, Ms. Kline, explains, "The Space-Hopper scans every atom in your body and sends that information to Mars. At the same time, the atoms that make up your body here on Earth are carefully disassembled. On Mars, your body is rebuilt in the exact same way using new atoms. Since your brain is rebuilt in the same way, you will have all the same memories."

Then Ms. Kline reveals a small robot named Pepper for a demo.

"For the sake of the demonstration," says Ms. Kline, "I won't disassemble the original Pepper. A machine in the next room will make a copy."

Pepper rolls into the Space-Hopper and there is a flash of blue light. A minute later, a new Pepper rolls into the room. Now there are two seemingly identical Peppers side-by-side.

"What’s your favourite song? Ms. Kline asks.

"Glass Gardens," both Peppers say.

"Tell us your favourite memory."

"A kitten sneezed on my wheel," both reply.

You wonder, "If both remember being Pepper, which one is Pepper?"

You looks at the pad, then ask, "If the Space-Hopper usually disassembles you here, then isn’t that… death followed by a perfect copy on Mars?"

Ms. Kline says gently, "Most travellers think they survive because their memories, personality traits, and everything that makes them them is preserved in the copy. But if you'd prefer to stay on Earth, you can skip the field trip."

You wonder what to do.

Discussion Questions

1. If Earth-you is disassembled while Mars-you is rebuilt with new atoms in the same arrangement, is that survival—or death plus a perfect replacement?

2. What if Earth-you weren’t disassembled? If Earth-you and Mars-you both exist with the same memories, which one is you?

3. What makes you you: the particular atoms that make up your body, their arrangement, your memories, or something else?

4. Would you take the Space-Hopper? Why or why not?

Critikid's Resources for Teens

• A Statistical Odyssey
• Logic for Teens
• High School Lesson Plans and Worksheets