Subject: SEL (Social-Emotional Learning)
Lesson Length: 1 - 2 class sessions
Topic: Reasoning
Brief Description: Students will represent how critical thinking skills can be used in and out of school.
Know Before You Start: Students should be familiar with the term critical thinking.
Hook:
- Ask students:
- “What does it mean to be critical?”
- “When have you used critical thinking skills in our class?”
- “Which critical thinking skills do you use on a daily basis?”
Activity:
- Split students into two teams. Each team will be supporting one side of a controversial topic.
- Explain what the hot topic is and the general stance that each team will take, e.g., using ChatGTP in school, banning books, etc.
- Have each team generate a list of reasons to support or oppose the controversial topic as well as find resources to provide evidence.
- Have students debate using their findings.
- Have students reflect through a whole group discussion on which critical thinking skills they used to research, debate, and collaborate with their teammates. Record a list of the critical thinking skills captured in the conversation.
- Have students select one of the critical thinking skills discussed and create a comic demonstrating how that skill is used in and out of school.
Closure:
- Display student comics in the classroom for visual reminders of their critical thinking skills.
- Students will share their comics in partnerships or small groups.
- Share with the class that thinking critically helps to improve their decision-making skills, and problem-solving ability, stimulates their curiosity, and helps them make sense of the world. Critical thinking helps you reflect and understand your own points of view and biases.
Differentiation:
- Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
- Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.
- Allow students to use the voiceover to read their comics aloud.
- Provide students with the Main Idea Web or Concept Map graphic organizers to plan for their comic.
Resources:
- Comic to print or display: Comic.
- Graphic Organizers
- Articles:
- 5 Top Critical Thinking Skills (and How To Improve Them) - Indeed.com
- 100+ Controversial Debate Topics to Challenge Your Students by WeAreTeahers.com
- The Benefits of Developing Critical Thinking Skills in The Workplace - LinkedIn.com
- Videos:
- 5 Tips to Improve Your Critical Thinking by Samantha Agoos
- How to Develop Critical Thinking- Empowering Speech by Jordan B Peterson
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