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Educational Psychology: Tutoring Solution9 chapters | 328 lessons
Critical Thinking Activities for High School
Instructor:
Laura Gray
Laura has taught at the secondary and tertiary levels for 20+ years and has a Ph.D. in Instructional Design for Online Learning.
This lesson discusses the importance of critical thinking. Read on for several suggestions for implementing critical thinking activities in the classroom.
Critical Thinking Skills are Important
One of the biggest complaints from bosses in the 21st century is that their employees cannot think critically and solve problems. With so many other subjects and objectives to cover during a typical school year, it's no wonder that students don't get to flex their critical thinking muscles as often as they should. However, one of the most important things that a student graduating from high school should leave with is the ability to think critically. After all, this skill is essential both on the job and in higher education, and its importance cannot be overlooked.
Critical Thinking Activities You Can Do Now
There are a host of activities that you can implement in your classroom today in order to help your students think critically. Below are just a few:
1. Brain teasers and logic puzzles: If you go online, you can find literally thousands of examples of brain teasers and logic puzzles that are suitable for high school students. Why not start each class with a two- or three-minute activity? Brain teasers are wonderful in that they really wake up the brain and allow students to solve problems in creative ways. In addition, having students work in pairs or groups on these activities fosters teamwork and shared responsibility (two other things that bosses like to see their employees do).
2. Offering a student's perspective: No matter what subject you teach, you can present a problem or situation and ask your students how they would have solved it. This gives students the chance to think critically to determine what they would have done differently to influence the outcome. It can be great fun in English-based classes to ask students to write alternate endings to stories they have read. Many students are not accustomed to having to think this way and may initially balk at the idea. However, with a little push and some encouragement, you will be surprised at the alternative solutions and endings they come up with.
3. Internet scavenger hunts: Your students may or may not have access to computers in the classroom, but chances are, the vast majority have access outside of school. Why not send your classes on an Internet scavenger hunt? Create a list of websites and corresponding questions, then have your students find the information and facts on their own. Tie those websites together with a common theme, and have students figure out what the theme is. I'm betting that many of your students are already computer whizzes and may know better and quicker ways to search for this material than you will!
4. Student-made predictions: 'What would happen if...?' Asking this question provides an opportunity for your students' imaginations to run wild, and this is a great lead-in to writing individual essays or sparking a heated class discussion. Asking open-ended questions of your students is a great way to get them thinking critically, and many students will be surprised to know that there are multiple 'right' answers to some of your questions!
Lesson Summary
Critical thinking is important, and too often it is an area of high school education that is overlooked. However, by allowing your students to solve brain teasers and logic puzzles, go on Internet scavenger hunts, offer alternative solutions to problems, and make predictions, you will be well on your way to teaching them to think critically and creatively. No matter which subject you teach, you can implement these ideas in your classroom, and your students will have fun completing them!
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Lesson
24 in chapter 2 of the course:
- Child and Adolescent Development: Developmental Milestones & Nature vs. Nurture 5:24
- Using Cognitive Development Psychology in the Classroom 6:51
- Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development 9:31
- Assimilation & Accommodation in Psychology: Definition & Examples 3:01
- Jean Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development 9:17
- Lev Vygotsky's Theory of Cognitive Development 11:18
- Zone of Proximal Development and Scaffolding in the Classroom 5:37
- Social Constructivism and the Mediated Learning Experience 5:36
- Tools to Advance Cognitive Development 6:59
- Differences between Piaget & Vygotsky's Cognitive Development Theories 6:33
- Social & Cognitive Development: Impact on Interpersonal Relationships 8:13
- Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development: Theory & Examples 4:54
- Linguistics: Language Development in Children 6:54
- Bilingual Education, Immersion & Multicultural Education 6:10
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- Carol Gilligan's Theory of Moral Development 7:06
- Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development 4:09
- Gender Differences in the Classroom: Physical, Cognitive & Behavioral 8:48
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- 4th Grade Science Fair Projects
- Classroom Rules and Procedures for Kindergarten 3:38
- Classroom Rules for High School 5:01
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- Range of Reaction: Definition & Child Development Psychology 4:49
- Go to Developmental Psychology in Children and Adolescents: Tutoring Solution
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