In November, our Scholar Star Skill was Critical Thinking. To help students understand how their thinking grows and strengthens, we completed a hands-on lesson called “Growing Our Thinking Tree.” Students used a tree visual to explore how asking questions, gathering information, solving problems, and making decisions all strengthen their minds, just like branches, leaves, roots, and a trunk help a tree grow.

We began by looking at a picture of a tree and introducing the idea:
“Our brains are like trees!”

• Branches grow when we ask questions

• Leaves grow when we find information

• Roots grow when we solve problems

• The trunk grows strong when we make good decisions

The stronger the tree, the stronger our thinking!

Part 1 – Growing Branches: Asking Questions

Students received a blank tree template.
We asked:
“What’s something you’ve wondered about?”

Students wrote a question on one of their tree’s branches, such as:

• “Why do dogs bark?”

• “How do planes fly?”

• “Why is the sky blue?”

We discussed how questions help our thinking grow—just like branches help a tree spread out and become stronger.
If a tree stops growing branches, it stays small. The same is true for our thinking!

Part 2 – Growing Leaves: Finding Information

Just like leaves gather sunlight to help a tree grow, our brains gather facts to grow stronger.

Students brainstormed facts they already knew about topics like:

• Animals

• School

• Weather

• Nature

They wrote one fact on a leaf on their tree.
This reinforced that collecting information helps us learn and think critically.

Part 3 – Growing Roots: Solving Problems

Roots keep a tree strong and steady.
Problem-solving does the same for our minds.

We posed a simple problem:

“A bird built a nest on a weak branch. What should it do?”

Students shared a variety of solutions, showing creative and flexible thinking.
Then they wrote one problem-solving strategy on a root, such as:

• “Try a new idea.”

• “Think carefully.”

• “Make a plan.”

This helped students understand that solving problems strengthens their thinking roots.

Part 4 – Strengthening the Trunk: Making Decisions

The trunk holds the whole tree up, just like good decision-making supports our thinking.

We gave a simple choice:

“If you only have time for homework or play, what do you do first? Why?”

Students discussed their reasoning and wrote one word or phrase on the trunk, such as:

• “Think first.”

• “Choose wisely.”

• “Do homework first.”

Students learned that making informed decisions keeps their thinking tree strong and steady.

Wrap-Up – A Tree Full of Thinking

At the end of the lesson, we reviewed what each part of their tree represented:

• Branches: Asking questions

• Leaves: Gathering facts

• Roots: Solving problems

• Trunk: Making decisions

Students saw how their tree had grown, and how their thinking grows too!

We encouraged them to take their tree home and explain to a family member how their thinking becomes stronger with critical thinking.