Critical Thinking is one of the most important tools students use in school. As a teacher, it's my job to help students build this skill. I can do this by asking students questions to further their knowledge, active listening, teach reasoning skills, and many more. We know that practice makes perfect! Critical thinking is also a skill that encourages open mindedness, promoting respectful communication and collaboration. Problem solving is one of the greatest lessons that critical thinking can teach you.
Science is a great way for students to demonstrate critical thinking skills. By hypothesizing the outcome of experiments. I created an inquiry based science lesson plan, in this lesson students understand that dissolving is a property. To do this, students dissolve a M&M and a Skittle in two different cups. Watching how each piece of candy reacts in water.
In my introduction to teaching class, my classmate Jackie and I created an in depth lesson plan for 4th graders. To teach them about Cesar Chavez and his impact on society. In this lesson plan, students play Loteria and create a one pager to demonstrate their knowledge from the article we will read together in class.
Critical Thinking: ability to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information objectively and logically to make reasoned judgements and decisions.
Examples:
Problem Solving
Analysis
Communication
Influence
Mindfulness