Exercise Your Mind: Teaching Thinking Skills in the Elementary Social Studies Classroom Presented by Betsey Kennedy and Valerie King Cobb County School District

Presentation PowerPoint and Useful Links available online at teachingthinkinginsocialstudies. wikispaces.com/ teachingthinkinginsocialstudies. wikispaces.com/

Teaching children to become effective thinkers is increasingly recognized as an immediate goal of education…If students are to function successfully in a highly technological society, then they must be equipped with lifelong learning and thinking skills necessary to acquire and process information in an ever- changing world. -I. Robinson

Anything not understood in more than one way is not understood at all. - Dr. R.J. Kizlik

Complex Thinking Processes Problem Solving Decision Making Critical Thinking Creative Thinking

Problem Solving Use thinking processes to resolve difficulties Ask questions Assemble information Suggest solutions and test them Provide solutions

6 Hat Thinking Hats indicate different types of thinking being used White Hat – Nothing but the facts Red Hat - Feelings Black Hat – Judgment and Caution Yellow Hat – Advantages and Benefits Green Hat – New Ideas / Other Possibilities Blue Hat – Summarizing

Decision Making Choose a best alternative among choices Compare advantages and disadvantages of alternative approaches Judge most effective response Justify response

Decision Making Grids Class Elections Economic Decision Making: Opportunity Cost

Class Election Decision Making

Economic Decision Making Opportunity Cost and Scarcity

Classroom Trials

Critical Thinking Analyze arguments Generate insight into particular interpretations Develop cohesive, logical reasoning Understand underlying assumptions and biases Develop credible, concise, and convincing argument

Explorers Report Cards

RAFTing Students analyze a topic from multiple points of view R R ole – I am … A A udience – I am writing for… F F ormat – I will write a… (letter, diary entry, telegraph, , text message) T T opic – I will write about …

Object Mysteries Use critical thinking and questioning skills to determine the use of unusual artifacts Introduce students to the differences between life in the past and life today

35 inches tall 10 inches wide Weighs about 2 pounds Made of wood and metal

Hallway Game George Washington likes… All items that he likes follow a pattern None of the items he dislikes follow the pattern

George Washington Likes George Washington likes sewing machines, but he doesn’t like seamstresses. George Washington likes forklifts, but he doesn’t like copper. George Washington likes computers, but he doesn’t like accountants. George Washington likes tractors, but he doesn’t like corn.

Other Possibilities Regions of the United States Countries in the Allied / Axis Powers Powers of the Executive / Legislative / Judicial Branch People connected to the Union / Confederacy

Creative Thinking Develop or invent novel ideas or products Use known information or material to generate the possible Elaborate on original design

Synectics Brainstorm a list of 4 -5 common items Select a topic or vocabulary word Students create analogies connecting the common item to the topic of study

Direct Democracy is like… “a necklace because lots of people were part of it, like how there are lots of beads on a necklace. The string is the law that holds everything together.” “an umbrella because it protects you from kings who might want to do bad stuff and make you feel bad. An umbrella makes you not get covered in bad rain.” “a rocking chair because when their [sturdy] they make you feel comfortable and a little safer.”

Hallway Game Select an object in the hallway and ask students: How could this have been used by the person you have been studying? How could this have been used during the time period you have been studying? How might history have been different if this object had existed?

Presentation PowerPoint and Useful Links available online at teachingthinkinginsocialstudies. wikispaces.com/ teachingthinkinginsocialstudies. wikispaces.com/