1. De Bono’s thinking hats De Bono identified six distinct directions of thinking and assigned them a colour. The sixth meta thinking (Blue) is discussed in the next section. The other 5 directions are: Information: (White) - considering purely what information is available, what are the facts? Emotions (Red) - intuitive or instinctive gut reactions or statements of emotional feeling (but not any justification) - opinion Discernment (Black) - logic applied to identifying reasons to be cautious and conservative - negatives Optimistic response (Yellow) - logic applied to identifying benefits, seeking harmony - positives Creativity (Green) - statements of provocation and investigation, seeing where a thought goes – alternative ideas

2. The blue hat Sequences always begin and end with a blue hat; introduce your ideas, present the main body of your essay, then evaluate the outcomes of the essay. The blue hat decides how the essay or group discussion will be structured.

3. Structure Opinion Fact For / Positive Against / Negative Creativity – alternatives

4. Lesson structure In the previous lesson, learners have been given a topic to research and reflect on for homework (ensuring that the group enter the room with some facts / ideas). Topic: Should cannabis be legalised? Starter activity – Key vocab / useful essay phrases The class is split into groups and each group is given a hat (I would leave out the blue hat and give one group both fact and opinion). Middle ability – yellow / black Highest ability – green hat Ideas pooled and jotted down on the sheet provided. Pupils then go away with a plan to produce the essay for homework!

5. Information: (White - facts) – cannabis is a class B drug. Most people use it rolled up in a cigarette, neat or mixed with tobacco. Up to 10% of the population have used cannabis at some point. Cannabis farms often located in suburban homes or commercial warehouses Emotions (Red - opinion) – That’s up to them! Discernment (Black - negatives) – can cause paranoia / trigger psychosis / depression. Has been proven to be highly-addictive. Some argue it leads people on to harder drugs (gateway theory). Can lead to oral / throat / lung cancer. Optimistic response (Yellow - postives) – Criminal organisations would no longer be financially supported. People may be deterred from drinking. Cannabis has become stronger – it could be regulated if made legal. Small proportion of those who try cannabis go on to use heroin. Gateway theory: Cannabis use involves people in the buying of illegal drugs, making it more likely that they will meet with an offer of heroin, an offer which some will accept. Creativity (Green - alternatives) – Amsterdam (controlled areas where users can smoke) OR tobacco and alcohol (these are just as dangerous) Blue hat (structure): Paragraph 1: Introduction (fact) 20-30 words Paragraph 2: Negatives (or Positives) Paragraph 3: Positives (or negatives) (paragraphs 2 and 3 making up 140-150 words) Paragraph 4: Alternatives (30-40 words) Conclusion: Evaluation of main points and opinion (50-60 words) Topic: Should cannabis be legalised? 200-250 words