Critical Thinking

In the Critical Thinking curriculum module, students take a journey with Elliot as he struggles with deciding his future after high school. Elliot encounters an unexpected companion who teaches him about critical thinking and how it can help someone make good decisions.

Phase 1: Explore

Activity: Thinking Better with Brainteasers

In this activity, students try to solve brainteasers. Brainteasers help students exercise their minds into seeing when they are using preconceived notions. Avoiding preconceived notions is important in critical thinking.

Phase 2: Learn & Practice

learn-and-practice

Unit 1: Think About It

In this unit, students are introduced to ways people make decisions and how decisions affect their lives. They are taught how critical thinking can benefit their decisions. Students then delve into the core skills needed to be a good critical thinker.

Lessons

Making Decisions
Why Use Critical Thinking?
Thinking Critically

Unit 2: Evaluate This

In this unit, students explore how to break down and evaluate an argument - a key to critical thinking. This includes learning about the parts of an argument, such as a claim, a premise, and evidence.

Lessons

Break It Down and Clarify
Analyze It
Decide Its Value

Unit 3: Putting It Together

In this unit, students learn about the critical thinking process. They learn how this process can help them use their critical thinking skills in an organized way to make difficult decisions.

Lessons

The Critical Thinking Process

Phase 3: Reflect

reflect

Reflection Activity: Questions and Discussion

In this activity, students reflect upon and discuss the benefits and methods of critical thinking.

Phase 4: Reinforce

reinforce-phase

Activity: Crossword Puzzle

In this activity, students solve a crossword puzzle of important terms and phrases related to critical thinking.

Activity: Defining Logical Fallacies

In this activity, students investigate different logical fallacies and give real-life examples. The results of the investigations are then shared with the class.

Activity: Current Event

Students will review articles for information related to a topic in the module. Once an article is found, students complete a Current Event form.

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