Many moons ago, before I started teaching GT classes, I had never heard of S.C.A.M.P.E.R., Six-Hat Thinking, FFOE… and the list goes on. After just a few months, I found myself using thinking strategies all the time, and – decades later- I continue to use them! The big-picture concept of a Thinker’s Toolbox, a phrase I first heard from Sandra Kaplan, is a great way to give students an anchor for all strategies.
Different thinking strategies are useful for different types of tasks. Knowing which tool to use for each specific “job” is key. Sharing and reinforcing this with students will empower them to find new ways to use the strategies throughout their lives.
Here are some ideas and tips for using thinking strategies in a multitude of ways with students (and teachers) of all ages.
S.C.A.M.P.E.R.
S.C.A.M.P.E.R is a creative thinking strategy, so it can be applied to any creative endeavor including art, poetry, writing, projects, inventions, and any other original product. There are so many more possibilities for its use in the classroom than simply “S.C.A.M.P.E.R. a paper clip” (though that may be a great way to introduce the strategy).
S.C.A.M.P.E.R. INTRODUCTORY SLIDE SHOW ~ ready to share with students
S.C.A.M.P.E.R. NUMBERS and MATH (Mini-Unit for advanced K-2 students)
S.C.A.M.P.E.R. POETRY (all ages) – exploring poetry with S.C.A.M.P.E.R.
S.C.A.M.P.E.R. a GAME – See what I shared with our Facebook group (picture below)
SIX-HAT THINKING
The Thinking Hats are the right tools for evaluative thinking. If you are trying to analyze, evaluate, or judge something, or if you are faced with a decision, this is the best strategy for the job.
SIX-HAT THINKING INTRODUCTION (for teachers)
THINKING HATS INTRODUCTION (for students)
SIX-HAT THINKING in LITERATURE ~ an example using Cinderella (K-2)
SIX-HAT THINKING in Socratic dialogue – using the Thinking Hats and other tools in dialogue
SIX-HAT THINKING (for teachers and in life) – This is a sample from my life when I was deciding whether or not to apply for a GT teaching position. I’d previously taught GT for one year and was responsible for three schools. When a new position opened up a few years later, I wasn’t sure whether or not I wanted to apply. I’d just had a wonderful year with my students, and I loved being a classroom teacher. I’d learned to apply GT strategies to the “regular” classroom and was sharing them with other teachers. In hindsight though, GT was the perfect fit for me. I encourage you to try it the next time you have a big decision to make.
PRIMARY EDUCATION THINKING SKILLS (P.E.T.S)
These thinking skills comprise a unique curriculum designed for younger scholars (K-3). The characters (e.g. Dudley the Detective and Max the Magician) help students understand that different types of thinking help with different tasks. Because the P.E.T.S. program is still used widely in schools, I’ve shared other activities that can be tied to each of the “thinking animals” HERE.
P.E.T.S. Curricular Materials (sold by Pieces of Learning) VIRTUAL P.E.T.S. Curriculum
P.E.T.S.-Friendly Activities ~ additional lessons and activities that align with P.E.T.S.
CoRT THINKING
CoRT Thinking strategies were created by Edward De Bono, who also invented The Thinking Hats (aka Six-Hat Thinking). In my district, we reserved these strategies for 3rd-5th graders, and at the time the materials were sold in kits. De Bono generously gifted them to the world so teachers now have access to them free of charge. If you’ve never heard of them, I invite you to explore these strategies which align so well with the tools of Depth and Complexity.
Here are the seven CoRT Thinking strategies from Level 1.
PMI – Plus, Minus, Interesting – Here is a blog post a 3rd grader wrote about this.
CAF – Consider All Factors – My class did this CAF as we planned our DoSeum.
C & S – Consequence & Sequel – (see also this lesson on Unintended Consequences)
AGO – Aims, Goals, and Objectives
FIP – First Important Priorities
APC – Alternatives, Possibilities, Choices
OPV – Other People’s Viewpoints
WHAT ABOUT DEPTH and COMPLEXITY?
The DEPTH and COMPLEXITY framework is its own toolbox! Many teachers are familiar with the prompts or “lenses.” but these are best used with the other parts of this toolbox and in the context of a universal theme (see Depth and Complexity and Long-Term Planning). They are powerful when used in designing lessons and units and in the exploration of topics of study with students. I highly recommend reading this book and this site to learn more.
This page will be updated as lessons and activities related to the Thinking Tools are shared.