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Metacognition: An Important Skill for Modern Times - Brendan Conway-Smith
Grades
4 to 12
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The talk "Metacognition: An Important Skill for Modern Times" by Brendan Conway-Smith explains the idea of metacognition, which means thinking about your own thinking, and shows why...more
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The talk "Metacognition: An Important Skill for Modern Times" by Brendan Conway-Smith explains the idea of metacognition, which means thinking about your own thinking, and shows why it is an important skill in today's busy, technology-filled world. Conway-Smith describes how constant distractions and information overload make it hard for our brains to stay focused, and he explains how greater awareness of our thoughts, attention, and emotions can help us learn better and stay in control. This talk is helpful for teachers because it highlights how guiding students to notice their thinking can build independence, stronger focus, and deeper learning.
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tag(s): brain (55), professional development (272), social and emotional learning (126), thinking skills (56)
In the Classroom
Give students a simple puzzle (a word scramble, a math riddle, or a pattern). Before solving, ask them to write or say, "How do I plan to solve this?" Afterward, they reflect on what worked and what didn't. Set up a short activity, such as a reading passage or drawing task, and pause halfway to let students check in with themselves. They can answer quick prompts like "Is my mind wandering?" and "What can I do to refocus?" Students will begin to see how awareness affects performance. Have students create a set of colorful cards that teach strategies such as "Take a brain break," "Ask yourself questions," "Notice your emotions," and "Check your work." They can decorate, explain, and practice each strategy, then use their cards during class for future learning tasks.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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The 10 Metacognitive Strategies That Will Empower All Primary And Secondary Students - Third Space Learning
Grades
K to 12
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The article "10 Metacognitive Strategies That Will Empower All Primary And Secondary Students" defines metacognition, outlines metacognitive strategies, covers the planning phase, and...more
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The article "10 Metacognitive Strategies That Will Empower All Primary And Secondary Students" defines metacognition, outlines metacognitive strategies, covers the planning phase, and addresses FAQs. Examples of some strategies are: Break Down the Problem, Goal Setting, Questioning, Improving Self-Regulation, Test Yourself, and more.
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tag(s): thinking skills (56)
In the Classroom
Students can create goals using Google Drawing, reviewed here and track their progress. Students can use Word Clouds, reviewed here to ask questions while reading a story. Students can use the Timelines Tool by ReadWriteThink, reviewed here to break down problems step by step.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Habits of Mind - Arthur L. Costa and Bena Kallick
Grades
5 to 12
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The Habits of Mind: A Curriculum for Community High School of Vermont Students is a structured program designed to help learners develop essential thinking and problem-solving skills....more
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The Habits of Mind: A Curriculum for Community High School of Vermont Students is a structured program designed to help learners develop essential thinking and problem-solving skills. The curriculum includes lessons and activities focused on persistence, flexible thinking, managing impulsivity, and reflective learning. Each module provides clear objectives, guided discussions, and reflection prompts that encourage students to apply these habits in academic and real-life situations. Although designed for older students, users can adapt the content for upper-elementary and middle-school classrooms to build a strong foundation for social-emotional growth and metacognitive awareness.
tag(s): critical thinking (146), problem solving (240), thinking routines (23), thinking skills (56)
In the Classroom
Introduce one habit, such as Thinking Flexibly, and give students a quick scenario in which they choose among different ways to solve a problem. Have them vote and explain their choices. Give students cards with prompts like "A time I persisted today..." or "A moment I listened with understanding..." to build awareness of habits in real time. Set up stations tied to different habits, such as puzzles for persisting partner tasks for listening with understanding or creative challenges for thinking flexibly. Have students rotate and practice each habit as part of your ongoing classroom routines.
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Metacognitive Strategies - CUNY Academic Commons
Grades
6 to 12
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The Metacognition Strategies toolkit from the CUNY Academic Commons provides a comprehensive guide for educators looking to help students take control of their own learning. This free...more
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The Metacognition Strategies toolkit from the CUNY Academic Commons provides a comprehensive guide for educators looking to help students take control of their own learning. This free resource offers a practical bank of strategies, ranging from goal-setting and self-reflection to peer instruction and scaffolded learning. Each category includes clear explanations of how these techniques work to enhance a student's ability to monitor and regulate their cognitive processes. While the site is hosted by a college faculty center, the strategies--such as "think-alouds," "predict-observe-explain," and "concept mapping"--are easily adaptable for learners from upper elementary through higher education. The site functions as a straightforward pedagogical menu, allowing you to quickly browse subject-specific applications for math, science, language arts, and social studies without a subscription or account.
tag(s): thinking skills (56)
In the Classroom
When debating during a Social Studies lesson, students can use Tricider, reviewed here. Students can use Snorkl, reviewed here to get feedback on an activity. Students can use the Interactive 2 Circle Venn Diagram by ReadWriteThink, reviewed here to create maps for science while making predictions and observations during an experiment.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Help Students Learn to Take Exams with Exam Wrappers - Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning
Grades
K to 12
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Help Students Learn to Take Exams with Exam Wrappers is a fantastic article that explains what exam wrappers are and why they're a game-changer in the classroom. An exam wrapper...more
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Help Students Learn to Take Exams with Exam Wrappers is a fantastic article that explains what exam wrappers are and why they're a game-changer in the classroom. An exam wrapper is a simple reflection tool you give students right after they receive a graded exam. Instead of just glancing at their score and moving on, students take time to think about what worked, what didn't, and how they can improve next time. However, exam wrappers aren't just for after the test! You can also use them before an exam to help students prepare more strategically. They'll learn to tackle questions at different levels of Bloom's Taxonomy and develop a concrete plan for doing even better on their next assessment. It's a win-win: students become more self-aware learners, and you get to see real growth in their test-taking skills!
tag(s): thinking skills (56)
In the Classroom
Students can create their own exam wrapper using Canva for Education, reviewed here. Students can use Lino, reviewed here to reflect after using an exam wrapper. Students can use the Infographics Presentation Templates, reviewed here to create a top five list as to why and how to use exam wrappers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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How Metacognition Can Optimize Learning - Cult of Pedagogy
Grades
K to 12
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How Metacognition Can Optimize Learning is a YouTube podcast featuring cognitive scientist Megan Sumeracki. The podcast focuses on metacognition, the act of thinking about thinking,...more
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How Metacognition Can Optimize Learning is a YouTube podcast featuring cognitive scientist Megan Sumeracki. The podcast focuses on metacognition, the act of thinking about thinking, and how it helps our brains hold onto information. In addition, it explains Metacognitive Monitoring (Awareness) and Metacognitive Control (Action). An example provided in the video is rereading and retrieval practice.
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tag(s): thinking skills (56)
In the Classroom
Students can use mindmaps, reviewed here to create study resources. Students can use Google Drawing, reviewed here to create outlines and/or graphic organizers. Finally, students can use StoryMap JS, reviewed here to create story maps.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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20 Metacognitive Questions That Will Get Students Thinking - New Teacher Coach
Grades
K to 12
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New Teacher Coach provides a valuable collection of metacognitive questions designed to boost student reflection and self-awareness across all grade levels. This free resource categorizes...more
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New Teacher Coach provides a valuable collection of metacognitive questions designed to boost student reflection and self-awareness across all grade levels. This free resource categorizes questions into three distinct phases: planning, monitoring, and evaluating. During the planning stage, prompts help students set goals and identify the necessary resources before starting a task. The monitoring questions encourage students to check their progress and adjust their strategies mid-activity, while the evaluation prompts guide them in assessing their final performance and learning process. Because these questions focus on the "how" of learning rather than just the "what," they offer a practical framework for developing independent learners who understand their own cognitive processes.
tag(s): critical thinking (146), problem solving (240), thinking skills (56)
In the Classroom
Students can use Stormboard, reviewed here to post their goal. Students can use Google Keep, reviewed here to help with deadlines for assignments and projects. Students can use Mentimeter, reviewed here as a reflection tool.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Metacognition in the Classroom: More Than Thinking About Thinking - Learning A to Z
Grades
K to 12
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Metacognition in the Classroom: More Than Thinking About Thinking focuses on the classroom setting. This resource defines metacognition, what it is not, how to create metacognition...more
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Metacognition in the Classroom: More Than Thinking About Thinking focuses on the classroom setting. This resource defines metacognition, what it is not, how to create metacognition in the classroom, teaching strategies, and how to overcome challenges. The teaching of reading strategies highlighted for metacognition are Planning and Goal Setting, Making Connections, Monitoring Comprehension, Revising, Clarifying, and Repairing Understanding, Questioning, Summarizing, and Visualizing. The reading strategies are shared in a table that highlights before, during, and after reading.
tag(s): questioning (34), reading comprehension (141), summarizing (24), teaching strategies (59), thinking skills (56), visualizations (11)
In the Classroom
Students can use Canva for Education, reviewed here to create their goals. Students can use Mentimeter, reviewed here to make connections to a text. Students can post questions in Stickies.io, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Instagram in Class: Five Activities - Education World
Grades
5 to 12
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If you're looking to bring visual storytelling and creativity into your classroom, this Education World article is full of inspiring ideas. Titled "Using Instagram in the Classroom:...more
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If you're looking to bring visual storytelling and creativity into your classroom, this Education World article is full of inspiring ideas. Titled "Using Instagram in the Classroom: Five Activities," it presents engaging ways to harness Instagram (or similar tools) for student learning. Activities include recreating famous artworks, staging historical reenactments, designing visual book reports, documenting science experiments step by step, and participating in photo scavenger hunts to find real-life examples of academic concepts. These ideas help students make personal and creative connections to the curriculum through images and collaboration.
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tag(s): digital storytelling (147), social media (57)
In the Classroom
Create a themed list (e.g., shapes in geometry, symbols in literature, examples of good citizenship), and have students find or draw images that represent each item. After reading a story, assign students to select or create photos to describe the setting, characters, conflict, and resolution. Post these on the class's Instagram account. In small groups, have students pose as historical figures in key moments from history (e.g., signing the Declaration of Independence). They can caption their photo with a first-person quote or journal entry.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Character Lab - Character Lab
Grades
K to 12
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Character Lab is a research-based nonprofit dedicated to helping educators and families build students' character strengths, such as self-control, gratitude, curiosity, kindness, growth...more
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Character Lab is a research-based nonprofit dedicated to helping educators and families build students' character strengths, such as self-control, gratitude, curiosity, kindness, growth mindset, and creativity. On this site, you'll find a set of free "Playbooks" (ready-to-use guides for classroom practice) and "Tips" (short, evidence-based articles) designed for easy integration into real classrooms.
tag(s): social and emotional learning (126)
In the Classroom
Choose any topic you're teaching and have students generate three "wonder questions." Invite them to share one with a partner, then select a few to guide class discussion. Give students small index cards and have them write or draw one thing they are grateful for that day. They should say something specific, not general (for example, "My friend helped me understand fractions" instead of "my friends"). Collect the cards and create a class gratitude wall. Set up three short challenge stations (puzzles, STEM building tasks, brainteasers). Have students rotate through each one and practice using perseverance strategies, such as breaking a task into smaller steps or trying a new approach. Afterward, they can reflect on which strategy helped them the most and how they can apply it in academic tasks.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hour of Code - Code.org
Grades
K to 12
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Hour of Code provides teachers, students, and parents with resources and activities to support computer science education and their new initiative, Hour of AI. Visit the "Learn" portion...more
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Hour of Code provides teachers, students, and parents with resources and activities to support computer science education and their new initiative, Hour of AI. Visit the "Learn" portion of the site to find videos, tutorials, and programming activities for all ages and ability levels. The "Teach" area features downloadable curricula for all grade levels, including instruction on coding and AI. Visit the link for parents to take advantage of activities that teach the fundamentals of coding through Hour of Code activities and self-paced computer science courses. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (218), coding (90), critical thinking (146), logic (153), problem solving (240), STEM (331)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site to use during annual Hour of AI or Code activities and throughout the year as part of computer science instruction. Integrate coding activities into cross-curricular lessons, for example, by incorporating coding exercises that enable students to explore geometry and patterns within their math lessons. Integrate with science lessons to explore the scientific method or use coding activities to create interactive stories that bring student writing projects to life. Extend student learning by including activities and lessons from Hour of AI, reviewed here as part of your computer science curriculum. Share student projects on your class website or on a site such as Milanote, reviewed here to curate and share information.
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Two Truths & AI Game - Common Sense Education
Grades
5 to 12
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Common Sense Education offers "Two Truths and AI," an activity that invites students and educators to explore how artificial intelligence can blur the line between truth and fiction....more
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Common Sense Education offers "Two Truths and AI," an activity that invites students and educators to explore how artificial intelligence can blur the line between truth and fiction. The interactive encourages learners to examine short statements generated or influenced by AI, decide which are true or false, and reflect on how AI is creating convincing but potentially misleading content. In doing so, it promotes critical digital literacy by helping students understand how AI works, how it can shape information, and how to make thoughtful judgments about what they read or see online.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (218), digital literacy (24), game based learning (242)
In the Classroom
Share this game during the Hour of AI. Begin class with a "Two Truths and a Lie" icebreaker using everyday facts, then introduce the AI version from the website. Have students guess which statements might have been created by AI to start a discussion about how machines mimic human communication. Guide students to research examples of AI-generated content, such as news articles, art, or social media posts. In small groups, they can analyze clues that reveal when something might not be human-made and share their reasoning with the class. Challenge older students to write their own "Two Truths and an AI" statements using a classroom AI tool or generator such as Claude, reviewed here or ChatGPT, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Listening with Understanding and Empathy (Habit of the Mind) - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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Discover our collection of resources on the Habit of Mind of Listening with Understanding and Empathy--the practice of devoting genuine mental energy to another person's thoughts and...more
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Discover our collection of resources on the Habit of Mind of Listening with Understanding and Empathy--the practice of devoting genuine mental energy to another person's thoughts and ideas while making a sincere effort to perceive their point of view and emotions. This vital habit helps students move beyond simply hearing words to truly understanding others by asking clarifying questions, considering perspectives different from their own, and giving their full attention during conversations. In a world of constant communication, we've gathered a variety of tools to help you teach students to listen beyond the words and to make an effort to perceive another person's perspective. In this collection, you'll find things like video examples demonstrating active listening skills and empathetic responses, role-playing activities and conversation scenarios that practice perspective-taking, printable question stems and sentence starters to guide meaningful dialogue, lesson plans featuring partner interviews and collaborative discussion protocols, and reflection journals where students can explore different viewpoints, as well as digital platforms for structured discussions and collaborative storytelling. As you weave these resources into your daily routines, you'll create a classroom where students practice understanding one another, which helps foster a culture of respect and genuine connection.
In the Classroom
Share these resources with your students to learn more about listening with understanding and empathy. Share a link to this collection on your school web page and in your school newsletter (or email). Find resources to incorporate into your lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Questioning and Posing Problems (Habit of the Mind) - TeachersFirst
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K to 12
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Investigate our collection of resources on the Habit of Mind of Questioning and Posing Problems--the curious practice of asking yourself "How can I find out?", developing powerful questioning...more
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Investigate our collection of resources on the Habit of Mind of Questioning and Posing Problems--the curious practice of asking yourself "How can I find out?", developing powerful questioning strategies, and actively seeking problems to solve with a commitment to excellence and a relentless pursuit of precision. This inquiry-driven habit empowers students to ask meaningful "why" and "what if" questions, identify gaps in their understanding, and formulate questions that deepen learning and spark new discoveries. In this collection, you'll find video examples of scientists, innovators, and students modeling effective questioning techniques, interactive inquiry activities and problem-finding challenges that stimulate curiosity, interactive checklists and digital rubrics that help students verify their work against clear criteria, question stems and wondering journals to capture emerging thoughts, lesson plans featuring Socratic seminars and question formulation techniques, and mystery scenarios that require students to generate their own investigative questions. With these resources, your students will gain practical strategies and examples to help them double-check their work, verify information, and strive for the highest level of quality in all their endeavors.
tag(s): questioning (34), thinking skills (56)
In the Classroom
Help your students learn and practice questioning and posing questions. This list includes resources for all grades. Read each resource's Classroom Use section to learn ways to incorporate the information in your lessonsAdd your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Winter Solstice Resources - TeachersFirst
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K to 12
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Bring the magic of the winter solstice into your classroom with activities that blend science, culture, and creativity! The shortest day of the year (December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere)...more
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Bring the magic of the winter solstice into your classroom with activities that blend science, culture, and creativity! The shortest day of the year (December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere) offers a perfect opportunity to explore Earth's tilt and orbit through hands-on demonstrations with globes and flashlights, helping students visualize why we experience different amounts of daylight throughout the year. You can also take a multicultural approach by learning about how different societies have celebrated this astronomical event for thousands of years--from Stonehenge's ancient alignment with the solstice sunrise to festivals like Yule, Dongzhi, and Inti Raymi that honor the return of longer days. Creative activities might include graphing sunrise and sunset times throughout the year, writing poetry about light and darkness, creating winter solstice lanterns, or researching how animals and plants respond to changing daylight. These resources not only teach important STEM concepts about astronomy and seasons, but also foster appreciation for diverse cultural traditions and our shared human experience of observing the natural world.
In the Classroom
Help your students learn more about the winter solstice. Find resources on this list for students to use in cooperative learning groups. Read each resource's Classroom Use section to learn how to incorporate its information into your lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Project Zero Thinking Routines - TeachersFirst
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K to 12
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Project Zero Thinking Routines are research-based instructional tools designed to cultivate students' thinking dispositions and make their cognitive processes visible in powerful, accessible...more
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Project Zero Thinking Routines are research-based instructional tools designed to cultivate students' thinking dispositions and make their cognitive processes visible in powerful, accessible ways. Developed by researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, these simple, repeatable mini-strategies are the building blocks of an authentic thinking culture in your classroom. These routines have been refined over decades of classroom implementation and represent some of the most effective strategies for developing critical and creative thinking skills. What makes Project Zero routines so impactful is their elegant simplicity--structured prompts like "Think, Pair, Share," "See, Think, Wonder," and "Circle of Viewpoints" can be learned quickly but used deeply, helping students develop habits of mind such as reasoning with evidence, considering different perspectives, and making careful observations. These aren't just classroom activities; they're cognitive frameworks that students internalize and carry with them, becoming tools they naturally reach for when encountering new ideas or complex problems. Discover resources in this collection, including templates, anchor charts, videos, lesson plan examples utilizing Thinking Routines, collaborative whiteboards, debate tools, collaborative sharing platforms, virtual bulletin boards, video and audio tools, and more. The resources help you understand the research behind these routines, learn how to implement them effectively across grade levels and content areas, and discover how they can transform your classroom into a culture where thinking is valued, shared, and continuously developed.
tag(s): thinking routines (23), thinking skills (56)
In the Classroom
Explore this collection to learn more about Thinking Routines and how to implement them in your lessons. Begin by selecting a routine that aligns with your learning objective--such as "See, Think, Wonder" for developing observation skills or "Think, Pair, Share" for collaborative processing--then model it explicitly before having students practice it regularly. As routines become familiar through repeated use, students internalize these cognitive frameworks and begin applying them independently, transforming your classroom into a culture where thoughtful inquiry and reflection become natural habits.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Flexible Thinking Activities - Life Skills Advocate, LLC
Grades
3 to 12
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The Life Skills Advocate blog provides a warm and practical collection of quick-hit strategies and activities designed to promote flexible thinking in students. It explores what flexible...more
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The Life Skills Advocate blog provides a warm and practical collection of quick-hit strategies and activities designed to promote flexible thinking in students. It explores what flexible thinking really means, why it matters for learning and life, and provides easy-to-use prompts, such as changing routines, trying different perspectives, or playing brain-teaser games, to foster adaptability and problem-solving. This resource is invaluable if you're looking for ways to build student resilience, creativity, and executive-functioning skills in the classroom.
tag(s): flexibility (5), perspective (24), problem solving (240), thinking skills (56)
In the Classroom
Give students a puzzle or game that has more than one solution and challenge them to find at least two ways to solve it. Then, have them share how they chose those methods. After reading a poem or short story, have students write what a different character or stakeholder might think or do. Then discuss how shifting their viewpoint changed their understanding of the text. Have students identify a classroom or school routine or space (for example, recess line-up, library checkout, transitions) and redesign it using flexible thinking. Then have the students map out at least two alternative versions, predict outcomes, and present their designs and reasoning to the class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OER Commons- Thinking Flexibly - OER Commons
Grades
1 to 12
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The OER Commons website offers a helpful collection of free lessons and activities focused on the habit of thinking flexibly. Teachers can find ready-to-use resources such as lesson...more
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The OER Commons website offers a helpful collection of free lessons and activities focused on the habit of thinking flexibly. Teachers can find ready-to-use resources such as lesson plans, checklists, and discussion prompts that help students learn how to adjust their thinking, see new perspectives, and try different strategies when solving problems. These materials cover a range of grade levels and subjects and can be easily adapted to fit your classroom needs, making it a great place to support creative and critical thinking.
tag(s): critical thinking (146), flexibility (5), perspective (24), problem solving (240), thinking skills (56)
In the Classroom
Start class with puzzles or riddles that can be solved in more than one way, encouraging students to explore different strategies and perspectives. In small groups, have students tackle an open-ended task, such as designing a classroom improvement plan or inventing a tool for everyday life, using creative and logical thinking to propose multiple solutions. Use an OER Commons lesson in science or math that asks students to approach a problem from more than one angle, emphasizing that flexibility strengthens understanding in all subjects.
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Thinking Flexible Lesson Plan - scribd
Grades
4 to 12
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This lesson plan, titled "Thinking Flexibly," focuses on helping students understand what flexible thinking looks like, how it differs from rigid thinking, and how they can develop...more
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This lesson plan, titled "Thinking Flexibly," focuses on helping students understand what flexible thinking looks like, how it differs from rigid thinking, and how they can develop it as a habit of mind. The objectives include explaining what "thinking flexibly" means, identifying examples and non-examples, transforming rigid-thinking scenarios into flexible ones, and applying the skill in the classroom, home, and real-world contexts. The plan includes definition, examples, group practice, and reflection to help students internalize the mindset shift.
tag(s): flexibility (5), thinking skills (56)
In the Classroom
Present students with everyday classroom situations (for example, "You forgot your homework" or "Your partner disagrees with your idea"). Have them sort these into rigid or flexible thinking responses and discuss what makes each one different. Have students reflect weekly on moments when they practiced flexibility in school or at home, describing how adapting their thinking helped them succeed. In science or math, challenge students to find two different methods to reach the same result, showing that flexible thinking leads to problem-solving success.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Good Project Resource Center - Harvard Graduate School of Education
Grades
4 to 12
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The Good Project is a research-based initiative from Harvard Graduate School of Education that focuses on what it means to do good work that is excellent, ethical, and engaging. It...more
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The Good Project is a research-based initiative from Harvard Graduate School of Education that focuses on what it means to do good work that is excellent, ethical, and engaging. It provides teachers with free lesson plans, dilemmas, activities, videos, and digital tools that help students reflect on real-world challenges, make responsible decisions, and develop strong moral and civic character. This resource supports meaningful classroom discussions about values, purpose, and the impact of our actions, making it a valuable tool for lessons that connect literacy skills with character development. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): thinking routines (23), thinking skills (56)
In the Classroom
Present a short ethical or classroom-based dilemma (for example, including others during group work). Have students move to the corners of the room labeled with different choices and briefly explain why they chose that response. After reading a story, have students create a collage on paper or using Photo Collage, reviewed here that highlights a character's values and choices. They then compare whether the character's actions were responsible or harmful. In small groups, students can act out both sides of a conflict or dilemma from a book. They focus on empathy by discussing how each person feels and why they feel that way.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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