Critical Thinking Lessons Middle School

Then write a paragraph using the strategy to explore a topic you are studying. Based on a work at k12.thoughtfullearning.com/minilesson/using-5-critical-thinking-strategies. This article was co-authored by Paul Chernyak, LPC.

In one desk, the leader sits, role-playing as a character of his or her choice. Some ideas include a dishonest bank teller, a rude sales clerk, a famous actor/actress, a newscaster conducting an interview, a waiter/waitress, a teacher who hates kids, etc.) Then a volunteer sits in the opposite chair and interacts with the "pivotal person." The two exchange unscripted dialogue, while the group watches.Columnists & Writers: Alfie Kohn; Harry & Rosemary Wong; Cheryl Sigmon; Dr. (Participants may pass if they can't think of anything to say.) Sample starting topics: Word wizards: Put a word phrase on the board.Marvin Marshall; Barbara & Sue Gruber; Marjan Glavac; Dr. HS/MI; Ron Victoria; Brian Hill; Leah Davies; Susan Rismiller; Hal Portner; Karen Hawkes; Emmy; Tim Newlin; Chuck Brickman; Barb Gilman; Grace Viduna Haskins I've used the Whip Around activity very successfully with my high school students - in fact, I've had classes that virtually beg me to let them have a Whip Around session. In groups, kids try to think of as many words as possible that can be made from the letters in the word phrase.After a few minutes, the leader may step out, and offer the role of "pivotal person" to a volunteer who may entirely change the role. Teachers passes a blank sheet of paper to the first student player. It could be a "Dear John" letter, a summons to court, a party invitation, etc.It will be up to each individual to invent a unique purpose for that piece of paper.As the group goes around the circle, it will become more and more difficult for each group member to think of a new way to "read" the paper.Pass-It: One person in a circle begins by throwing an imaginary object in a manner that suggests its characteristics: feather-light, bulky, hot, cold, prickly, slippery, microscopic, sticky, heavy, or whatever.Paul Chernyak is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Chicago.He graduated from the American School of Professional Psychology in 2011.When someone else feels comfortable, he/she comes to stand beside the classmate sitting at the second desk.The action then stops, the person beside whom the volunteer stood now leaves his/her desk, the new volunteer takes his/her place and the action continues.