5th Grade Critical Thinking Handouts

Need to help your students learn to take notes and a way for you as the instruction to understand what they understood and what they need help with?

This is a great organizer that students can use to evaluate what they understand and what they need help with.

Get students thinking about test taking tips and strategies for being successful on that important day! This 20 page, critical thinking, emotional intelligence handout packet comes with boy and girl images, and it includes: --no facial expressions so students can fill these in --coloring images --emotional intelligence questions such as: eating a good breakfast and plan your menu be on time find a comfortable chair and desk stress meter following directions pace yourself don't rush (acrostic poem) stay focused check your answers find something fun to do after the test Students practice listing, peer group cooperative activity, fill in answers, etc... Great way to reinforce being mentally and physically ready for Testing Day!

One Story, Two Perspectives: Exploring Subjectivity and Empathy through Dual-Perspective Narratives 5-8

Description:

Dive into the world of subjectivity and empathy with "1 Story, 2 Perspectives," a unique collection of eight short stories, each told from two contrasting viewpoints. Designed for students in grades 5-8, this resource encourages readers to examine familiar scenarios through different lenses, fostering understanding, compassion, and critical thinking skills.

Each story features two distinct characters, such as the shy new kid and the boisterous class clown, or the driven athlete and the passionate artist. By presenting both perspectives side by side, these narratives invite students to step into the shoes of each character, exploring their thoughts, feelings, and motivations. As students engage with the stories, they'll develop a deeper appreciation for the role that personality, priorities, and life experiences play in shaping one's perception of the world.

But the learning doesn't stop with the stories themselves! This comprehensive resource also includes 20 thought-provoking activities and discussion questions, providing educators with a wealth of tools for extending the lessons of empathy and perspective-taking. From comparative analysis and writing prompts to role-playing exercises and real-world connections, these activities are designed to help students internalize the stories' messages and apply them to their own lives.

Key features of "1 Story, 2 Perspectives":

• 8 engaging short stories, each told from two contrasting viewpoints
• Suitable for students in grades 5-8
• Encourages empathy, critical thinking, and appreciation for diverse perspectives
• Includes 20 activities and discussion questions for deeper exploration
• Adaptable for various classroom settings and learning styles
• Aligns with Common Core Standards for English Language Arts

By exploring these dual-perspective narratives and engaging in the accompanying activities, students will:

• Develop a deeper understanding of empathy and subjectivity
• Recognize the importance of considering multiple viewpoints
• Strengthen critical thinking and analysis skills
• Improve written and verbal communication abilities
• Foster a more compassionate and inclusive classroom community

"One Story, Two Perspectives" is a must-have resource for any educator looking to promote social-emotional learning, character education, and the development of 21st-century skills. Download now and watch as your students grow into more understanding, empathetic, and open-minded individuals!

Creating a Student Success Guidebook (brochure project) gives students an opportunity to share their knowledge and tips for success in middle school with the following year’s new incoming class of students. This is perfect for a technology or leadership class, or for a club that focuses on assisting students, such as Student Council. Students work in small teams to research an assigned topic about expectations in middle school, specific to their school. Next, they create one page of a brochure with their information which will finally be combined with the other teams’ pages to create a full brochure that can be published and distributed to incoming students. The project was created for 8th graders but could easily be adapted to use with 5th or 6th graders leaving elementary school and providing tips for success to new elementary students, or could be used by sophomores (or above) in high school to create a success guide for incoming high school freshmen.

Great end of year project!!

Files Included with this Lesson

• Teacher & Student Notes and Resources

• Brochure Project Instructions, Expectations & Grading Rubric

• Sample Brochure (non-editable .pdf)

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Unlocking Logic: 20 Engaging Puzzles for Grades 5–8 is a fun and challenging collection of brain teasers designed to boost critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills in middle school students. This ebook features 20 diverse puzzles, including number patterns, riddles, code-breaking, magic squares, logic grids, spatial reasoning, and more. Each puzzle is crafted to spark curiosity and encourage creative thinking, making it perfect for classroom use, homework, enrichment, or early finishers.

The puzzles vary in difficulty and style to engage a wide range of learners and support flexible use across grades 5–8. Students are encouraged to work individually or in pairs, explore multiple strategies, and build resilience through thoughtful problem-solving. A full answer key is provided to support self-checking and guided discussion.

Whether you're a teacher looking to inspire your class or a parent wanting to support logical thinking at home, this ebook is the perfect companion for building sharp minds—one puzzle at a time!

Foster a classroom culture of positivity, resilience and growth with this Roll and Reflect with 36 Growth Mindset Questions. This engaging growth mindset activity is designed to empower your students to develop a growth mindset and embrace challenges with confidence. These questions can be used during morning meetings, as a brain break or incorporated into your growth mindset lessons. Inside this pack you will find 6 unique worksheets, each with 6 thought-provoking growth mindset reflection questions. With a total of 36 questions your students will have a wealth of opportunities to explore their mindset and develop a positive outlook on learning. The printable pack includes both black and color versions, allowing you to choose the perfect style to match your classroom decor. It's UK and US English friendly. The Roll and Reflect activity is simple and fun. Your students take turns rolling the dice and answering the corresponding growth mindset question. As they share their thoughts and experiences, they will discover the power of perseverance, determination and the value of embracing mistakes as learning opportunities. Promote essential social-emotional skills and critical thinking.

Click this link to view more Growth Mindset resources.

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Your feedback is important to me. If you find this Roll and Reflect Growth Mindset Questions Pack helpful, please take a moment to leave a rating and review. Your input allows me to continue creating high-quality resources and make improvements where needed. Plus, by rating paid products, you can earn valuable TeachShare credits to use towards future purchases. To leave a review, simply visit your My Purchases page and click on the provided link. I sincerely hope that you are happy with your purchase and find it deserving of a 5-star rating. However, if you have any concerns or suggestions for improvement, please feel free to reach out to me. Please send me a question or comment by clicking this link and I will do my utmost best to improve my product. Your support through purchases, ratings, and following my store is greatly appreciated. Thank you, and happy shopping.

Need social skills activities for elementary students that promote social-emotional learning and teach emotional regulation skills? Look no further; here are 130+ diverse resources designed to help you address student concerns and take your elementary school counseling program to the next level!

Download the entire Mrs. Bell The Crafty Counselor store! It's filled with creative, highly engaging lessons, games, and activities geared toward supporting the social-emotional learning and personal growth of your students. Have access to over 140 (and growing) diverse resources now!

This school counseling curriculum storewide bundle currently contains over 130 crafty lessons & activities that will support your student’s academic, personal, and social-emotional needs. The included social skills activities and games will help children learn emotional regulation skills, coping strategies, anger management strategies & SO MUCH MORE!

These activities are ideal for individual counseling sessions, small group counseling curriculums, classroom guidance lessons, teacher use in the classroom, and calm down corners…the list of possible uses for these resources is never-ending!

This is a growing bundle that currently includes all of Mrs. Bell The Crafty Counselor’s products at a very steep 50% discount. As a growing bundle, it means that the price will increase each time that I add a new product until I reach TeachShare’s 400-paid products cap for a bundle listing. Once the maximum of 400 products has been reached, no more resources will be added to this bundle, and it will no longer be considered a growing bundle. 

Buy today! *Have access to up to 400 products in the future! 

Included are creative counseling lessons, SEL activities, and self-regulation resources for busy educators. This is your one-stop spot for counselors and teachers looking for creative, interactive SEL resources for students.

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*There is no guarantee that 400 products will be added to the Mrs. Bell The Crafty Counselor Store or to this bundle.

How does media effect one's self esteem?

This package contains 6 lessons and a culminating task that will address this topic.

The package is meant to be taught over at least five lessons. With discussion, each page should easily fill a 45- to 60-minute lesson block.

Lessons include:

- definitions and discussion

- Influence of the Media

- self esteem and music videos

- what happens when a "beauty" company helps people see their beauty?

- evolution of an advertisement (print media/photoshopping)

- overcoming stereotypes and negative comments

- Think about how awesome you are

- Hand of friendship (culminating task)

There is currently no final assessment piece included in this package.

Each lesson, except the last, should be started with a gratitude journal page. The idea behind this it to help students see that they have a lot to be grateful for, regardless of what the media may portray to them. The journal pages shouldn’t take anymore than 5 minutes, max. For photo copying purposes, the journal page is placed before the worksheet, for any given lesson.

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Trapped in a snowstorm in a dangerous mountain pass, students use character traits to debate and give rationals to win the only two seats in the wagon. Students create avatars with this 22 page handout based on character traits and character flaws. Uses social skills combined with ELA skills to practice compare and contrast, fact-based arguments and persuasion. Includes:

Directions

Character Trait List with Definition

Character Flaw List with Definition

12 Western themed Male Avatars

12 Western themed Female Avatars

Wagon, Ho! Scenario

Group Chart with Note Taking section

Character Reflection Sheet

Extra Resources

Optional Writing, Project, and Video Assignments

Excellent for small/whole group, whether at-risk/GT/AP, that uses character traits and fact-based evidence/proof to practice decision making processes and expository writings.

Une histoire, deux regards : Explorer la subjectivité et l'empathie à travers des récits à double perspective

Description :

Plongez dans l'univers de la subjectivité et de l'empathie avec "Une histoire, deux regards", un recueil unique de huit nouvelles, chacune racontée selon deux points de vue opposés. Conçu pour les élèves de 5e à 4e, cet outil invite les lecteurs à examiner des situations familières sous différents angles, favorisant ainsi la compréhension, la compassion et l'esprit critique.

Chaque histoire met en scène deux personnages distincts, comme le nouvel élève timide et le pitre turbulent de la classe, ou encore l'athlète déterminé et l'artiste passionné. En présentant les deux perspectives côte à côte, ces récits invitent les élèves à se mettre à la place de chaque personnage, à explorer ses pensées, ses sentiments et ses motivations. Au fil des histoires, ils développeront une meilleure compréhension du rôle que la personnalité, les priorités et les expériences de vie jouent dans la perception du monde.

Mais l'apprentissage ne s'arrête pas aux histoires elles-mêmes ! Cette ressource complète comprend également 20 activités et questions de discussion stimulantes, offrant aux enseignants une multitude d'outils pour approfondir les leçons d'empathie et de prise de perspective. De l'analyse comparative aux exercices d'écriture, en passant par les jeux de rôle et les liens avec le monde réel, ces activités sont conçues pour aider les élèves à intérioriser les messages des histoires et à les appliquer à leur propre vie.

Points forts de "Une histoire, deux regards" :

• 8 nouvelles captivantes, chacune racontée selon deux points de vue opposés
• Encourage l'empathie, l'esprit critique et l'appréciation de la diversité des points de vue
• Inclut 20 activités et questions de discussion pour une exploration plus approfondie
• Adaptable à différents contextes de classe et styles d'apprentissage

En explorant ces récits à double perspective et en participant aux activités qui les accompagnent, les élèves :

• Développeront une compréhension plus profonde de l'empathie et de la subjectivité
• Reconnaîtront l'importance de prendre en compte des points de vue multiples
• Renforceront leur esprit critique et leurs capacités d'analyse
• Amélioreront leurs compétences de communication écrite et orale
• Favoriseront une communauté scolaire plus bienveillante et inclusive

"Une histoire, deux regards" est un outil indispensable pour tout enseignant souhaitant promouvoir l'apprentissage socio-émotionnel, l'éducation au caractère et le développement des compétences du XXIe siècle. Téléchargez-le dès maintenant et observez vos élèves devenir des individus plus compréhensifs, empathiques et ouverts d'esprit !

Improve your students growth mindset with this easy to print coloring in templates with the most adorable monster images. This pack offers 18 printable worksheets for your PreK, Kindergarten or First/Second year students. These worksheets are a valuable resource for cultivating self-belief, embracing challenges & fostering a growth-oriented mindset. Empower your students to conquer any obstacle with the help of these lovable monsters and their uplifting messages.

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Your feedback is important to me. If you find this Growth Mindset Pack helpful, please take a moment to leave a rating and review. Your input allows me to continue creating high-quality resources and make improvements where needed. Plus, by rating paid products, you can earn valuable TeachShare credits to use towards future purchases. To leave a review, simply visit your My Purchases page and click on the provided link. Your support through purchases, ratings, and following my store is greatly appreciated. Thank you, and happy shopping.

Empower your students to have empathy, compassion, the ability to take the perspective of others, and to understand that people often have different perspectives of the same event with these social skills building and empathy activities.

Encourage students to put themselves in someone else’s shoes to better understand how they are feeling with the included empathy and social skills building activities. Assembly is a breeze thanks to the no-cut, fold, and staple design of this printable. 

Included in this download is ONE “Walk a Mile in Their Shoes - Empathy Building Activities” Flipbook. 

This empathy and perspective-taking skill builder activity challenge students to:

• think about varying emotions
• evaluate the impact their actions may have on others
• identify what they can do to help others
• use empathy to see situations from various points of view

Other Educators Like You Said:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Jackie G. says, “This fits with our social emotional curriculum. Love it.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Kristin C. says, “This flip book has A LOT of content. You could easily get two lessons out of one book. Thank you!”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sara L. says, “Love these flipbooks! They are such a fun resource and really get the students to think about the concepts!”

Click the preview for more details and images of these social skill builders and empathy activities! 

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You May Also Like:

• Coping with Pet Loss and Grief
• Tease Monster Julia Cook Book Companion 
• Divorce and Family Changes 

These empathy activities are copyright © Mrs. Bell The Crafty Counselor. All rights reserved by the author. This product is to be used by the original downloader only. Copying for more than one user is prohibited.

Students create avatars with this 22 page handout is based on character traits and character flaws. Students debate for a seat on a lifeboat to survive a luxury cruise shipwreck. Uses social skills combined with ELA skills to practice compare and contrast, fact-based arguments and persuasion. Includes:

Directions

Character Trait List with Definition

Character Flaw List with Definition

12 Male Avatars

12 Female Avatars

Lifeboat Scenario

Group Chart with Note Taking section

Character Reflection Sheet

Extra Resources

Optional Writing, Project, and Video Assignments

Excellent for small/whole group, whether at-risk/GT/AP, that uses character traits and fact-based evidence/proof to practice decision making processes and expository writings.

Create a classroom filled with positivity, kindness, and support with this fun and engaging Roll and Encourage Growth Mindset pack. This resource is thoughtfully designed to inspire a warm and uplifting learning environment for your students. The kindness activities pack includes 6 dynamic worksheets, available in both vibrant color and printer-friendly black and white versions, ensuring flexibility and cost-effectiveness in your classroom. With this printable pack you'll empower your students to embrace kindness, empathy, and a growth mindset, creating a joyful and supportive learning environment that enhances their overall development. Elevate your classroom culture with this easy-to-use, creative, and impactful teacher resource that will inspire your young learners to be compassionate, confident, and caring individuals.

Key Features:

• Multiple Worksheets: Each worksheet presents unique tasks that encourage students to roll the dice and share words of encouragement, positive affirmations, and kindness with their fellow classmates.
• Laminate for Durability: With the option to laminate the worksheets, this product becomes a reusable and long-lasting addition to your classroom activities.
• Dice Template Included: A dice template is provided for easy and convenient classroom use, ensuring hassle-free implementation of this interactive activity.
• Writing Template: Encourage students to reflect and write about their positive experiences with our included writing template, fostering self-awareness and mindfulness.
• Inspire Growth Mindset: Our Roll and Encourage questions align with growth mindset principles, empowering students to support each other's growth and development.

Ways to Use:

• Morning Energizer: Start the day positively with a roll and share activity during morning meetings.
• Classroom Community Builder: Foster a strong sense of community and camaraderie during circle time or group discussions.
• Brain Break Fun: Use as a refreshing brain break to recharge students and promote positive interactions.
• Positive Reinforcement: Reward positive behavior and acts of kindness with a chance to participate in this inspiring activity.
• Weekly Journals: Incorporate the questions in students' journals for weekly reflections on their learning experiences.

Click this link to view more Growth Mindset resources.

Click here for some awesome Back To School resources in my store.

Click this link to follow my store. Unlock a world of exciting resources, engaging activities, and exclusive sales.

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Sign up for my mailing list

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Your feedback is important to me. If you find this Roll and Encourage Growth Mindset Questions Pack helpful, please take a moment to leave a rating and review. Your input allows me to continue creating high-quality resources and make improvements where needed. Plus, by rating paid products, you can earn valuable TeachShare credits to use towards future purchases. To leave a review, simply visit your My Purchases page and click on the provided link. I sincerely hope that you are happy with your purchase and find it deserving of a 5-star rating. However, if you have any concerns or suggestions for improvement, please feel free to reach out to me. Please send me a question or comment by clicking this link and I will do my utmost best to improve my product. Your support through purchases, ratings, and following my store is greatly appreciated. Thank you, and happy shopping.

Teach students different social skills, calming strategies, and coping skills with these no-cut, low prep, flipbooks!

Save time on prep, giving you more time to teach students vital social-emotional skills and strategies. 

Students will learn how to:

• manage big emotions
• display empathy for others
• repair a friendship
• practice various social skills
• maintain friendships
• change a fixed mindset
• what to do with worry
• cope with divorce and family changes
• have school attendance success
• use self-regulation tools to reflect on their behavior
• use countless calm down skills
• use various coping skills
• use numerous calming strategies

Included in this bundle are nine of my best-selling flipbooks!

Included in Download:

• Calm Down Anger Control Flipbook

• Empathy Flipbook

• Friendship Flipbook (girl drama, peer mediation)

• Growth vs. Fixed Mindset Flipbook

• Managing Worry Flipbook

• Divorce Flipbook

• Attendance Success Flipbook

• Reflect and Regulate Think Time Flipbook

• Calm Down Secret Compartment Flipbook

Please click the preview for more details and final product images. 

Mrs. Bell

The Crafty Counselor

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You May Also Like:

• Anger Bundle

• Behavior Cards Bundle

• Get-To-Know-Me Icebreaker Bundle

• Interactive Books Bundle Pack

Copyright © Mrs. Bell The Crafty Counselor. All rights reserved by the author. This product is to be used by the original downloader only. Copying for more than one user is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Clipart and elements found in this PDF are copyrighted and cannot be extracted and used outside of this file without permission or license. See product file for clip-art and font credits.