Less than $5 6th Grade Critical Thinking Activities (by date, oldest first)

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, students learn more about safe and reliable use of the Internet in the digital age as they learn how to decipher between fake and real news, spot misleading websites, avoid clickbait, and recognize rumors or misleading information on social media. The lesson starts with a PowerPoint presentation (teacher led or distributed to students to read themselves) that outlines some of the pitfalls of erroneous or misleading information on the Internet. Then, students complete several lessons to develop their skills in recognizing fake news, fake websites, clickbait, and other misinformation. These can also be done with a partner or in a small group if the teacher prefers. Next, students work with a group to answer critical thinking questions about the ethics of fake news and ways to prevent contributing to the problem. Also included with the lesson is a word search puzzle, great for early finishers, or as a part of the lesson.

This lesson was designed for middle school (grades 6-8) but could be used in upper elementary grades or high school as well.

Materials Required:

· Computers with Internet access for each student (or pair of students)

· Access to Microsoft Word or Google Docs and Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides

Files included:

· Teacher & Student Resources

· PowerPoint Presentation – Misinformation in the Digital Age

· 3 Lessons with Instructions, Grading Rubrics, and Answer Keys

· Reference Sheet: How to Recognize Fake Websites and News

· Group Discussion Critical Thinking Questions with Teacher Guide for Use

· Word Search Puzzle with Answer Key

Approximate Lesson Duration:

· Introduction to the Unit and PowerPoint Presentation: 1 (50 minute) class period

· 3 lessons: 3-4 (50 minute) class periods (for all three lessons)

· Group Discussion Questions: 1-3 (50 minute) class periods depending on class/group size

· Word Search Puzzle: about 20-30 minutes

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This is a MUST HAVE resource to make teaching Digital Media Literacy easy!

ONTARIO TEACHERS: This will help you teach the new Digital Media Literacy strand in the 2023 Language curriculum.

This package goes beyond the conversations about cyberbullying and safe use. In this resource you will find student sheets and posters for the nine elements of digital citizenship:

* digital health and wellness

* digital security

* digital rights and responsibilities

* digital literacy

* digital law

* digital etiquette

* digital communication

* digital commerce

* digital access

Each topic has a student page that asks thought provoking questions and provides a bit of information on the specific topic. These pages are meant to start a conversation and get students thinking about their digital lives and all it entails.

Each topic also has a black and white poster that matches the student sheet, using the same icon for quick recognition.

What others are saying:

• This was a great introduction activity. (Teresa P)
• I am excited to use this in the fall when I present Responsibility with internet uses. (Kami J)

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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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Equip adolescents, teens, and adults with essential internet safety skills using our specialized Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program, now available on TeachShare. Our Internet Safety ABA Program is meticulously crafted to enhance digital literacy and promote safe online behaviors through structured interventions and interactive learning materials.

What's Included:

1. Program Implementation Sheet: Seamlessly integrate the program into your curriculum or therapy sessions with our comprehensive implementation guide. Follow step-by-step instructions for effective program delivery and maximize learning outcomes.
2. Data Collection Target Sheet: Track progress and measure skill acquisition with our customizable data collection sheet. Capture learner responses and behavior changes related to internet safety, allowing for personalized interventions and goal setting.
3. List of Potential Targets/Scenarios: Explore a curated list of potential internet safety targets and scenarios, providing a practical framework for teaching and reinforcing safe online practices.
4. Visual Review Tool: Enhance comprehension and retention with our visual review tool, designed to facilitate discussions and reinforce key concepts related to internet safety.

Empower learners to navigate the digital landscape confidently and responsibly with our Internet Safety ABA Program. Equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves online and make informed decisions in the digital age. Download today and promote a safer and more secure online experience for all!

This AVID Costa's Levels of Thinking Early Finisher Packet includes a variety of critical thinking activities for middle and high school students. It features a passage with leveled questions, a creative "Finish the Story" activity using Costa’s levels, and an exercise where students categorize questions by thinking level. Perfect for classroom use or independent practice, this packet helps deepen understanding and encourages higher-level thinking!

Find this in...

✨AVID Bundle

✨Costa Bundle

✨Early Finisher Packets

What's Included

1. Passage with Leveled Questions

• Overview: This activity provides students with a short, engaging passage followed by questions categorized by Costa's Levels of Thinking.

2. Costa’s "Finish the Story" Activity

• Overview: This creative writing activity allows students to apply Costa’s Levels of Thinking as they finish a partially written story. Each stage of the activity corresponds to a different level of thinking.

3. Categorizing Costa's Questions Activity

• Overview: In this activity, students are given a set of questions related to a topic and must categorize them into Costa’s Levels of Thinking. This helps students learn how to identify different types of thinking questions.

Bonus Features

• Answer Key: An answer key is provided for teachers to quickly check the categorization activity and leveled questions.
• No-Prep, Print-and-Go Format: Just print and distribute!

Perfect For:

• Early finishers
• Enrichment activities
• Critical thinking lessons
• Independent or small group work
• Sub plans

Increase critical thinking skills with this Thanksgiving-themed Costa's Levels of Inquiry activity! Students will categorize questions based on Costa’s Level 1, 2, and 3, promoting deeper understanding of Thanksgiving traditions and ELA skills. Perfect for engaging middle and high school students in critical analysis and creative thinking during the holiday season!

What's Included

• 10 Thanksgiving-themed questions for categorizing into Costa's Level of Questioning
• Answer key

Find this in...

✨AVID Bundle

✨Costa Bundle

✨November Early Finisher Packet

This AVID strategy of layering focused notes is the perfect instructional routine to display for any class in any subject area! Layering is a strategy that clarifies the second and third phases of the focused note-taking process by asking students to revisit their notes multiple times, thinking critically with a different purpose in mind.

Why layering?

Each layer added to the notes is completed in a different color, so a student’s interactions are visible to the instructor and to the student. This not only allows the instructor to assess the quality of the student’s thinking and interaction with the content, but it also solidifies learning about the process and the content itself. Additionally, the use of color enhances retention for visual learners.

Instructional Goals

Students will:

• Add layers of thinking to their notes to process and connect their thinking.

• Use colors to show their repeated interactions with their notes.

Materials needed

If taking notes on paper, students will need a variety of colored pens, colored pencils, highlighters, and markers to use for the note-taking layers.

Directions

• Provide time for students to complete each layer by adding to their notes with a different color.
• Work on one layer at a time. Consider whether developing learners need more structure or fewer components to add during each layering session, compared with more experienced note-takers.
• Have students keep a key to indicate what color is used for each layer (they can make their own key or use the example.)

Click HERE to see our other AVID resources. We also have several great AVID bundle options available down below!

AVID Mega Growing Bundle

AVID Teambuilding Bundle

AVID Writing Bundle

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In this fun and back to school, no prep lesson and emergency sub for your Geography program, students will embark on a geographical journey to find specific countries using an atlas or google earth skills to develop their country finding ability, before labelling and coloring in the map. All neatly contained within a single A4 sheet.

Enjoy this resource! Don't forget to follow my store for more awesome products and rate this product for your TeachShare credits :)

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Embark on a mythical adventure with this set of 30 HeadBands cards featuring iconic figures from Ancient Greek mythology!

From powerful gods and goddesses to courageous heroes and fearsome monsters, test your knowledge and have fun guessing who you are.

This pack includes:

1. 30 cards featuring a variety of well-known characters from Greek mythology.
2. A diverse range of figures: Gods like Zeus and Poseidon, heroes like Hercules and Apollo, monsters like Medusa and the Minotaur, and more!

Engaging gameplay: Perfect for any elementart or middle school classroom.

Educational value: Learn about Greek mythology while having fun!

How to Play:

Insert a card into your headband or stick it to your forehead without looking at it.

Ask yes or no questions to the other players to figure out who you are.

Be the first to guess your character correctly to win!

With this pack, your HeadBands game will reach Olympian heights!

If you're ready to add a little flare to your next classroom lesson, this might be the one for you! The Case of Respectfully Problem Solving brings a whole new level to working together, creative thinking and perspective shifting, as well as small group problem solving, listening, and working together! It is a whole lot of social-emotional learning in one fun activity! This digit download includes 12 pages with everything you need and specific instructions on just how to use it! There are a whole lot of teachable and "ah-ha" moments packed into one activity.

Make it even more fun and package their materials in a "Top Secret" Folder! My students loved being able to work together on this activity, but also enjoyed the individual creative thinking that came with it. It was a blast for all! If you are looking to reduce your paper usage, this is a great activity where you could print and laminate some of the activity sheets to use at a later time as well - only printing what you need to re-use (the sheets that students will write on!) Easy prep - lots of fun - many skills practiced!

If you are looking for a fun and interactive way to get your students working together, trying something new, and having a little fun along the way, while also getting them up and moving a bit, then you will love this team building and leadership challenge! Use it as an icebreaker or add a few extra challenges that students will work through and make it a complete lesson! My early elementary and middle school students loved this activity.

Challenge your students higher order thinking skills with these five logic puzzles that have a Halloween theme. Wake their brains while having fun working through a logic grid puzzle.

Each puzzle includes a scenario, a set of clues, and a grid that students may use to mark off the clues as they work their way through the clues. A teacher instruction page and answer keys are also included.

Looking for some fun printable autumn and fall September activities? These rebus puzzle worksheets and stations are a blast! These puzzles are for kids ages 7-12. These puzzles are extra fun because they come with a final challenge! Once students solve the rebus puzzles, they will collect the shaded letter. Then they will unscramble the letters to get the answer to the jokes!

Please see the preview for all pages included.

What's included?

• Answer Keys
• 2 Worksheet Puzzles
• 2 Puzzle Stations with Answer Recording Sheets

Please note that this product contains two puzzles total, but each puzzle has a worksheet and stations format.

Why different formats?

The worksheets are perfect for independent work (homework, gift, reward, early finisher, etc.), while the stations are great for group work or a class activity.

Use these for:

• Rewards
• Class party
• Early finishers
• Gift to students
• Group collaboration activity

How do we play?

If you are using the worksheets, print and play! If you are using the stations you will print the six station cards (per puzzle) and one answer recording sheet per student or group. Spread the station cards around the classroom how you want, and tell students to find the puzzles and solve them using their answer recording key.

Make any kids' activity time a blast (with ZERO prep)! Featuring 6 puzzle challenges that reveal a final secret code, this fun and engaging printable game will be a huge hit for kids ages 7-12.

How is this Escape the Museum Placemat Game NO PREP?

NO LOCKS

NO HIDING

NO CUTTING, FOLDING, OR TAPING/GLUING

YOU LITERALLY JUST PRINT & GO

Our escape room game is designed to be easy to set up and play, with no props or complicated instructions required. Kids can complete the puzzles individually or in small groups, making it a great activity for classrooms, youth groups, or team-building exercises. With no cutting, folding, or taping required, our no-prep escape room allows you to start experiencing the thrill of the escape room today, while only having to do one task: print the placemat!

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE INSTANT DOWNLOAD?

~one Escape the Museum-themed placemat game

~sizes 11x8.5 and 18x12

~black and white or faint image background

~Answer key

Gameplay: 20-30 minutes

Ages: 7-12

Number of players: As many as you want!

HOW DO YOU PLAY?

1. Print the one-sheet game.
2. Read the instructions at the top of the page to get started (each puzzle has additional instructions).
3. Start where indicated and follow the directions to solve the puzzle. The answer to the puzzle will direct you to which direction to take in the maze.
4. Continue solving the puzzles and taking the correct direction in the maze. Once all puzzles are completed, collect the letters from the maze in the path taken.
5. Finally, unscramble the letters to get the secret code.

WHAT GAMES ARE INCLUDED?

~Lockbox

~Text Message

~Atbash Cipher

~Line, Word, Letter

~First Place

~Pictogram

WHAT DO I NEED AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Print the one-page placemat and hand them out with a pencil. THAT’S IT! No other prep is required!

WHERE WOULD I USE THIS GAME?

~Rainy or sick day

~Parties

~Restaurant activity

~Gift or reward

~Teambuilding Game

~Fast-finisher activity

~Welcome activity

Challenge your students higher order thinking skills with these five logic puzzles that have a Halloween theme. Wake their brains while having fun working through a logic grid puzzle.

Each puzzle includes a scenario, a set of clues, and a grid that students may use to mark off the clues as they work their way through the clues. A teacher instruction page and answer keys are also included.

Enhance your students' reading comprehension skills with this engaging resource featuring five significant historic disasters. Each passage is designed for 5th to 9th-grade students and includes questions that encourage critical thinking and discussion. Perfect for use in the classroom or as homework assignments!

What's Included:

• Five Reading Comprehension Passages:

1. The Great Chicago Fire (1871)
2. The Titanic Disaster (1912)
3. The Hindenburg Disaster (1937)
4. The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
5. Hurricane Katrina (2005)

• Five Sets of Questions:
  • Comprehension questions for each passage, focusing on key details, cause and effect, and historical significance.

Promote a culture of kindness & inclusion with these 50 printable thought provoking discussion cards. Help your students in 2nd, 3rd, 4th & fifth grade develop empathy & compassion with this Social Emotional Learning (SEL) resource. Utilize them to stimulate critical thinking and foster engaging discussions. Print & laminate these conversation cards for versatile use in pairs, small groups or as a whole-class activity. Your students could even use the questions to create thinking maps, for creative writing tasks & journal writing. Ideal for Anti-Bullying Week & throughout the year. Open the door to powerful discussions that cultivate empathy, build understanding & foster a sense of community among your students.

Examples of Questions Include:

• What does the word empathy mean to you?
• Share a time when you felt truly understood by someone else.
• How do you think empathy can help prevent bullying?
• Can you think of a character from a book or movie who showed great empathy? Describe the situation.

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Your feedback is important to me. If you find this Empathy and Kindness Discussion Cards 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.

Step into the world of positive affirmations with these Growth Mindset Paper Crown & Headband Templates: Arts & Crafts Activity pack. Nurture the minds of your students by engaging them in this fun fine motor activity. As they color and cut out each piece, the affirmations I am an inquirer, I am a communicator, I am honest, I am kind, I am confident, I am open-minded, I am motivated, I am grateful, I am a thinker, I am calm become more than just words—they become a crown of self-affirmation. These 10 black and white templates, when printed on cardstock and assembled, transform into tangible reminders of the power of a growth mindset. Ideal for fostering positivity and resilience in elementary students, this craft seamlessly integrates with lessons on character development and self-awareness. Elevate your classroom atmosphere with these tangible symbols of self-affirmation.

This pack includes 10 Templates:

• I am an inquirer,

• I am a communicator,

• I am honest,

• I am kind,

• I am confident,

• I am open minded,

• I am motivated,

• I am grateful,

• I am a thinker,

• I am calm.

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW MORE EXCITING PAPER CROWN TEMPLATES.

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Your feedback is important to me. If you find this Growth Mindset Paper Crown Templates 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, 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.

Introducing this fun and easy to print Goal for the Year Smartphone Worksheet Template Pack for the first day of school or New Years. Welcome your students back to school with these templates. 15 black and white print worksheets to choose from, each featuring a different animal leaning over a smartphone template, this pack is designed to help students set and display their goals for the year. Students can write their goals in the phone template, color in the template and animal, and then cut out the image. Perfect for showcasing their aspirations on bulletin boards or classroom walls. Animals included in the pack range from deer, racoon, elephant, and hippo to rhino, snake, tiger, and more. Get ready for the first week of school back from the holidays with this easy-to-print resource that will engage and inspire your students from day one.

Click this link to view more Back To School resources in my store.

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Your feedback is important to me. If you find this Goal for the Year Smartphone Template 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.

Step into a world of cozy burrows with this engaging Hibernation Creative Writing Prompt Pack. Designed for kindergarteners, first and second graders, this pack is tailor-made to foster imaginative thinking in November or when learning all about Hibernation. Designed for busy teachers, early finishers and writing centers, these hibernation-themed worksheets are ready to use with no prep required. Inside this pack you will discover 10 writing prompts that transport students into the enchanting world of hibernation. From bears in snug dens to squirrels in leafy nests, these prompts encourage vivid storytelling. First, next, and last sequencing worksheets provided. Also provided are extended templates to accommodate longer stories. Ignite creative sparks this November with this Hibernation Creative Writing Prompt Pack. Explore the wonders of winter slumber and watch young minds flourish. UK and US Versions available.

Key Features:

• Engaging Prompts: Encourage your students to explore various aspects of Hibernation, fostering creativity and imagination.
• Sequencing Templates: Each prompt includes a First, Next and Last template guiding your students in organizing their ideas effectively.
• Extended Writing Space: For more developed narratives extended templates to accommodate longer writing styles have been provided.
• No Prep Convenience: These worksheets are ready to use.

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Your feedback is important to me. If you find this Hibernation Creative Writing Prompts 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, 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.