Less than $5 8th 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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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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Help your learners develop critical social communication skills with the Think It or Say It? ABA Program! This digital download is designed to teach teens and adults how to determine when it’s appropriate to say something out loud or keep it as a thought. The program uses Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques, offering structured support to build self-awareness and improve communication skills.

What's Included:

1. Detailed Implementation Plan: A comprehensive guide that outlines how to implement and target these skills using ABA strategies. The plan provides clear, step-by-step instructions on teaching learners to differentiate between thoughts that should be kept private and those appropriate to express in social settings.
2. Flashcards for Discrete Trial Training (DTT): A set of editable flashcards that focus on various scenarios to help learners practice identifying whether to "Think it" or "Say it." The flashcards can be personalized to meet each learner’s unique needs.
3. Visual Aid: A visual support tool to be reviewed with learners prior to starting the program. This visual helps learners grasp the key concepts and provides a clear, visual reminder during the learning process.

Why Choose the Think It or Say It? ABA Program:

• Improves Social Awareness: Learners will become more aware of their thoughts and better understand what is socially appropriate to say, enhancing their communication and social interaction skills.
• Easy to Implement: The detailed program plan and ready-to-use flashcards make it simple to start working on these skills immediately, whether at home, in school, or in a therapeutic setting.
• Flexible and Adaptable: The program’s customizable flashcards and visual aid ensure that you can adjust the difficulty and content to match each learner’s unique developmental level.

Equip your learners with the tools they need to navigate social situations with confidence. Download the Think It or Say It? ABA Program today and start teaching thoughtful communication skills that will benefit learners in all areas of life!

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!

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 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

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 :)

People that have purchased this resource have also purchased -

Geography | What Causes Hunger lesson activity

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Please leave a review.

Analyzing and Interpreting Population Pyramids

In this no prep lesson is an activity for students learn to analyse and interpret the various types and shapes of population pyramids in a single activity.

Resources Included:

• 10 slide editable Introduction and overview PowerPoint on reading and analysing Population pyramids
• A3 Population Pyramid Worksheet to apply skills

Australian Geography Curriculum link:

Represent data in a range of appropriate forms, for example climate graphs, compound column graphs, population pyramids (ACHGS049)

Students will begin to see that certain features and shapes are often associated with particular population structures e.g. a wide base indicates a high birth rate, a narrow apex often indicates a high death rate, etc.

Within the lesson, students will be expected to apply this new knowledge and understanding by analyzing and interpreting a population pyramid from a range of countries.

Students also learn how variations in shape and size also relate to the dependency ratio (the amount of the population that is dependent on the working population) of a particular country. Students practice calculating and interpreting dependency ratio through a number of examples.

These slides can also be printed and displayed within the classroom or given to students as review notes.

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

SUBSCRIBE NOW  to my list for a free copy of the eBook "ChatGPT for history Teachers" and a Story, Source, Scholarships resources to see how well they work in your classroom.

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If you like my resources but I have uploaded a particular one you would love, please email me and tell me what you would like me to deign:

kane@yugenlearning,com or Subscribe to Our Enlightening Educators’ Mailing List Now!

People that have purchased this resource have also purchased -

More great curriculum resources

✅ ➡ USA History

✅ ➡ USA History Unit One

✅ ➡ USA History Unit Two

✅ ➡ USA History Unit Three

✅ ➡ USA History Unit Four

✅ ➡ USA History Unit Five

✅ ➡ American Revolution

✅ ➡ ⚔ US Civil War

✅ ➡ Medieval History

✅ ➡ World War One

✅ ➡ Nazi Germany

✅ ➡ ✈ World War Two

✅ ➡ ☭️ Cold War

✅ ➡ Australian History

✅ ➡ ⚙ Industrial Revolution

and

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Analyzing and Interpreting Population Pyramids

In this no prep lesson is an activity for students learn to analyse and interpret the various types and shapes of population pyramids in a single activity.

Resources Included:

• 10 slide editable Introduction and overview PowerPoint on reading and analysing Population pyramids
• A3 Population Pyramid Worksheet to apply skills

Australian Geography Curriculum link:

Represent data in a range of appropriate forms, for example climate graphs, compound column graphs, population pyramids (ACHGS049)

Students will begin to see that certain features and shapes are often associated with particular population structures e.g. a wide base indicates a high birth rate, a narrow apex often indicates a high death rate, etc.

Within the lesson, students will be expected to apply this new knowledge and understanding by analyzing and interpreting a population pyramid from a range of countries.

Students also learn how variations in shape and size also relate to the dependency ratio (the amount of the population that is dependent on the working population) of a particular country. Students practice calculating and interpreting dependency ratio through a number of examples.

These slides can also be printed and displayed within the classroom or given to students as review notes.

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

SUBSCRIBE NOW  to my list for a free copy of the eBook "ChatGPT for history Teachers" and a Story, Source, Scholarships resources to see how well they work in your classroom.

Request a resource:

If you like my resources but I have uploaded a particular one you would love, please email me and tell me what you would like me to deign:

kane@yugenlearning,com or Subscribe to Our Enlightening Educators’ Mailing List Now!

People that have purchased this resource have also purchased -

More great curriculum resources

✅ ➡ USA History

✅ ➡ USA History Unit One

✅ ➡ USA History Unit Two

✅ ➡ USA History Unit Three

✅ ➡ USA History Unit Four

✅ ➡ USA History Unit Five

✅ ➡ American Revolution

✅ ➡ ⚔ US Civil War

✅ ➡ Medieval History

✅ ➡ World War One

✅ ➡ Nazi Germany

✅ ➡ ✈ World War Two

✅ ➡ ☭️ Cold War

✅ ➡ Australian History

✅ ➡ ⚙ Industrial Revolution

and

Subscribe to my Teaching Newsletter

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Instagram

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Pinterest

https://www.pinterest.com.au/yugenlearning/

TeachShare Store

https://www.TeachShare.com/Store/Yugen-Learning

Please share feedback to help me improve my resources for you.

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!

Speed Dating is a fun alternative to a traditional class discussion. Students have a set amount of time to discuss a question with their partner, then quickly move onto the next partner and question. This product includes directions and 12 discussion questions for Season 3 Episode 24 of The Twilight Zone: "To Serve Man". The questions address word choice, point of view, inference, theme, allusion, cinematic techniques, suspense, and foreshadowing. They require the students to really analyze the episode! Please let me know if you have any questions! Thank you!

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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.

The Math About Me Back to School Activity is a dynamic and versatile resource, ideal for the first week of math instruction and bulletin board displays. This engaging activity not only encourages students to think critically about math, but also fosters connections as they learn more about one another. Start the year with a fun and interactive way to blend math skills with community-building!

Resource Overview:

Students will answer each question about themselves. Each answer will have numerical value. Once students have answered each question, they will write an equation that corresponds to or equals their answer. For instance, if their favorite number is 7, they might write the equation 3+4=7 or 14÷2=7. You can give specific guidelines to your students about the equations based on their grade level/ability level. Four examples have been provided.

Key Features:

• Customizable for All Grades: You decide your equation guidelines to match your students' skill levels. Whether you're teaching elementary or middle school, you can set the guidelines that fit your classroom's needs.
• Critical Thinking: Encourage students to think critically and creatively as they formulate equations based on personal information. This activity promotes problem-solving skills and helps students apply math concepts in a meaningful way.
• Engaging & Interactive: Students will enjoy sharing about themselves while practicing their math skills. The activity fosters a positive classroom environment by allowing students to connect with each other through their personal experiences and math.
• Perfect for Back-to-School: Ideal for the first days of school, this resource helps build a sense of community in the classroom while reinforcing important math concepts.

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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.

The task: Draw 4 points such that when you connect each point to the other 3 points for a total of 6 line segments, there are exactly 2 distinct lengths of line segments. You must connect each point to every other point.

This product includes

• examples and non-examples to use when introducing this task to kids
• questions to support struggling and advanced groups
• a detailed two page answer key that demonstrates each solution visually

This worked really well with my honors Geometry students, it led perfectly into the symbols we use to show congruent side lengths and the definition of point, line segment, etc and many other geometry topics. It has also been a good challenge for my more advanced 6th and 7th grade students.

My Other Thinking Classroom Tasks

Noncurricular Task: Estimating Rational and Irrational Numbers

Rectangle Area and Perimeter Thinking Problems

Writing Equations from Tables Thin Slicing Task

A great way to get students journaling is to combine visuals with words to stimulate the mind. The eleven-slide PowerPoint addresses study skills, time management, stress management, interpersonal relationships and goal setting. Great for group discussions and story starters, as well.

A fun, interactive way to introduce classmates to one another. These two Bingo-like sheets have squares labeled "Find Someone Who...has a pet, has a hobby, has traveled out of state" and much more. Easy to customize to your students' interests and needs. Each square includes a place for name, email, and cell phone number/contact info. Great for Study Buddies and peer tutoring!

Critical thinking activity for small/whole that motivates students to take charge of their learning process. Encourages students to discuss their classroom learning successes as well as disasters. Activity will have students discussing learning processes and study skills. Student scenarios given and guided questions with handout chart included.