| Full lesson | Create for a teacher a set of content for giving a lesson, beginning with the lesson plan. Each new block of materials must begin with an H1 heading (other subheaders must be H2, H3, etc). When you describe required pictures, write those descriptions in curly brackets, for example: {A picture of a triangle} |
| Which subject | Phylosophy |
| What topic | Hueristics |
| What length (min) | 30 |
| What age group | Year or Grade 3 |
| Class size | 20 |
| What curriculum | |
| Include full script | |
| Check previous homework | |
| Ask some students to presents their homework | |
| Add a physical break | |
| Add group activities | |
| Include homework | |
| Show correct answers | |
| Prepare slide templates | |
| Number of slides | 5 |
| Create fill-in cards for students | |
| Create creative backup tasks for unexpected moments |
Heuristics
Year/Grade 3
Philosophy
20 students
| Step Number | Step Title | Length (minutes) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Heuristics | 5 | Introduce the concept of heuristics and their role in daily decision-making. Give examples. |
| 2 | Discussion | 5 | Facilitate a class discussion about previous experiences where students used heuristics. |
| 3 | Activity Explanation | 5 | Explain the activity where students will fill out printable cards to demonstrate heuristics. |
| 4 | Card Activity | 10 | Distribute printable cards to students. Allow time for them to fill out the cards based on prompts related to heuristics. |
| 5 | Collection of Cards | 3 | Collect the cards for random checking or review without calling any student to present. |
| 6 | Homework Assignment | 2 | Assign homework related to the day's lesson, ensuring students understand expectations. |
This lesson plan corresponds with the objectives outlined in the Canadian national curriculum for Philosophy, emphasizing critical thinking, discussion, and practical applications of concepts.
"Good morning, everyone! Today, we’re going to explore a fascinating concept called heuristics. Can anyone tell me what they think heuristics might be?
Pause for responses.
"Great thoughts! Heuristics are mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that help us make decisions quickly and efficiently. We use them every day, often without even realizing it. For example, when you’re deciding what to eat for lunch, you might think, 'I usually enjoy pizza, so I'll choose that again!' This is a simple example of heuristic thinking."
"Now, I’d like us to have a little discussion. Can anyone share a time when you used a heuristic to make a decision? Maybe it was something small, like picking a game to play with friends, or a bigger choice, like which toy to buy.
Encourage students to share their experiences.
"Thank you for sharing! It’s interesting to see how we all rely on these shortcuts to make choices in our lives."
"Next, we’re going to do a fun activity! Each of you will receive a printable card. On these cards, you’ll find prompts related to heuristics. Your task is to think about the prompts and write down your answers.
"For example, one prompt might ask you to describe a time you used a rule of thumb to solve a problem.
Hand out the cards while explaining.
"Remember, this is all about demonstrating your understanding of heuristics in action. You’ll have about 10 minutes to complete this activity."
Distribute the printable cards to the students.
"Okay, let’s get started! You have 10 minutes to fill out your cards. Think carefully about each prompt and how your experiences relate to heuristics.
Start the timer.
"I’ll be walking around if you have any questions or need help."
After 10 minutes:
"Time’s up, everyone! Please make sure your cards are complete. I appreciate all the thoughtful responses you wrote down."
"Now, I’d like to collect the cards. Please pass them to the front of the class. Don’t worry, this isn’t a graded assignment, and I won't call anyone out to present. I’ll just review them to understand how we experienced heuristics today."
Allow time for students to collect and pass the cards.
"For your homework, I’d like you to think about heuristics some more. Write a short paragraph about a heuristic you’ve used in your life this week. It could be about anything – from choosing an outfit to making a decision in a game.
"Make sure you explain the situation and how the heuristic helped you make your choice. I’ll be checking this homework, but it won't be shared with the class."
"Does anyone have any questions about the homework?"
Wait for responses.
"Thank you for a wonderful class today! I can’t wait to read about the heuristics you choose to write about."
What is a heuristic? Provide a definition in your own words.
Describe a situation from your life where you used a heuristic to make a decision this week. What was the situation, and what heuristic did you apply?
Can you think of a time when a heuristic did not lead to a good decision? What did you learn from that experience?
List three examples of common heuristics people might use in daily life. Explain each briefly.
Why do you think heuristics are important in our decision-making process? Provide at least two reasons.
Reflect on the activity we did in class. How do you think writing about your experiences with heuristics will help you understand the concept better?
In your opinion, is reliance on heuristics a good thing or a bad thing? Justify your answer with examples.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is a heuristic, and how does it help us in decision-making? | |
| Can you share an example of a heuristic you used recently? | |
| In what situations do you think heuristics are most useful? | |
| How do heuristics differ from more analytical decision-making processes? | |
| Describe a time when relying on a heuristic led you to a good or bad decision. | |
| What are some common heuristics people might use in everyday life? | |
| How do you think heuristics might affect our choices when shopping or eating out? | |
| Why do you think people often rely on heuristics instead of taking more time to decide? | |
| What are some potential downsides of using heuristics in decision-making? | |
| Reflect on a time you had to make a quick decision. What heuristic did you apply? |