| 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 | English |
| What topic | Critical Thinking |
| What length (min) | 30 |
| What age group | Year or Grade 11 |
| 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 |
Critical Thinking
Year 11
English
20 students
30 minutes
This lesson aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum standards for developing critical thinking and effective communication skills in English.
| Step Number | Step Title | Length (minutes) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | 5 | Briefly introduce the topic of critical thinking. Discuss its importance in daily life. Use an engaging question to prompt student thoughts. |
| 2 | Group Task | 10 | Divide students into groups of 4. Provide each group with a printed article to analyze. Ask them to identify key arguments and potential biases. Each group will discuss their findings. |
| 3 | Break: Physical Activity | 5 | Lead a short physical activity (e.g., tossing a soft ball around). Each catch requires the student to share one critical thinking skill or an example of its application. |
| 4 | Class Discussion | 5 | Regroup and facilitate a discussion where groups share their analysis and findings. Encourage students to ask questions and challenge ideas presented. |
| 5 | Homework Assignment | 5 | Assign a homework task related to critical thinking concepts covered in class. Clearly outline expectations and submission details without requiring presentations. |
"Good day, class! Today, we're going to explore a very important topic: Critical Thinking. Can anyone tell me why critical thinking is essential in our everyday life? Think about it—how do we make decisions, and why is it necessary to analyze information? I want you to take a moment to discuss this with your partner."
[Pause for a minute or two to allow students to discuss.]
"Alright, let’s bring it back together. Critical thinking helps us to not only make better decisions but also to understand diverse perspectives and arguments around us—things we encounter every day, whether it's in media, discussions with friends, or even in school. Are you all with me? Great!"
"Next, I'm going to divide you into groups of four. Each group will receive a printed article to analyze. Your task is to identify the key arguments in the article and any potential biases it might present. Remember, critical thinking involves questioning the information we receive, not just accepting it at face value.
[Distribute printed articles and form groups of four.]
"You'll have ten minutes to analyze your articles, and then we'll come back together to share your findings. Ready? Start now!"
[Monitor groups as they work, prompting questions as needed.]
“Okay, let’s take a quick break from our discussion! I want everyone to stand up and form a circle. We’re going to play a quick tossing game with these soft balls. When you catch the ball, I want you to share one critical thinking skill or an example of where you’ve used critical thinking in your life. Let’s see how many skills we can share within five minutes! Ready? Let’s begin!”
[Facilitate the activity and encourage participation.]
“Let’s regroup and have a discussion. I want each group to share what they found during your analysis. Who would like to go first?”
[Encourage each group to speak and share their argument findings and biases without interrupting. After each group, prompt questions from the class.]
“Remember, this is a safe space for ideas—if you disagree or have a question about what another group has presented, feel free to challenge it respectfully. Who has a question or a different perspective on what’s been shared?”
“Before we wrap up today's lesson, I have your homework for you. I want you to explore a recent news article or editorial piece on any topic that interests you. Your task is to write a short reflection on the arguments presented in the piece. Please identify any biases and how critical thinking applies to understanding the claims made in the article.
“Make sure your assignments are clear and well-structured. You will submit them next class. Any questions before we finish?”
[Address any questions.]
“Thank you for your participation today! You all did a fantastic job engaging with critical thinking. I’m looking forward to reading your reflections. See you next time!"
| Slide Number | Image | Slide Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | {Image: A classroom with students discussing} | - Introduction to Critical Thinking - Importance of critical thinking in daily life - Encouragement to discuss with a partner |
| 2 | {Image: Students in small groups analyzing articles} | - Group Task: Analyze provided articles - Identify key arguments - Detect potential biases - Importance of questioning information |
| 3 | {Image: Students standing in a circle playing a tossing game} | - Break: Physical Activity - Tossing game sharing critical thinking skills - Engagement through physical activity |
| 4 | {Image: Students participating in a discussion} | - Class Discussion - Share findings from group analysis - Encourage respectful disagreement and questions |
| 5 | {Image: A student writing homework at a desk} | - Homework Assignment - Analyze a recent news article or editorial - Write reflection on arguments and biases - Application of critical thinking |
What is critical thinking, and why is it considered an essential skill in today's society? Provide at least two reasons in your response.
Reflect on a decision you made recently. How did you apply critical thinking in that situation? Describe the process you went through.
Choose a recent news article or editorial piece that interests you. Summarise the main arguments presented in the article in your own words.
Identify any biases present in the article you chose. Provide specific examples that support your identification of bias.
In your own opinion, how can critical thinking help in interpreting media messages? Provide at least two examples.
Discuss how critical thinking can foster understanding and respect for diverse perspectives in conversations. Why is this important in a multicultural society like New Zealand?
Describe one critical thinking skill that you think is the most important. Explain why you feel this way and how it could be applied in everyday life.
After analyzing your chosen article, what questions remain unanswered for you? List at least two questions and explain why they are important to explore.
Critical thinking is the ability to analyze information and make reasoned judgments. It is essential for making better decisions and understanding diverse perspectives.
[Reflective answer based on personal experience will vary.]
[Summary of the chosen article. Responses will vary based on article selected.]
[Identification of bias will vary based on article selected. Responses will vary.]
Critical thinking can help in interpreting media messages by evaluating the credibility of sources and distinguishing between opinion and fact. [Provide examples that are relevant to the students.]
Critical thinking can help in understanding different viewpoints, fostering respectful dialogue, and mitigating misunderstandings. This is important for promoting social harmony and cultural understanding in a diverse society.
[Responses will vary but should demonstrate personal opinion and application.]
[Responses will vary, but questions should show curiosity and a desire for deeper understanding.]
How can you personally apply critical thinking skills when discussing current events with your friends or family?
In what ways do you think social media influences our ability to think critically about the information we consume?
Can you recall an instance in your life where a lack of critical thinking led to a misunderstanding or a poor decision?
Why is it important to recognize biases when evaluating arguments? Can you think of a bias that is commonly seen in news articles?
How might different cultural perspectives influence the way we analyze and interpret information?
Here’s a list of simple physical exercises that the teacher may ask students to perform, formatted in markdown:
Stand up straight, let's begin the cheer,
Jumping jacks follow, so loud you'll hear!
Squats are next, down low we go,
Wiggle your toes, take it nice and slow.
To the right, a stretch, reach up to the sky,
Now to the left, let those arms fly.
A little jog on the spot, let’s get the heart racing,
High knees up front, it’s energy we’re embracing!
Side lunges wide, now back to the center,
Hold steady and strong, let that focus enter.
Twist to your right, then twist to your left,
Breathe in the fresh air, feel your spirit’s heft.
Let’s finish with a breath, deep in and out,
Smile at your efforts, that’s what it’s about!
Remember these moves, they're fun and essential,
For body and mind, they're truly influential.