Teaching Critical Thinking Skills

This module explores the skills necessary to integrate critical thinking into classroom teaching practices. Estimated Time to Complete: 60 to 90 minutes.

This module is related to NEE Indicator 4.1

At the end of this module, participants will be able to:

1. Gain an understanding of what critical thinking is

2. Describe why critical thinking is important to students and instruction

3. Detail what critical thinking looks like in the classroom

4. Explain the connections between argument and critical thinking

Review the activities below.

	1. What Is Critical Thinking?
	2. Why Is Critical Thinking Important for Today's Student?
	3. What Does Critical Thinking Look Like in the Classroom?
	4. How Does Argument Launch Critical Thinking?
	5. Thinking Like a Lawyer

Twenty-One Strategies and Tactics for Teaching Critical Thinking (PDF)

Holistic Critical Assessment Scoring Rubric (PDF)

Huffington Post, “A Society with Poor Critical Thinking Skills: The Case for ‘Argument’ in Education.”

Argument handout for students from The Writing Center (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

Argument-driven inquiry, stages

Lesson on answering the question of why teenagers are attracted to dangerous or illegal social media challenges.

Kialo free online tool to host discussions with opposing viewpoints.

The 24 Game

Rebus Puzzles

Group Work Rubric

28 Critical Thinking Question Stems for Any Content Area (PDF)

Primary Classrooms and Critical Thinking

• Scholastic Parents. Thinking About It: Critical Thinking

• NextGenLearning. Teaching Kindergarteners Critical Thinking Skills

• Critical Thinking for Pre-K

Critical Thinking Part 1: A Valuable Argument