Index of Critical Thinking Challenges - Grade 4
Determining Attributes You Would Want in Friends
Students may have a limited view of their responsibilities with regard to their interactions with others. They may not have considered how their personal attributes are valued by the people they associate with, or how they benefit from the strengths that their friends and family share with them. This critical challenge is aimed at increasing self awareness and an appreciative awareness of others.
Gold Fever: To Go or Not To Go
Students will form a judgment about whether they would have caught "gold fever", and headed off up north to get rich quick during the gold rush.
Gold Rush: Good or Bad for B.C.?
The students will become familiar with the geographic regions influenced by the BC Gold Rush. They will analyze the impact the Gold Rush had on economic development and lifestyle as seen from the differing perspectives of local native peoples and those who might profit from subsequent business developments. Students will form a judgment about whether or not the Gold rush was beneficial for B.C.
Hero or Hologram?
Students will identify, define, and validate a contemporary hero of their choice and critically evaluate their criteria for choosing that hero. Participants will learn to access tools they can use to become conscious of the distinction between hero, celebrity, and role model.
How Much Electricity Is Really Needed?
This critical challenge will enhance the idea of being power smart. The actual critical challenge the students will be doing is deciding if an electrical item is necessary or unnecessary and give reasons for their answer.
Investigating the Morality of a Story Hero
Students are asked to identify good and bad character types. Their task is to label characters as good or bad, and to determine whether a character can have both traits.
Is Raven A Thief Or A Hero?
The students will read several Haida legends where Raven is the main character. The students will discuss the question in pairs, then write one paragraph on what they decide, using supporting details from one or more of the legends read.
Should Bears Be Hunted?
Students will establish their own positions on whether bears should be hunted in Canada. Students will be able to state reasons both for and against bear-hunting, and support their own positions with valid reasons.
Some Toys Are Real
Students will become familiar with the story, The Velveteen Rabbit. After discussing various aspects of the story, the students will then be asked to write their own story about how a toy becomes REAL.
Watching TV: For Learning or For Enjoyment?
The students will examine the kinds of television shows they watch on TV and why they like to watch them. As a group the students will decide on criteria for an "educational" show and an "enjoyable" show, and will conduct a two-week survey in their home, where they watch (and rate) a different show every night.