Index of Critical Thinking Challenges - Grade 6
Canadian Money Denominations
Students will do a brief research study of Canada’s coins from the provided information. Students will then work in groups to modify and redesign Canada’s currency to their liking. They must then present this to the class as a group showing the pro’s & con’s about our current currency denomination. They must conclude by creating their own system of currency, giving it a name, and promote it as to why it is the best.
Child Labour: Which Shoes Should We Buy?
Child labor has been in the media recently and its relation to sports makes this a particularly relevant topic. This challenge has been designed to create a certain degree of cognitive dissonance by juxtaposing a common desire-fashionable NIKE shoes-and the situation of like-aged children laboring under arduous conditions. Students will establish their own positions on whether they will purchase a pair of Nike Shoes.
Design A Culture
After a thematic unit on world cultures, students will review the elements that make up a culture. Students will then design a culture based on something that interests them (i.e. The people of Soccerland). The students will explain the features of the culture and how the elements of a culture are met with these features.
Formulating "Awesome" Questions
Students will be asked to interview a person who has immigrated to Canada. Students will be required to use higher thinking skills to formulate questions that require extensive answers.
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.
Immigrants In Canada
Students are asked to compile a list of ideas, points, and arguments for a specific side on an issue about immigration. In two groups, students choose the most important four to five points, and debate them with the other half of the class.
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.
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.
Teen Violence: What Can Be Done?
The students will review recent local violent events involving teens and solutions that are being proposed. They will review and consider the suggested background knowledge before forming their own positions. Their positions will be supported with reasons and evidence drawn from the background knowledge.
Would You Prefer To Live In Canada Or Nigeria?
Students will compare the country of Nigeria with Canada, and consider the question of whether life would be preferable for themselves in Nigeria or Canada. Students will need to compare the physical, social, artistic, historical and economic features of the two countries, and give supporting evidence when forming their opinions.