Index of Critical Thinking Challenges - Grade 7
A Day in the Life of an Egyptian
Was life in ancient Egypt, the Old Kingdom, more challenging for the King or the farmers?
Designing A Better Community
Students are asked to identify key problems in the community. Students research and critically determine what some of the origins of those problems could be. The information is then used to develop principles of what constitutes a "good community". Students communicate their plans for solutions to the class and receive evaluative feedback from the peers and teacher.
Education For All?
Should the practice of only educating male children have been abolished in Ancient Mesopotamia?
Governing Ancient Egypt
The year is 1567 BC, the end of what historians refer to as the Middle Kingdom. Students will imagine themselves to be the new Pharaoh. Knowing the many problems their predecessors had that led to the downfall of the Middle kingdom, students will present a plan to govern Ancient Egypt, first as individual Pharaohs, and then as group pharaohs and be able to defend and/or rationalize their plans to a critical panel of supporters and opposition.
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.
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.
Marijuana Use
Students will create a poster to discourage fellow students from trying marijuana, effectively employing the techniques of persuasion without distorting the evidence.
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.
Technology in History - The Egyptian Pyramid Builders
Students will research the building of the ancient Pyramids in Egypt, and form judgements on whether the Egyptians made use of the "inclined" plane to facilitate their construction.
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.
Were Stone Age People REALLY Dim-Witted Brutes?
The students will be introduced to the differences between inference and directly observable facts. They will use this distinction to guide their critical reading of brief accounts of popular views held of the Stone Age peoples. The students' task is to identify the inferences made and to offer and justify their own assessments of Stone Age people in light of their readings.
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.