Valiant, Etc. » Learning Activities

Thinking Skills Activity: Observing

Dr. Bob Valiant — Wed, 24 May 2006 05:30:31 +0000

OBSERVING FOR DETAILS Bob Valiant, 11 March 2004 Thinking Skill Emphasized: Observing for Detail

Suggestions are given for teaching/learning the skill of observing for detail.

LESSON/ACTIVITY SHEET

Activity Description:

The first time this activity is done the instructor can provide a common object such as the clock on the wall and ask the students . . . → Read More: Thinking Skills Activity: Observing

Thinking Skills Activity: Observing

Dr. Bob Valiant — Wed, 24 May 2006 05:27:43 +0000

Observing Sequence Bob Valiant, 14 March 2004

Thinking Skill Emphasized: Observing Sequence

Activities for observing sequence are provided.

LESSON/ACTIVITY SHEET

Activity Description:

In the description of an event, the order is often critical. In a recipe, for example, the order in which ingredients are added can spell the difference between success and failure. . . . → Read More: Thinking Skills Activity: Observing

Thinking Skills Activity: Observing

Dr. Bob Valiant — Wed, 24 May 2006 05:26:07 +0000

Observing Similarities and Differences Bob Valiant, 14 March 2004

Thinking Skill Emphasized: Observing Similarities and Differences

In this activity, students are asked to observe two or more things for detail, then identify similarities and differences.

LESSON/ACTIVITY SHEET

Activity Description:

This activity begins by having students observe for detail 2 or 3 objects or . . . → Read More: Thinking Skills Activity: Observing

Thinking Skills Activity: Categorize

Dr. Bob Valiant — Wed, 24 May 2006 05:24:05 +0000

CATEGORIZE Bob Valiant, 15 March 2004

Thinking Skill Emphasized: CATEGORIZE

Grouping items into categories helps us make sense of data collections.

LESSON/ACTIVITY SHEET

Activity Description:

The following items contain lists of things belonging to a common category. Break this group into the smaller categories listed.

1. TOOLS: shovel, mallet, plane, rake, saw, file, . . . → Read More: Thinking Skills Activity: Categorize

Thinking Skills Activity: Classify

Dr. Bob Valiant — Wed, 24 May 2006 05:22:36 +0000

CLASSIFY Bob Valiant, 15 March 2004

Thinking Skill Emphasized: CLASSIFY/CATEGORIZE

By grouping similar things together we are able to organize vast amounts of information into manageable chunks. LESSON/ACTIVITY SHEET

Activity Description:

Life presents each of us with tens-of-thousands of occurrences where we interact with objects, events, and other people. Our brains would have a . . . → Read More: Thinking Skills Activity: Classify

Thinking Skills Activity: Analysis

Dr. Bob Valiant — Wed, 24 May 2006 05:20:39 +0000

ANALYSIS 1 Bob Valiant, 15 March 2004

Thinking Skill Emphasized: ANALYSIS

When we analyze a document we look for the important information.

LESSON/ACTIVITY SHEET

Activity Description:

Read the following paragraph. On a separate sheet of paper list the facts that you think are relevant to the description. Pair up with another student and . . . → Read More: Thinking Skills Activity: Analysis

Thinking Skills Activity: Analysis

Dr. Bob Valiant — Wed, 24 May 2006 05:17:30 +0000

ANALYSIS 2 Bob Valiant, 21 March 2004

Thinking Skill Emphasized: ANALYSIS

One aspect of analysis is to identify essential properties of a concept. LESSON/ACTIVITY SHEET

Activity Description:

One aspect of analysis is to identify essential properties of a concept. For example, when we picture the concept “chair” in our brain we must have an . . . → Read More: Thinking Skills Activity: Analysis

Thinking Skills Activity: Analysis

Dr. Bob Valiant — Wed, 24 May 2006 05:15:43 +0000

ANALYSIS 3 Bob Valiant, 04 April 2004

Thinking Skill Emphasized: ANALYSIS

Analysis of your own perspectives is a powerful form of thinking. LESSON/ACTIVITY SHEET Activity Description:

Each person brings their own point of view to every situation they encounter, but most are not aware that their perspective influences decisions they make, how they approach . . . → Read More: Thinking Skills Activity: Analysis

Thinking Skills Activity: Hypothesizing

Dr. Bob Valiant — Wed, 24 May 2006 05:13:19 +0000

HYPOTHESIZING Bob Valiant, 15 March 2004

Thinking Skill Emphasized: HYPOTHESIZING

Hypothesizing may be used either in an attempt to generate potential causes for an event or to predict the outcome based on a given set of circumstances. LESSON/ACTIVITY SHEET

Activity Description:

Hypothesizing may be used either in an attempt to generate potential causes for . . . → Read More: Thinking Skills Activity: Hypothesizing

Thinking Skills Activity: Detecting Patterns

Dr. Bob Valiant — Tue, 23 May 2006 19:35:10 +0000

Detecting Patterns Bob Valiant, 15 March 2004

Thinking Skill Emphasized: Detecting Patterns

Detecting patterns is an important skill that helps us recognize ways to organize data that is seemingly chaotic.

LESSON/ACTIVITY SHEET

Activity Description:

This activity is based on a set of data that has been previously collected. It might be the results . . . → Read More: Thinking Skills Activity: Detecting Patterns