Day 2: Thinking Cap

Goal:

To build confidence and support students as you help them develop critical thinking skills

When:

During small group or intervention to help students feel supported and build confidence before moving to whole group 

Materials:

• Sentence Strips or Paper
• Markers
• Stapler
• Timer
• Content* 

* Use content suggestion or you may use content of your choosing. Just be purposeful!

Instructions:

1. Explain the Thinking Cap, why it's important, and how it will be used. (For students in upper grades, a Thinking Bracelet would also be effective. Create bracelets instead of caps.)
2. As a model for students, create your Thinking Cap by measuring your head, stapling the ends to make a crown, and writing your name on the sentence strip.
3. Set the timer. It should not take long to write their names on the paper and staple.
4. Students will create their Thinking Caps. 
5. Students will put on the Thinking Cap to answer questions, justify their reasoning and extend their learning. You will put on your Thinking Cap as you ask questions to guide their thinking.
6. Have fun, and don't forget to store and reuse!