CSR

Habits of Mind

Lesson suggestion: Thinking flexibly (Dev. Minds p. 81, Costa #4)

Preview: Ask students to share what they think “Thinking Flexibly” means and why it might be an important behavior.

Reading: Stellaluna – Discuss with students what survival techniques Stellaluna shows: Thinking flexibly, adapting, helped Stellaluna survive and understand birds.

Ink Blot lesson: (see sample)

Students make ink blot patterns and label them with their interpretations which then are covered over so as not to influence the thinking of subsequent students. Ink blots are then traded with another student who add their interpretations over-top the original via the paper flap. Ask original artists to consider the interpretations of others. Ask interpreters to consider the artists’ vision.

Discuss with students how it requires their thinking flexibly to be able to perceive the ink blots as something other than what they may have originally thought. Any time the perceptions and opinions of others are considered and understood, our own horizons are expanded and we have learned to become more flexible in our thinking.

Review: Ask students to share what they think “Thinking Flexibly” means and why it is an important behavior. Ask for specific examples of how and where it would be important to them in their day to day lives.