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A Definition of Critical Thinking
It is the thinking through a problematic
situation about what to believe or how to act
where the thinker makes a reasoned judgment
that reflects competent use of the intellectual
tools for quality thinking

Three types of questions
TYPE 1 TYPE 2 TYPE 3
How many calories are
there in a litre of ice
cream?
What is your favourite
flavour of ice cream?
Should ice cream be a
part of a family’s diet?
What are three activities
Would you like to move
Would your family’s
in Thunder Bay? to Thunder Bay? needs be better met in
Thunder Bay or Toronto?
What rights do citizens
have in Canada?
Who is the mayor of
Toronto?
Are you proud of being
Canadian?
Would you like to be
mayor?
Is Canada a country we
should be proud of?
Given your personal skills
and characteristics,
would politics be a good
career choice for you?

What are the 3 types?
Type 1.....
Factual Recall- have a single correct answer or limited range
of responses, key facts and processes
Type 2.....
Personal Preference- ask students to express a personal
point of view, often grounded in criteria but evoke an
emotional response
Type 3.....
Critical Inquiry- open ended questions, there are a limited
number of answers, require thoughtful consideration of
evidence gathered against a set of criteria

How can critical thinking be seen in
the classroom?
Embedded in all subject areas, not a separate class
Critical challenges, that force students to think
through their responses
Teachers focusing on the thinking processes students
go through
Focusing on the ‘tools’ for thinking- the habits of
mind, e.g. Perseverance, inquiring mind, being openminded,
fair-minded, empathetic, self-reflective,
initiative, attention to detail, critically minded

Decode the picture... Alberta 1890

What month was this taken in?
What time of day?
What day of the week?

Inquiry Based Classroom –
some examples
Was Goldilocks respectful? Re”write” the story so that
she is more respectful
What is the most appropriate pet for our class?
What are the 3 most crucial things I need to do to
ensure I’m healthy 20 years from now?
The elves have designed a new toy for Santa to
deliver. Which 3 dimensional shape would provide the
most efficient packaging?
Is Bear a good friend to Franklin?
Who is a better friend to Franklin: Bear or Snail?