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Thinking Skills in Education: Methods to Improve Problem Solving
Containing many resources for further reading about thinking skills, this site provides a lot of good information about how to improve problem solving.
FNO Press
From Now On: Building Good New Ideas
An article, from the online journal From Now On, that discusses a wide range of issues related to originality of thought--the kind of thinking that leads to new ideas, innovation, and creative problem solving. Covers a variety of...
Other
Infinite Innovations Ltd.: Tutorial on Creative (Lateral) Thinking
Learn how to use creative-thinking techniques within a problem-solving framework involving problem definition, problem analysis, solution generation, solution analysis, solution voting, and next steps.
Other
Techniques for Creative Thinking
If you are stuck on ways to teach creativity in your classroom, you will find many various techniques on this site. Everything from mind mapping to fuzzy thinking is listed here. Each technique has a link to its description.
Other
Best100 Ideas: The Six Hats of Creative Communication
One of the more popular models of initiating creative thought is that of De Bono's six hat thinking strategy. This article explains the role of each hat and how they are used to develop creative ideas.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: Daisies in Vases
Students will solve a word problem with various outcomes by creating a meaningful representation of the problem by using objects, pictures, or equations. An explanation is provided.
Creative Science Centre
Creative Science Centre: Bobbin Holder for Reels of Wire
This very simple device has been made to try and stop 'bird's nest' tangles that can occur when using reels of fine wire.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: Bobbie Bear's Buttons
The purpose of this task is for students to find different pairs of numbers that sum to 4. Students will solve an everyday problem in their head and then model their solution using counters. They can represent their solutions using...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: Boys and Girls, Variation 2
Learners are asked to solve a word problem with both addends unknown. They will write an equation and draw a picture to use to explain their answer.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 6.ee Firefighter Allocation
For this students are asked to write an equation to solve a real-world problem. There are two natural approaches to this task. In the first approach, students have to notice that even though there is one variable, namely the number of...
Other
Aventis Learning Group: Systems Thinking: The What, Why, When and How
Systems thinking is a holistic approach to analysis that focuses on the way that a system's constituent parts interrelate and how systems work over time and within the context of larger systems. It is particularly useful in addressing...
FNO Press
From Now On: Filling the Tool Box
Dr. Jamie McKenzie offers this comprehensive look at how to help students develop questioning skills. Practical suggestions for how to implement the ideas are also included.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 2.md, Nbt Jamir's Penny Jar
In this lesson plan students solve word problems involving money and use the symbols correctly.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 2.md Susan's Choice
In this lesson plan students count the money and use symbols correctly to solve the word problem.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 2.md Visiting the Arcade
In this lesson plan students solve word problems involving money and use symbols correctly.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: Converting Fractions of a Unit Into a Smaller Unit
Note that in each of these problems we are given a set of a specified size and a specified number of subsets into which it is to be divided. The questions ask the student to find out the size of each of the subsets. Students are not...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: G Gpe, G Co, G Srt Unit Squares and Triangles
In this task, learners are shown three unit squares and two line segments connecting two pairs of vertices. They are asked to find the area of a triangle formed by intersecting lines. They can solve it using coordinate geometry or...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: G Gpe Equal Area Triangles on the Same Base Ii
This task has students apply their knowledge of parallel lines to solve a geometric problem on areas of triangles. The task is open-ended in that students can choose their method of completing the task. Aligns with G-GPE.B.5.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 7.g Floor Plan
This lesson plan has students solving word problems using scale drawings.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 7.g Stained Glass
In this lesson plan, 7th graders use formulas for area and circumference to solve the word problem.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 7.rp Cooking With the Whole Cup
In this lesson plan, 7th graders use knowledge of ratios of fractions to solve the word problems.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 4.oa Comparing Money Raised
The purpose of this task is for students to solve three comparisons problems that are related by their context but are structurally different. Multiplicative comparison is purposefully excluded from third grade (see 3.OA.3 and 3.MD.2),...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: G Srt, G Mg How Far Is the Horizon?
Some friends are at the beach looking out onto the ocean on a clear day and they wonder how far away the horizon is. A second problem asks how far the horizon would be from the top of a mountain. Students must also answer a question...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 6.ns Making Hot Cocoa, Variation 1
In this task, 6th graders solve a fraction division problem by drawing a picture, interpreting it, identifying an equation that represents the problem, and verifying that the equation gives the same answer as the picture. Aligns with...