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20 lessons ยท 1st Grade
๐ง When someone makes a claim, smart thinkers ask: 'What's the proof?' Evidence is information that helps you decide if something is true or false. Understanding introduction to evidence is one of the building blocks of strong thinking. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง Can you always trust what you see? Optical illusions trick your eyes! Sometimes you need more than just observation โ you need multiple types of evidence. Understanding observational vs other evidence is one of the building blocks of strong thinking. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง A doctor's medical advice vs a random internet post โ which is more reliable? Sources have different levels of trustworthiness. Learn to rank them! Understanding evaluating information sources is one of the building blocks of strong thinking. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง 'Goldfish have a 3-second memory. ' Is this actually true? (No! Goldfish can remember things for months. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง 'My friend said so' = weak evidence. 'A study of 1,000 people showed. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง A diary from 1865 is a PRIMARY source โ the original. A history book about 1865 is a SECONDARY source โ someone's interpretation. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง Charts, graphs, and tables contain evidence. Can you read them correctly? Sometimes data is presented in misleading ways. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง A candy company's study says 'candy is healthy. When the source has something to GAIN, their evidence might be biased. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง Scientists don't just observe randomly. They form a hypothesis, design an experiment, collect data, and draw conclusions. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง 'My grandpa smoked and lived to 95!' That's an anecdote. 'Smoking reduces life expectancy by 10 years on average. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง If only ONE source reports something, be skeptical. If FIVE independent sources confirm it, you can be more confident. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง How to spot fake news: Check the source. Read beyond the headline. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง Like a lawyer, build a case for your position. Present your evidence in order from weakest to strongest. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง How do we know what happened 2,000 years ago? Artifacts, documents, buildings, and other evidence! Historians are like detectives of the past. Understanding how historians use evidence is one of the building blocks of strong thinking. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง '9 out of 10 dentists recommend this toothpaste. ' But how many dentists were asked? 10? 1,000? Sample size matters! Learn to question statistics. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง Scientists check each other's work through peer review. Before a study is published, other scientists verify the methods and conclusions. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง Instead of deciding based on feelings or habits, use EVIDENCE. Compare product reviews, look at data, check track records. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง Using multiple sources, investigate: How does sugar affect the body? Is it ALL bad? How much is okay? Practice gathering evidence and forming a balanced conclusion. Understanding applied research skills is one of the building blocks of strong thinking. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง Like detectives in movies, create an evidence board for any topic. Pin up sources, data, quotes, and connections. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
๐ง Compile your best evidence-finding work. Which sources were most reliable? What surprised you? How have your research skills improved? Reflect on your growth as a researcher. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong โ that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!
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