A few months back, I asked for suggestions on getting students to use Higher Order
Thinking Skills in the library... I never posted a hit. My apologies! Here is the
info for anyone who needed/wanted it! =)
H.O.T.S. Suggestions
Higher Order Thinking Skills using literature:
Ask a lot of "why" questions. Even when they answer, ask how they arrived at that
conclusion.
Why something happened or didn't happen.
Why the character reacted a certain way.
What would have happened to the plot if he had acted differently. (Any grade)
Take the ending of the book and rewrite it. (Lower grades)
Take a scene/event from the book and tell it from another character's point of
view. (middle and upper grades)
Take a picture from a historical fiction book and compare that picture with a
current photograph of the same place or close to it. Students find the differences
in clothing, transportation, vegetation, anything and tell how the story would be
different if it were set in current times. (upper grades)
Higher Order Thinking Skills using research:
Create a question to be answered through research. For example I had a group of
fifth graders research various scientists with the purpose of deciding which of the
5 scientists made the greatest contribution.
Use ideas in: Beyond bird units! Thinking and Understanding in Information-Rich and
Technology-Rich Environments by David V. Loertscher, Carol Koechlin, and Sandi
Zwaan; Hi Willow Research and Publishing; 2007; ISBN 978-1-933170-37-9; $35.00
Search “Ban Those Bird Units” and you will get hits, such as
http://www.nyla.org/content/user_19/Ban_Birds_Action_Research.pdf
Also, check Jamie McKenzie's question sites: http://www.fno.org and
http://questioning.org
I always try to bring in the "metacognitive" piece...asking them both formally and
informally to reflect on their work, their "information search" learning and skills
as well as their writing and presentation skills. In addition, I think it is
helpful to have them write down three or so things they would do next time (i.e.,
spend more time considering and defining my research questions, use a particular
resource first, etc.)
For higher grades, evaluating websites. Start with a Google search on hoax
websites. Afterwards, have more fun with websites with similar topics.
http://library.humboldt.edu/owls/owl5-Exercise3.htm has a few to compare. As an
assessment task have them do an annotated bibliography on a topic they are studying.
Mary Wegher
Library Media Specialist
Wagonwheel and 4J Elementary Schools
Gillette, WY
"One day, all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an
excellent education."
http://www.teachforamerica.org
EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOODJoin me
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