Chaos Makes Sense (Later)

In the moment, a chaotic event makes no sense. But later, that same event can feel like it was part of a larger story.

Chaos Can Be Positive or Negative

Sometimes we want order, but sometimes we need chaos!

Power in Autumn

Autumn was once powerful because of the harvest. What gives Fall its power now?

Who has more power: the Queen Bee or the Hive?

Sometimes power is concentrated in one place. Other times it is spread out.

Indirect Power – Lighthouse vs Magnetism

Students explore the idea of indirect power – which can be both visible (a lighthouse) or invisible (magnetism).

Power – Blue Whale vs Krill

Sure, a Blue Whale is huge. But does a tiny krill have more power?

Power can be Visible or Invisible

What are examples of unseen Power? And can invisible power be more powerful than visible power?

Tournament of Mythological Creatures

Who will win the tournament of mythological creatures!?

Tournament of Not-So-Famous Inventors

Which inventor and invention will win the tournament?

What’s In My Brain: Tree vs Tree

Let’s look at deciduous vs coniferous trees.

New Uses For A Cardboard Tube

So, what can a cardboard tube be used for other than holding wrapping paper?

What’s In My Brain: Ball vs Book

Let’s look at Kinetic vs Potential Energy!

Student Introductions With Depth, Complexity, and Frames: Level Two

Once students know the prompts of Depth and Complexity, let’s take them much higher up Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Types of Energy Tournament

Which type of energy will win the tournament!?

Natural Disasters Tournament

Earthquake vs. hurricane. Tsunami vs. wildfire. Students set the criteria, argue their case, and crown a champion. Warning: it gets heated.

Van Gogh Self-Portrait Tournament

Who will win the tournament of Van Gogh self-portraits!?

Categorize and Re-Categorize Animals

Put these animals into groups. Then do it again. Then… do it one more time. How does re-re-grouping the same creatures reveal new patterns and give new insights?

What’s In My Brain!? Japan vs Jamaica

Is it an island or an archipelago?

Discussing An Important Decision from History

How would people with two different perspectives discuss a decision from history?

Famous Structures

The Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House — group them, pick the best from each group, then design your own.

What’s In My Brain!? Gold vs Wood

Some of these examples are conductors and some are insulators!

Introducing Universal Theme of Conflict

So what could you do with a Universal Theme of Conflict? Well, here’s an introduction that will get your students’ brains sweating.

Concept Attainment: Hornet vs Tiger

Can your class spot the vertebrates vs invertebrates?

Chess Variant: Monster Chess

What if you had really weak chess pieces, but you could always move twice?

Introducing Universal Theme of Change

Everything changes. But how does it change? Students brainstorm dozens of examples and boil them down to one big idea.

Introducing Universal Theme of Systems

So what could you do with a Universal Theme of Systems? Well, here’s an introduction that will get your students’ brains sweating.

Introducing Universal Theme of Power

So what could you do with a Universal Theme of Power? Well, here’s an introduction that will get your students’ brains sweating.

Notice, Wonder: Skylight

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Charge of the Light Brigade – Chess Variant

What if one side played with THREE QUEENS and the other had SEVEN KNIGHTS!? What if?

Tournament: 8 Wonders of the Solar System

Which location is the most wondrous place in the solar system?

Exploration Technology Tournament

Which of these pieces of exploration technology is most important? Most underrated? Most long-lasting?

Precipitation Tournament

Eight types of precipitation battle it out in this tournament.

Tournament of Ancient Inventions

Which of these inventions of the ancient world is most influential? Least useful today? Most taken-for-granted?

Habitable Planets and Moons Tournament

Which object in the solar system is most habitable?

Tournament of Presidents

So who was the strangest of these eight presidents?

Concept Attainment: Art

Can your students tell the difference between cubism and abstract art?

Thinking With Art: Head Down

One artist, two paintings. Notice details, compare, synthesize, then find a parallel in another creator’s work.

Inferring With Art: A Couple

What’s going on in this room? There are shoes everywhere! Are those… oranges? Let’s make some inferences!

Inferring With Art: Two Women

What are these two women up to? What’s that thing she’s holding? Let’s make some inferences!

Game: Snakes

In this grid-based strategy game, who will be the last to add to the snake?

Think Like A Philosopher

What would Socrates have thought if he watched Frozen?

Generalization: Change Leads to More Change

Can you think of a time in your life when “Change lead to more change?”

Generalization: Problems Lead to New Rules, Which Lead to New Problems

Problems create rules. Rules create new problems. Can you trace the cycle in history, stories, and your own life?

Invisible Power Can Have Visible Effects

Can you think of times when power is unseen, but we can clearly see its effects?

How Renewable Is That Resource?

Which resource is more renewable? And which is easier to find?

The Tournament of Biomes

Want to move beyond memorizing the characteristics of biomes? In this lesson, students work through a Tournament of Biomes, explaining which biome wins in each round (based on criteria you choose). In the end, they crown a 👑 Champion Biome!

Paradox: The Barber’s Paradox

The barber shaves everybody who doesn’t themselves. So… does the barber shave himself?

Paradox: Crocodile Dilemma

A crocodile makes a deal. But the deal creates a paradox. Can your students untangle a 2,000-year-old logic puzzle?

Paradox: The Liar’s Paradox

Nothing like a paradox to get your kids brains exploding 🤯! This one starts with five simple words: “This statement is a lie.”

Col – A Strategy Game

The first person to run out of regions loses in this strategy game.

The Resiliency Tournament

Your students will set up a tournament to determine which person or character best demonstrated resiliency.

The Thinking Hats

So… do your students moan when forced to work in a group? Part of the problem is that lack the structure to work well with peers. Edward de Bono’s Thinking Hats are a perfect tool to help with this problem.

Depth and Complexity: ❓ Unanswered Questions

This underutilized tool focuses students on what we don’t yet know and even what we can’t know.

Creating A Realistic Flower and Pollinator

Your students will create a new flower, designed to attract a specific pollinator.

Creating A Classroom Motto

Starting with specific examples of fantastic classroom behavior, your class will end up with one sentence summing up their expectations. It’s a classroom motto!

Think Like An Economist

How would an economist read Goldilocks? How would they see a rainforest? How would they study the American Revolution?