{"id":4922,"date":"2023-02-17T19:43:49","date_gmt":"2023-02-18T00:43:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/?p=4922"},"modified":"2023-02-17T20:01:06","modified_gmt":"2023-02-18T01:01:06","slug":"3-ways-of-bringing-your-students-thinking-and-understanding-to-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/2023\/02\/3-ways-of-bringing-your-students-thinking-and-understanding-to-life\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Ways of Bringing Your Students Thinking and Understanding to Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students know and understand so much in our course, right? If we focus on content and rush through the standards then are we leaving our students behind? How can we tell our students are understanding the material while also promoting deeper critical thinking? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We will discuss 3 ways you can use to make your students thinking and understanding visible so you can see your students&#8217; thoughts processes and meaning-making. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-background wp-block-heading\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(0deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(175,250,245) 50%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%)\">1. Hexagonal Thinking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hexagonal thinking is great for reviewing or for pre-unit introductions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Great for making <strong><em>connections from prior knowledge<\/em><\/strong> to <em><strong>deeper thinking<\/strong><\/em> and <em><strong>new concepts<\/strong><\/em> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><strong>Connecting new ideas with old<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focuses on what students<em><strong> do know<\/strong><\/em> instead of what they <strong><em>don&#8217;t know<\/em><\/strong> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Utilizes <strong><em>hexagon shapes to connect topics<\/em><\/strong> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How to utilize in your class<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em><strong>Students work in small groups each group gets a pile of hexagons (either blank or Pre-filled)<\/strong><\/em>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If the hexagons are blank, <strong>students pull important material from the content<\/strong> to connect<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the hexagons are pre-made, students move straight into the next step<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em>Students discuss connections between hexagon topics<\/em><\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The more connections a topic has the more hexagons it will be touching. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If 2 hexagons are touching then they will have a connection. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em>Class discussion on what hexagons the groups had connecting <\/em><\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Students explain their reasoning for the connections <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As a class create a hexagonal map with the connections<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A free template for the hexagonal shapes is linked below<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kamiapp.com\/library\/resources\/iKEjVeK77wCh-hexagonal-thinking-template\">https:\/\/www.kamiapp.com\/library\/resources\/iKEjVeK77wCh-hexagonal-thinking-template<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-cult-of-pedagogy wp-block-embed-cult-of-pedagogy\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"fR0TxLGPuz\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cultofpedagogy.com\/hexagonal-thinking\/\">Hexagonal Thinking: A Colorful Tool for Discussion<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Hexagonal Thinking: A Colorful Tool for Discussion&#8221; &#8212; Cult of Pedagogy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cultofpedagogy.com\/hexagonal-thinking\/embed\/#?secret=er2MCYvMAI#?secret=fR0TxLGPuz\" data-secret=\"fR0TxLGPuz\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Using Hexagons to Build Critical Thinking Skills\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/c88LmOC86D8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-background wp-block-heading\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(0deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(174,246,243) 54%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%)\">2. Peeling The Fruit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Peel the fruit<\/strong> focuses on<strong><em> building comprehension deeper than standards.<\/em><\/strong> The main goal of this method is to get students thinking about the ideas we teach in a <strong><em>critical mind<\/em><\/strong> while also taking other <strong><em>points of view into consideration<\/em><\/strong> as well as <strong><em>making deep connections<\/em><\/strong> to the material. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This Concept has students work through <strong><em>6 steps, each getting deeper <\/em><\/strong>as they move through the fruit. The most shallow level is based purely on <strong><em>observations<\/em><\/strong> and the deepest level looks for an overall core idea that the concept comes from. <strong><em>Why do we teach this? Why is it relevant in my life?<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/files\/2023\/02\/peel-the-fruit.png?resize=396%2C223\" alt=\"Peel The Fruit\" class=\"wp-image-4923\" width=\"396\" height=\"223\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/files\/2023\/02\/peel-the-fruit.png?w=652&amp;ssl=1 652w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/files\/2023\/02\/peel-the-fruit.png?resize=300%2C168&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Outside Layer \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em style=\"font-weight: bold\"><strong>What do you see or notice right away?<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Under the Skin\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><em>What questions do you have?<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Substance\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><em>How does this fit or connect? <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Substance\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><em>What is really going on?<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Substance \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><em>What are some other points of view?<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Core \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><em>What is at the core of all this? <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How to utilize it in your classroom<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Can be used as a full class discussion or as a small group discussion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Show the students a text to respond to\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Can be a video, a small blurb of text, a picture, etc&#8230;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Students will respond to the prompts per each part connecting each step. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As a class connect the ideas to each of the parts and discuss the importance of a deeper understanding<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In a science classroom, this could be used to discuss topics that are visual or that will envoke a class discussion such as <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Genetics\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Structure of DNA <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erosion\/Weathering<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Controversial\/ethically questioned practices\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Animal Testing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Global Warming<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Reading Workshop:[PART 1]Making Thinking Visible-Peel the Fruit (Book=Holes)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ezgB2ZkHnVE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-background wp-block-heading\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(0deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(167,250,246) 49%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%)\">3. Compass Points<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Compass points<\/strong> focus on the <strong><em>comprehension<\/em><\/strong> of an idea or proposition. Students are able to examine the ideas with a <strong><em>critical lens<\/em><\/strong> as well as give feedback on what we need to <strong><em>go deeper into or suggestions<\/em><\/strong> on how we can <strong><em>evaluate the idea or propositions deeper<\/em><\/strong>. This gives you, as a teacher, <strong><em>feedback<\/em><\/strong> on what the students are <strong><em>comprehending <\/em><\/strong>and what they feel they need <strong><em>clarification<\/em><\/strong> on. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/files\/2023\/02\/Compass-Thinking.png?resize=433%2C307&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Compass Points\n\" class=\"wp-image-4925\" width=\"433\" height=\"307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/files\/2023\/02\/Compass-Thinking.png?w=643&amp;ssl=1 643w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/files\/2023\/02\/Compass-Thinking.png?resize=300%2C213&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 433px) 100vw, 433px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em><strong>E<\/strong><\/em> (East)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What <strong><em>Excites<\/em><\/strong> you about this idea or proposition? What&#8217;s the upside? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><strong>W <\/strong><\/em>(West)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What do you find <strong><em>Worrisome<\/em><\/strong> about this idea or proposition? What&#8217;s the downside?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><strong>N <\/strong><\/em>(North)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What else do you <strong><em>Need<\/em><\/strong> to know or find out about this need or proposition?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><strong>S <\/strong><\/em>(South)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What is your Current <strong><em>Stance<\/em><\/strong> or opinion on the idea\/proposition? <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What should your next <strong><em>Step<\/em><\/strong> be in your evaluation of this idea\/ proposition? <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What <strong><em>Suggestions<\/em><\/strong> do you have at this point?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How to utilize it in your classroom<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This works best when done<strong><em> individually <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have students answer the prompts as a <strong><em>concept map or diagram<\/em><\/strong> (like the video below)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can walk your students through each step or allow the students to do them at <strong><em>their own pace<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After the students finish their responses, \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Engage in a <strong><em>Class Discussion<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use this as an <em><strong>Exit Ticket <\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Compass Points Visible Thinking Routine\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jEwFaPYnFBA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-background wp-block-heading\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(0deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(156,255,253) 50%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%)\">TLDR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Hexagonal Thinking <\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Great for <strong>connecting ideas<\/strong> from previous units to new units<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Similar to concept maps but unique with <strong>hexagon shapes<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can be easily modified to be a <strong>pre- or post-unit review<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Peel The Fruit<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Great for <strong>digging deeper <\/strong>into the ideas and phenomena <strong>beyond standards<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can be <strong>Easily adapted<\/strong> to any content area, phenomenon, or idea<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Compass Points<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Great for <strong>getting feedback<\/strong> after a unit, exit tickets, or clarifications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allows students to have <strong>critical self-review<\/strong> on what they need <strong>clarification<\/strong> on as well as <strong>suggestions<\/strong> for moving forward with their <strong>evaluation of the idea, proposition, or phenomenon<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Thank you for making it to the end! I hope these methods of making your students understanding and thinking visible inspire you in your classroom! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Follow me on Twitter and Pinterest for more creative and innovative teacher tips.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Trinity Smith<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Can you read your students&#39; minds? No? How do you know they are learning what you are teaching? <br>Check out my blog for 3 ways you can make your Students Thinking Visible!<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/u1QKW7P3HR\">https:\/\/t.co\/u1QKW7P3HR<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ritchhart?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Ritchhart<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/MakingThinkingVisible?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#MakingThinkingVisible<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/edutopia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@edutopia<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/cultofpedagogy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@cultofpedagogy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Scienceteaching?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Scienceteaching<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Edu432?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Edu432<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/RTxniDayoo\">pic.twitter.com\/RTxniDayoo<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Ms. Smith (@MsCellfie) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MsCellfie\/status\/1626746219610472455?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 18, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/135952482493833961\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"766\" height=\"439\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/files\/2023\/02\/MTV-pinterest.png?resize=766%2C439&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"MTV Pinterest\" class=\"wp-image-4963\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/files\/2023\/02\/MTV-pinterest.png?w=766&amp;ssl=1 766w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/files\/2023\/02\/MTV-pinterest.png?resize=300%2C172&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Students know and understand so much in our course, right? If we focus on content and rush through the standards then are we leaving our <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/2023\/02\/3-ways-of-bringing-your-students-thinking-and-understanding-to-life\/\" title=\"3 Ways of Bringing Your Students Thinking and Understanding to Life\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":6667,"featured_media":4953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,1],"tags":[106,59,11,67],"class_list":["post-4922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-making-thinking-visible","category-misc","tag-edt432","tag-mtv","tag-science-teacher","tag-stem"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/files\/2023\/02\/image-13.png?fit=876%2C566&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6667"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4922"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4922\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}