Thinking Routines

Here is an interesting set of questions to promote reasoning, understanding different perspectives, questioning and investigating. Even though these questions are part of the Artful Thinking approach developed by Harvard Project Zero in collaboration with the Traverse City, Michigan Area Public Schools (TCAPS) with the purpose of helping teachers use works of visual art and music in their curriculum in ways that strengthen student thinking and learning; they can be used in any exploration or in day to day conversations to deepen children's thinking.  

Reasoning-centered routines:

"WHAT MAKES YOU SAY THAT?"

Interpretation with Justification Routine 

CLAIM / SUPPORT / QUESTION

A Reasoning Routine

Perspective taking-centered routines:

PERCEIVE/KNOW/CARE ABOUT

A routine for getting inside viewpoints 

Questioning & Investigating-centered routines:

 I SEE / I THINK / I WONDER

A routine for exploring works of art and other interesting things 

 THINK / PUZZLE / EXPLORE  

A routine that sets the stage for deeper inquiry 

 CREATIVE QUESTIONS

A routine for creating thought-provoking questions

Observing & describing-centered routines:

ELABORATION GAME  

A routine for careful observation and description

BEGINNING/MIDDLE/END

A routine for observing and imagining 

LISTENING: TEN TIMES TWO

A routine for observing and describing music

LOOKING: TEN TIMES TWO

A routine for observing and describing 

COLORS, SHAPES, LINES

A Routine for Exploring the Formal Qualities of Art

Comparing and Connecting-centered routines:

HEADLINES

A Routine for Capturing Essence

CONNECT / EXTEND / CHALLENGE

A routine for connecting new ideas to prior knowledge

CREATIVE COMPARISONS

A routine for creating metaphors