Replace classroom lectures with lively discussions, in which students are required to participate through the use of questions. Students can develop critical thinking tools by using questions to develop their own answers, rather than simply regurgitating material. Questions can also require children to begin examining biases at an early age.
Develop assignments that require children to begin developing connections between concepts. Divide classmates into small groups for a discussion, or assign an impromptu paragraph in which students can examine similarities and differences between ideas and entities. Use blank Venn diagrams to organize the students' contributions from a classroom discussion.
Ensure that all students in a classroom are given equal opportunity to participate and develop critical thinking skills, a technique referred to by The Critical Thinking Community as "the deck of cards technique." Teachers should strive to avoid any appearance of favoritism or a pattern when calling on students to participate, requiring active engagement at all times. Ask students to paraphrase the question, provide examples or give an opinion.