Ask your students to compare and contrast objects, concepts or activities. In the case of an activity, ask your students to consider something that requires planning toward a successful outcome. Tell them that “Jessica” is going to run for class president. Ask them to work together in groups to come up with ideas for how she might run a successful campaign. This requires them to think critically about what a successful campaign might be. Ask them if success means winning or is it simply running for the position? Ask them to define this in depth. Include a situation where Jessica must make a decision that may or may not help her campaign. Have students discuss out loud what are some of the pros and cons of the decision.
Take the class on a short field trip outside the classroom to observe their surroundings and problem-solve basic life activities around them. For example, you could let them watch a local trash pick up. Imagine that the truck driver has to get out of the truck to lift the trashcan into the back of the dumpster. Ask your students to consider how they could come up with ideas that would make this task easier. They may come up with options, such as adding another person on the truck so that the driver does not have to get out. Or, they may suggest the trash handlers take turns. The goal is to get them to see the situation and think through multiple possibilities.
Read a story or chapter out of a novel to the class or have them read it independently. Break down the story and analyze portions of it to create a dialogue of critical evaluation of the scenarios. For example, if the main character is faced with a moral dilemma, work with your students to identify it. Help your students realize and discuss how and why this moral issue may not be the same for someone of a different moral character. Talk through this idea of difference with your class. Ask them to imagine how the story might be told in another situation or setting. Talk to them and ask them if the character did “this,” what might happen and would this be good for the character.
Create a debate discussion segment for your class. Come up with a topic that is interesting to your class and one where you feel it would be easy for students to choose sides. For example, get students to debate about a popular reality television show. Show a tape of one episode of the show. Write a general summary of the show and its main characters so that everyone has a basic understanding of the show. Choose an issue such as, “Is the character, John, fair to the women on the show?” Split the class into two sides and have them debate the reasons why or why not in this situation. Work with them on completing arguments. Never let them just say "Yes" or "No" without thinking it through and discussing why they have this view.