Classroom use
This is a picture of a display in our classroom where the six thinking hats are often used as a stimulus for children when the teacher is applying the De Bono's six thinking hat method.
Graphic Organisers
The following are some examples of graphic organisers that can be used to help develop the ideas produced while using De Bono's six thinking hat method.
This graphic organiser is a KWL chart (what we already know, what want to know, and what we have learnt). This particular graphic organiser is best suited to the blue thinking hat, meta-cognition.
Click on the link to get a printable graphic organiser: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Speak-Think-Understand-KWL-Chart-241002 (Printerest,2009).
The T chart can be used to distinguish the pros and cons. This particular graphic organiser is best suited to the black and yellow hat thinkhing.
Click on the link to get a printable graphic organiser: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/61606180/Download-Graphic-Organizer-Template (Printerest,2009).
Click on the link to get a printable graphic organiser: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/61606180/Download-Graphic-Organizer-Template (Printerest,2009).
The describing wheel can be used to identify different feelings and emotions associated with a particular aspect or thing which is De Bono's red thinking hat.
Click on the link to get a printable graphic organiser: http://www.easilearn.com/us/viewArticle2.aspx?contentId=19561 (Printerest,2009).
The spider web graphic organiser helps thinkers to jot down ideas and extend on main points in an organised way.This can be with a single idea in the centre or can be extending out into the main points like this example. This web organiser is best suited to the green thinking hat.
Click on the link to get a printable graphic organiser: http://teachwellnow.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/graphic-organizers-lead-to-success.html (Printerest,2009).
Click on the link to get a printable graphic organiser: http://teachwellnow.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/graphic-organizers-lead-to-success.html (Printerest,2009).
This is a fact and opinion T chart graphic organiser. This particular T chart would best suit the white thinking hat as it enables the group to identify the facts and information.
Click on the link to get a printable graphic organiser: http://havefunteaching.com/worksheets/reading-worksheets/fact-and-opinion-worksheets/ (Printerest,2009).
Click on the link to get a printable graphic organiser: http://havefunteaching.com/worksheets/reading-worksheets/fact-and-opinion-worksheets/ (Printerest,2009).
How approach could develop in different learning areas.
The critical and creative thinking tools (nd) website states that De Bono’s six hats for thinking are "an internationally recognized tool to teach thinking in all content areas.” and adds that “the hats can be used singly to request a type of thinking or the hats can be used in a sequence to explore or solve a problem”. De Bono’s six hats for thinking are said to benefit four areas of children’s thinking and learning which includes “text, student’s life, community and the world” (The critical and creative thinking tools, nd).
Curriculum (2007) states that it’s vision is to educate young people “who are confident, connected, actively involved, and lifelong learners” (p. 8). The De Bono six hats for thinking approach can develop thinking for students from the New Zealand Curriculum’s eight key learning areas which are as follows; English, the arts, health and physical education, learning languages, mathematics and statistics, science, social sciences, and technology.
The following are examples of how the De Bono's six thinking hats could develop thinking in the different areas as well as in education outside of the classroom. Please note that all six hats can be used in all curricular areas. The following states an example of a hat in each learning area.
Curriculum (2007) states that it’s vision is to educate young people “who are confident, connected, actively involved, and lifelong learners” (p. 8). The De Bono six hats for thinking approach can develop thinking for students from the New Zealand Curriculum’s eight key learning areas which are as follows; English, the arts, health and physical education, learning languages, mathematics and statistics, science, social sciences, and technology.
The following are examples of how the De Bono's six thinking hats could develop thinking in the different areas as well as in education outside of the classroom. Please note that all six hats can be used in all curricular areas. The following states an example of a hat in each learning area.
English (Listening, Reading and Viewing - Speaking, Reading and Writing)
English is about communicating through language and text and requires wearing the yellow and black hat when needed. When students wear the Yellow hat they can think positively about language and texts and the benefits of their learning i.e. what is good about, what do they value and what did they like about. When students wear the black hat they can critically evaluate their work by asking what were the difficulties of, what did you dislike about and what are the risks of. They can also use these hats when communicating ideas by using the think and peer share strategy.
English is about communicating through language and text and requires wearing the yellow and black hat when needed. When students wear the Yellow hat they can think positively about language and texts and the benefits of their learning i.e. what is good about, what do they value and what did they like about. When students wear the black hat they can critically evaluate their work by asking what were the difficulties of, what did you dislike about and what are the risks of. They can also use these hats when communicating ideas by using the think and peer share strategy.
The Arts (Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts)
The arts area of the curriculum is about creating and being free to express yourself. The green thinking hat is the perfect hat to wear for this subject area because it draws on their creative thinking skills by asking the questions, what if I did this or I can I think and create another way.
The arts area of the curriculum is about creating and being free to express yourself. The green thinking hat is the perfect hat to wear for this subject area because it draws on their creative thinking skills by asking the questions, what if I did this or I can I think and create another way.
Health and Physical Education (Health Education, Physical Education, Home Economics)
In the health learning area the red hat would be a good choice because children can learn about themselves and others by asking questions that use and teach them about their feelings in regards to their intuition, and emotions. In addition to children asking questions for themselves the red hat teaches children to consider and understand how other people are feeling emotionally.
In the health learning area the red hat would be a good choice because children can learn about themselves and others by asking questions that use and teach them about their feelings in regards to their intuition, and emotions. In addition to children asking questions for themselves the red hat teaches children to consider and understand how other people are feeling emotionally.
Mathematics and Statistics (Number and Algebra, Geometry and Measurement and Statistics)
In the mathematics curriculum students can put on the green thinking hat which draws on their creativity skills. In mathematics there is a focus placed around problem solving with children having to ask themselves questions and work out answers. With the green hat on children will be able too think and ask, how would I solve this problem or what other possibilities are there to solve it, how can I think outside the square.
In the mathematics curriculum students can put on the green thinking hat which draws on their creativity skills. In mathematics there is a focus placed around problem solving with children having to ask themselves questions and work out answers. With the green hat on children will be able too think and ask, how would I solve this problem or what other possibilities are there to solve it, how can I think outside the square.
Social Science (Identity, Culture and Organisation - Place and Environment - Continuity and Change - The Economic World)
Social Science is about facts and what you know, want to know and need to know. Its all about learning how societies work now, in the past and in the future (New Zealand Curriculum, 2007). The white hat is a good choice for this subject area because it is about facts, information and research. With this thinking hat you can look at the data and information available and see what you can learn and want to further learn. This hat requires good thinking questions that will encourage children to think further.
Social Science is about facts and what you know, want to know and need to know. Its all about learning how societies work now, in the past and in the future (New Zealand Curriculum, 2007). The white hat is a good choice for this subject area because it is about facts, information and research. With this thinking hat you can look at the data and information available and see what you can learn and want to further learn. This hat requires good thinking questions that will encourage children to think further.
Outside of the classroom
Outside of the classroom children are having to make choices and decisions all the time. Children who have the knowledge of De Bono's six thinking hats will think about their thinking and ask themselves the appropriate questions by putting on the correct hat for the write situation. The hat that is a best fit for outside of the classroom is the blue hat because it has the control over all the other hats and it requires children to think about their thinking.
Outside of the classroom children are having to make choices and decisions all the time. Children who have the knowledge of De Bono's six thinking hats will think about their thinking and ask themselves the appropriate questions by putting on the correct hat for the write situation. The hat that is a best fit for outside of the classroom is the blue hat because it has the control over all the other hats and it requires children to think about their thinking.
NOTE: Please visit our 'Resources and Websites' page for a link to the New Zealand Curriculum Document.