The document discusses critical thinking and provides information about developing critical thinking skills. It includes a list of attributes of critical thinkers such as being open-minded, well-informed, and able to identify conclusions and assumptions. Students are instructed to watch a YouTube video about critical thinking and discuss in groups why the brain prefers evidence supporting existing beliefs. They are also asked to identify attributes they want to focus on developing and will later reflect on improving these skills.

1. Year
8
Island
Time
Truth
and
Lies

2. Cri4cal
thinking
Watch
the
following
you
tube
clip
on
cri4cal
thinking
h"p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSZ3BUru59A
Discussion
In
small
groups
discuss
your
thoughts
on
the
following
ques4ons:
Why
do
you
think
our
brain
only
uses
evidence
which
already
supports
our
beliefs?
Can
you
think
of
an
example
of
a
4me
when
you
have
done
this?
It
is
important
that
we
are
aware
of
this?
Give
reasons
to
support
your
point
of
view.

3. Cri4cal
thinkers…
l Are
open-­‐minded
and
mindful
of
alterna4ves
l Try
to
be
well-­‐informed
l
Judge
the
credibility
of
sources
l
Iden4fy
conclusions,
reasons,
and
assump4ons
l
Judge
the
quality
of
an
argument,
including
the
acceptability
of
its
reasons,
assump4ons,
and
evidence
l
Can
develop
and
defend
a
reasonable
posi4on
l
Asks
appropriate
clarifying
ques4ons
l
Draws
conclusions
when
warranted,
but
with
cau4on

4. Cri4cal
thinkers
…
Care
that
their
beliefs
be
true,
and
that
their
decisions
be
jus5fied;
that
is,
care
to
"get
it
right"
to
the
extent
possible..
What
do
you
think
this
means?
Cri4cal
thinkers
also:
l Seek
alterna4ve
hypotheses,
explana4ons,
conclusions,
plans,
and
sources.
l Endorse
a
posi4on
to
the
extent
that,
but
only
to
the
extent
that,
it
is
jus4fied
by
the
informa4on
that
is
available
l
Be
well
informed
l
Consider
seriously
other
points
of
view
than
their
own

5. Cri4cal
thinking
and
truth
and
lies
Think-­‐Pair-­‐
Share
Choose
2
aRributes
of
cri4cal
thinkers
and
explain
what
your
understanding
of
each
means
with
the
person
siSng
next
to
you.
Try
to
give
an
example
of
a
4me
when
you
have
prac4sed
this
skill
in
your
learning
at
Island
School.
Self
Reflec5on
Iden4fy
3
aRributes
from
the
list
which
you
would
like
to
focus
on
over
the
next
6
weeks.
Write
these
down
in
your
Island
Time
journals.
During
the
final
week
we
will
revisit
these
skills
and
you
will
be
asked
to
reflect,
and
provide
evidence,
of
how
you
have
developed
these
throughout
the
course.