Thinking Tools For this section I would strongly advise you to look at:

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1 Thinking Tools For this section I would strongly advise you to look at: 1. Take a Moment! 40 frameworks for reflective thinking: by Kath Murdoch. This is a fantastic reference one that I would thoroughly recommend for its wide-ranging practical suggestions to support and encourage reflective thinking. 2. Bentleigh School s Thinking Toolbox A great collection of very useful thinking tools that can be adapted to your classroom situation.

2 Flow Diagram: from the Bentleigh School s Thinking Toolbox The student must be able to identify the first step in the process, all of the resulting stages in the procedure as they unfold, and the outcome (the final stage). In this process, the student realises how one step leads to the next in the process, and eventually, to the outcome. Flow Chart diagrams are useful in examining linear cause-and-effect processes and other processes that unfold sequentially. Flow Diagrams can be made by folding an A4 sheet into 8 and cut. Put one step of the process on each piece of paper and then arrange the pieces of paper in a sequence. If the pieces of paper are placed on a piece of butchers paper (or a clean table top) arrows can be drawn to show the links and feedback loops. The feedback loops are where the questions are used. At each of these points there should be a yes or no option. Flow Diagrams can then be done in word (as below) or Inspiration is another computer program that students could use to make their own Flow Diagrams. A simple version of the Flow chart has been used for student to write their Experimental report. Start Do you know what to do? Yes Do it Is it good enough? Yes Hand it in. No No Ask the teacher Decide how to improve it. End

3 TOOLBOX FLOW CHART Group Members: Group: Name of the investigation A flowchart is a useful way of organising information in a sequential order. (Eg. Step 1, step 2, step 3 etc.). They are very useful in putting together a report or essay. Aim: What question do I want to answer? Hypothesis: What do I think the answer to my question will be? (This answer does not have to be right; it is just you having a guess at the answer based on what you already know.) Equipment: List everything that you use. Be specific, for example don t write Beaker, write 1 x 250mL Beaker. You can also include a diagram or photograph Method: 1. Write each step IN ORDER as you are going to do it. 2. Remember this method has to be clear enough for someone else to read you method and do the experiment exactly the same way as you did it. You can also include a diagram or photograph. 3.

4 TOOLBOX FLOW CHART Group Members: Observations and Results: Group: In this section you need to put down what you could see, hear, feel or smell. These are your observations. Try to put your results in a table. You can also include a diagram or photograph. Try to graph your results if possible. Discussion: In this investigation we found Conclusion: From this investigation we can conclude that Some of my reasons for this are

5 K N W D What do I already know? What do I still need to know? What else do I want to know? What do I/we need to do? L What have I Learnt? 5

6 Question table Topic: Solar Energy Group Number: What is good about Solar Energy? What are some problems with solar energy? What other ways do we have of generating energy? What information do we need to make a decision about owning a solar powered car/boat? How do you think that knowing about Solar Energy will help you in the future?

7 Thinkers Keys Problem Key: What are 3 ways to make guides for your model solar powered boat? Disadvantage Key: What are the disadvantages of not thoroughly planning your work? The What If Key: What if your Model Solar Boat team worked really well together? Write down 8 consequences. Design Key: What is a possible design for your Model Solar Boat poster? Reverse Key: What are 5 things that you would never use to construct your boat?

8 My Reflection on Model Solar Boat unit: Name Think back over your learning in this term. You have worked in teams to make a model solar powered boat. Use this lotus diagram to record your reflections. Feelings How do I feel about my ability to work in a team? Facts What have I learnt about making scientific models? Skills What have I learned about planning for a project? Feelings Facts Skills Questions What is the most important question that I still have? Questions Topic Goals Goals In future what do I need to work on? What do I need to improve? Highlights Challenges Why do it? Highlights What did I enjoy most about this project? Challenges What was the most difficult things to learn? Why do it? Why is it important for me to know about Solar Energy?

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