Looking for a way to teach critical thinking skills in an engaging, systematic way? D’Scerner the Lifelong Learner lessons were developed to do just that. Students begin by reading a report from an actual scientific study published in a peer-reviewed journal. Teachers and graphic designers have transformed the original reports into age-appropriate materials. Students can read for themselves what the researchers reported about their study. There are lessons that guide students in finding sources of potential bias in the study; analyzing data tables and constructing graphs; and evaluating the results.
Included in the lesson is a media report on the same study. It is their job to decide if the media reported the results accurately. Another lesson guides students as they compare and contrast the articles. They will plan and create a Venn Diagram to help them decide.
Almost daily, we hear someone say “research says. . . “, from the D’Scerner lessons, students will learn to ask “Did the research really say that?” And better yet – they will have the skills to decide for themselves!