Pieces of Learning PETS™ Webinar Series 4
P ri mar y E duca ti on T hi nki ng
S kil ls
Pieces of Learning © 2000
Dodie Merritt Pieces of Learning • www.piecesoflearning.com • [email protected]
Resources:
Primary Education Thinking Skills 1 introduces the six characters, each with
a special thinking strategy, through a
variety of problem-solving activities.
Primary Education Thinking Skills 2 develops the thinking strategies further.
The characters blend their thinking skills
to work together to solve problems.
Primary Education Thinking Skills 3 provides more complex challenges for
expanding these problem-solving
strategies in the young learner.
Kindergarten Primary Education Thinking Skills introduces the thinking skills through activities
and questioning strategies aligned to a wide array of kindergarten-level trade books.
List names of students as
each behavior appears.
Add checkmarks after name if behavior is repeated.
Use a different color of ink
or pencil for each whole
group lesson.
Behavioral Checklist _____________________________________________________
Yarnspinner Thinking (creative/divergent thinking)
Teacher ________________ Grade ______ Dates of 1. ________ whole group 2. ________ instruction:
OFFERS MANY IDEAS (fluency)
USES COLORFUL WORDS TO ELICIT IMAGERY OR EMOTION (flexibility)
OFFERS UNIQUE OR UNCOMMON RESPONSES TO ELICIT IMAGERY OR EMOTION (originality)
USES PHRASES RATHER THAN SINGLE WORDS TO EXPRESS IDEAS (elaboration)
DISPLAYS UNUSUAL OR MATURE SENSE OF HUMOR
USES ADVANCED VOCABULARY IN A MATURE, ARTICULATE MANNER
RETAINS INFORMATION FROM
PREVIOUS LESSONS PETS™ CLASSWORK INDICATES AN OUTSTANDING ABILITY TO USE THIS THINKING SKILL
I see these behaviors in these students regularly during class
time as well:
These students did not stand out during the PETS™ lessons, but I see these
behaviors during regular class time:
Notes:
© Pieces of Learning
P E T S™
DIAGNOSTIC NOTES ● YARNSPINNER THINKING OFFERS MANY IDEAS (fluency)
generates many ideas
all responses are acceptable
responses do not have to be creative
USES COLORFUL WORDS TO ELICIT IMAGERY OR EMOTION (flexibility)
uses colorful words
elicits visual images
elicits an emotional response
OFFERS UNIQUE OR UNCOMMON RESPONSES TO ELICIT IMAGERY OR EMOTION (originality)
shares uncommon or unique ideas
elicits visual images
elicits an emotional response
USES PHRASES RATHER THAN SINGLE WORDS TO EXPRESS IDEAS (elaboration)
uses descriptive phrases
DISPLAYS UNUSUAL OR MATURE SENSE OF HUMOR
understands your jokes
makes jokes you appreciate
USES ADVANCED VOCABULARY IN A MATURE, ARTICULATE MANNER
correctly uses words others
do not know
expresses ideas in a more mature, articulate manner
RETAINS INFORMATION FROM PREVIOUS LESSONS
shares knowledge accurately during review
applies knowledge during activities
PETS™ CLASSWORK INDICATES AN OUTSTANDING ABILITY TO USE THIS THINKING SKILL
seatwork and/or challenge papers are exceptionally well done
I see these behaviors in these students regularly during class
time as well:
normally great creative thinkers
These students did not stand out during the PETS™ lessons, but I see these
behaviors during regular class time:
normally great creative thinkers who “hid out” during the PETS™ lesson
Notes:
absentees
new students
© Pieces of Learning
be generous — more inclusive than exclusive
names can go in more than one box per answer
be sure to add 3s after names for multiple answers
be sure to use different colors for each whole group lesson
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Primary Education Thinking Skills 1 © Pieces of Learning
From Sarah Carlson, Plymouth Elementary School, Plymouth, NH
Primary Education Thinking Skills 1 © Pieces of Learning
Kindergarten PETS™ © Pieces of Learning
A BLOOMin’
Box
What might
happen if
__________ ?
If you were
_____________
in the story,
what would
you do
differently?
How would
you end this
story
differently?
How does
____________
feel about
what’s
happening?
In how many
different ways
could you
describe
__________?
What else
could
___________
have done?
™ Q’UB Divergent/Creative Thinking Tier 1
Stuff this cube with old
plastic bags or styrofoam
peanuts.
Then wrap with packing
tape for durability.
OR
Enlarge cells to desired
size.
Cut out and clue to the
sides of a larger cardboard
box.
Primary Education Thinking Skills 3 © Pieces of Learning
Primary Education Thinking Skills 1 © Pieces of Learning