4-Corner Sticky Note Thinking

Integrating critical thinking in your classroom does not have to be an overwhelming task.  Here is a easy activity.  It's called 4-Corner Sticky Note Thinking.

• Provide a really thoughtful, open-ended question with many possible "right" answers.
• Give students sticky notes to write down their answers. (The trick is to provide 5 different sticky note colors.)
• Students will then find their group members (students with matching colored sticky notes) and place their sticky notes in the 4 corners of a paper.
• After reading through and discussing all the answers, students have to collaborate and combine their answers to make the best possible answer.

With this activity, students are evaluating and communicating their own thinking.  It's simple, collaborative, and adaptable to various content areas.

Here is a sample from a 6th grade teacher's blog.  

Image and text credit to rundesroom.com