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This is "another great resource on critical thinking skills created by Microsoft and luckily provided for free..I have had a look at it some days ago and guess what? You will definitely love it. It talks about literacy in the digital age and features some great critical and web search skills students need to have.The guide is just 37 pages but is definitely worth reading. If you feel like you can't read it now then download it and read at your own leisure." The downloadable pdf file has good ideas.

"We want our students to be active viewers. But why stop at comprehension? "Active viewing is great, but it isn't enough. When it comes to video, students shouldn't just get it; they should also have something to say about it. Students need to be active and reactive viewers -- comprehending and critiquing, reading and reacting, getting and giving knowledge. Below you'll find great tools, tips, and strategies for helping to foster both of these essential media-literacy skills." This page has a wealth of materials -- worksheets, video lessons, tips, etc. -- for critical thinking.

Encourages the use of synthesis and deeper reading than just "beginning, middle, and end" by having them put together several readings, e.g., about an autistic child and a psychological case study to analyze a character in fiction. Uses case studies from non-fiction articles to create prototypes of, for example, a robot that pushes emotional or intellectual thinking to the extreme. Scenarios from fiction show what their prototypes have and what they need. As they read they are now thinking about how the reading speaks to humans. The video also has a running text commentary that helps visualize how a teacher can make students think about their reading, see patterns, examine their own thought processes and progress. Questions to consider in the margin, as well as connections to the Common Core Standards.

"One of the most important information literacy skills for students is learning how to critically evaluate information found on the Web. This page includes forms for teaching the process, articles for learning about the aspect of literacy, and a list of bogus sites to use to showcase that all things on the Web are not real."

Brainstorming or creativity by committee may hinder rather than help productive thought and encourage "social loafing," conformity to group-think, and fear of criticism, among other hindrances to divergent, creative thinking.

This is a nice chart (with verbs) of Bloom's taxonomy, and Stepes to work through the taxonomy as you create a lesson. Impresses one with all the steps that Bloom's taxonomy requires.

Another excellent set of exercises by Mauricio Aldana. This one includes Brain Teasers, Assumptions and Context, and Key Questions to Exercise Critical Thinking. The latter looks esp. appropriate for online reading.

A nice info graphic about the process of inquiry as an approach to learning/teaching. Fits well with critical thinking strategies and Know-Want to Know-Learn.

"There is some good free content on BIE. The most notable of that free content being their rubrics for assessing critical thinking skills, collaboration, presentation, and creativity and innovation in project based learning assignments. The rubrics are available with or without Common Core alignment. You can download the rubrics as PDFs or Word documents."

"Google Slides is too powerful to limit its use to boring presentations. Create engaging learning experiences while promoting critical thinking and creativity with these seven Google Slides templates you can use in virtually any classroom. The sharing settings for all of these templates are set up so that users can create an editable copy by clicking "Make a Copy," or "Use Template."" T/h N.LaFavre Google Slides Templates include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, et al. Students can use a variety of approaches from their favorite media, as suggested in Nick's article.

Nice example of a critical thinking activity. This is how the Gettysburg Address might look in live-tweet version; compare to the full version; research the ways it would link to other sites, etc. An interesting activity that could get students thinking about how the social media world interprets the universe. I can imagine this in a citizenship class, and adapted to many other events and themes. Teens/adults.

A nice page sponsored by the International Reading Association and National Council of Teachers of English. Though oriented to native English speakers, many of the programs and activities, e.g., critical thinking, collaboration, games & tools, tips & how-to's, are appropriate for or can be adapted to EFL/ESL. Teacher Resources can be explored by grade level, from Kindergarten through 12th grade (i.e., sr. high school).

A tutorial on mindmapping, using iMindMap -- how and why you can use this thinking tool to learn and remember, in six simple steps. mphasizes the importance of sing different colors, thickness of lines, visual capabilities, et al.

"But there's a big difference between watching a video and learning something from it. Videos are great for presenting visual information and emotional appeals, but not particularly effective at diving below the surface of non-visual theoretical or abstract topics or for driving critical thinking.... (Nielsen, 2013)" Offers 4 tips on how to successfully incorporate instructional video into your class. Takes some lessons from strategies used in Coursera.

"How are schools working to encourage the next generation of innovators? By developing unique, project-based learning opportunities that foster students' passion and creativity, teachers are promoting innovation and Deeper Learning. Deeper learning experiences help students master core academic content, think critically, solve complex problems, work collaboratively, communicate effectively, and engage in self-directed learning. " Good blog article showing the importance of PBL

"...There is scope to engage the pupils in a structured debate to challenge misconceptions, structure arguments and encourage independent study. Additionally, participating in debates can develop confidence and public speaking skills." A good practice for critical thinking and listening speaking skills. This article does not give classroom tips for setting up debates, but you might want to have a judging panel, and also help students prepare while focusing on the factual as well as the rhetorical side of debating.

A good series of short articles describing apps for Apple: iBooks Author to allow teachers and students to create their own electronic books, epublishing for students, critical thinking at discoveryeducation.com, and apps for ELLs and Special Ed students, etc.

Detailed lesson plan to get students to use animated RSA style movies to learn and teach each other. Good way to get some critical and creative thinking into your lessons.

Very useful collection of links to pdf and Word files containing rubrics for various kinds of creative activities: case studies, critic thinking, oral communication and presentations, management and finance, peer evaluations, problem solving, writing, etc.

How do you get kids - or for that matter, adults - to work collaboratively in groups? These games can also serve as ice-breakers when you start a new class.