5 Critical Thinking Assignments: Student Version

These 5 critical thinking assignments deliver non-linear problem based investigations geared towards the secondary school level. The assignments blend curriculum expectations with real world application. Case Study 1: Building a Balanced Society Students must create a political portfolio that juggles the health of the environment while maintaining a job force, a budget and negotiating votes. Case Study 2: The Pollution of Lake Okinawa Students investigate several corporations that are suspected of polluting a town’s water supply. Students will use the given evidence to determine the culprit(s). Case Study 3: The Mysterious Seven of Drewersville Several mysterious deaths have occurred in a small town. Students must use DNA, blood samples, testimony and other pieces of evidence to figure out the identities of the murderer(s). Case Study 4: The Dolphin Hotel Murders Several mysterious deaths have occurred in a hotel during a catastrophic storm. Students must use DNA, blood samples, testimony and other pieces of evidence to figure out the identities of the victims and their murderer(s). Case Study 5: The Upper Crescent College Hockey Hazing Trial An incident has occurred and the suspected cause of the incident is bullying or a hazing ritual. The majority of the school’s hockey team will be put on trial. Students must take the side of either the prosecution or defense team, go through the evidence in great detail and prove the innocence or guilt of the hockey players. All assignments have been classroom tested and a variety of these assignments can be used in Biological Science, General Science, Political, History, & Law courses. Assignments vary for students in Grades 8-12 or Forms 1-5.