*This lesson coincides with chapter one – The Right Answer from Whack on the Side of the Head by Roger von Oech.

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Lesson created by Josh Yates

Grade level range: 7-12

Length of time to teach lesson: 6 minutes per student

Overview of lesson:  They are going to cycle to my table where I will hand them a half sheet with the brainteasers that they will try to accomplish in a 5-minute time limit.  We will discuss their approach to how they solved or did not solve the brainteasers.  Did they relate their strategy to a previous activity or experience?

Objective (Learning target) of this lesson: Realize that they might have mental barriers or hang ups that prevent them from approaching a problem with new eyes and ideas.

Resources/supplies/handouts needed to teach this lesson: Half sheet with four brainteasers, rubric for student self-assessment, rubric for teacher assessment

Teaching instructions for the lesson: 

1)  Students cycle to teacher table where I will hand them a half sheet with the brainteasers that they will try to accomplish in a 5-minute time limit.  We will discuss their approach to how they solved or did not solve the brainteasers.

2)  Students self-assess using a rubric and then compare to teacher filled out rubric.

3)  Full class debrief: did they relate their strategy to a previous activity or experience?  How can they learn from one another?

 
Special Notes from the creator of this lesson: Always be positive and acknowledge creative solutions.

Assessment:  Students self-assess after the activity and the teacher can also assess the student’s work using a teacher rubric.