• Analyze, evaluate, and apply information
• Look at things or ideas from different perspectives
• Look at causes and effects, pros and cons, consequences of actions or decisions
• Look at alternative choices, ideas, solutions, etc.
• Take apart ideas or information and study the various pieces

• Continue with previously introduced mathematical problem solving strategies and introduce: (work backwards, write an equation, and make a chart, table, or graph)
• Continue work with logic problems
• Continue with previously introduced Creative Problem Solving Process
• Visual/Spatial problem solving activities
• Strategy games - Chess
• Questioning Strategies - Stories with a Hole

• Look at ideas in new, different, or unusual ways
• Take an idea and create a new idea from it; going beyond what already exists or has been tried before
• Combining ideas for new solutions, ideas, creations
• Generating ideas, solutions that are different from the "norm" for one's peers

• Continue practice with creative thinking components
• Writing and literature activities to encourage creative thinking (patterned writing & illustrations)
• Inventions

• Determine questions to investigate
• Search out information to answer those questions
• Read critically - picking out important, relevant information concerning the topic or questions
• Compile information in order to organize and/or share it with others

• Use of other reference materials (almanac, thesaurus, atlas, special dictionaries)
• Use of note cards, bibliography
• Research Project: Inventors/Inventions Unit
• Research Project: Geology Unit

• Develop a positive attitude about oneself, one's abilities, and one's learning
• Develop the ability to direct and be responsible for one's own learning
• Develop the ability to cooperate and work with others

"You can't depend on your judgment when your imagination is out of focus." --Mark Twain

• Quotes
• Centers
• Daily plans

The students take an extended day field trip to Northern Arizona in the early fall. They explore the lava fields at Sunset Crater, visit Montezuma's Well, travel through Oak Creek Canyon to view columnar jointing. They also visit the Arizona Rock and Mining Museum in Phoenix to learn more about rocks and minerals.