Disclaimer – The ideas presented in this resource have been developed independently from and are not endorsed

by the International Baccalaureate (IB). Toddle’s resources seek to encourage sharing of perspectives and innovative ideas for classroom teaching and learning. They are not
intended to be replacements for official IB guidelines and publications. Please seek assistance from your school’s IB coordinator before implementing these ideas and strategies in your classroom.
Visible Thinking Routines
An overview - why and how do We have included a student instruction page and editable
we use Visible Thinking templates for the thinking routines. At Toddle, we’ve adapted

Routines these thinking routine templates that you can use in the classroom
in any of the following ways:

Visible Thinking Routines (originally developed as a result

● As an editable Google Slide - Click on File → Make a
of Harvard’s Project Zero research) are a set of questions or
copy for each student to give them access to their editable
a brief sequence of steps used to scaffold and support
version of the thinking routine templates.
student thinking.
http://www.pz.harvard.edu/thinking-routines ● Download the thinking routine templates as a PDF and
print.
These thinking routines encourage students to make their
● For an interactive use of these templates, download them
thinking visible, organize ideas, dig deeper into a topic,
as a PNG file, upload them to the Toddle Workbook, and
analyze using multiple perspectives, and make meaningful
assign to your students.
connections. These routines can be used while introducing a
new concept or topic, or to informally assess student Explore Geraldine De Fazio’s collection on
understanding. Visible Thinking Routines In Action and get inspired!
Connect Extend Challenge

Connect Extend Challenge is a thinking routine that will help

you make connections to what you already know or have
learned previously.

● Connect - Make connections to what you already know.

● Extend - Think about new ideas that helped you extend and broaden your
thinking.

● Challenge - What is something that you still feel puzzled about?

 Connect Extend Challenge

CONNECT EXTEND CHALLENGE

How are the ideas and information What new ideas did you get that extended What challenges or puzzles have come up
presented connected to what you already or broadened your thinking in new in your mind from the ideas and
know? directions? information presented?

<Write here> <Write here> <Write here>

Compass Points

Do you have a great idea but are unsure about how well it’ll
work? Use the Compass Points thinking routine to reflect on
your idea.

● E - What excites you about this idea? What’s the upside? What might work
well?

● W - What do you find worrisome about this idea? What’s the downside?
What might not work?

● N - What else do you need to know or find out about this idea? What
additional information would help you to evaluate things?

● S - What is your current stance or opinion? How might you move forward
in your evaluation of this idea?
 Compass Points

What do you find Worrisome about this idea? What else do you Need to know or find out
What’s the downside? about this idea?
<Write here> <Write here>

What is your Stance or opinion on the idea? What should What Excites you about this idea? What’s the upside?
your next Step be? What Suggestions could you make? <Write here>
<Write here>
Colour, Symbol, Image

Use the Colour, Symbol, Image thinking routine to become a better observer
and make a note of things you find interesting, important, or insightful as you
read, watch, or listen to something.

● Colour - Choose a colour that represents an idea or concept. For

example, you might associate the colour black with injustice.

● Symbol - Draw a symbol that you think best represents the idea or
concept. For example, you might use this symbol ≠ to represent
inequality.

● Image - Draw an image that represents the idea or concept. For

example, you might think that a pan balance best represents the idea
of equality.
 Colour, Symbol, Image

COLOUR SYMBOL IMAGE

What colour represents this? What symbol represents this? What image represents this?
<Write here> <Write here> <Write here>

Why did you choose this colour? Why did you choose this symbol? Why did you choose this image?
<Write here> <Write here> <Write here>
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