High School Bundle

These lesson plans and worksheets teach students in grades 8-12 about critical thinking, the appeal to nature fallacy, correlation versus causation, the placebo effect, and weasel words.

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The Building Critical Thinkers lesson plans and worksheets are designed to assist educators in effectively teaching critical thinking skills to their students. With some modifications, these lessons can also be suitable for home use.

The high school critical thinking bundle is for grades 8 to 12. It includes 37 pages of lesson plans and worksheets covering five topics:

  1. Introduction to Critical Thinking
  2. Appeal to Nature Fallacy
  3. The Placebo Effect
  4. Correlation vs. Causation
  5. Weasel Words

1. Introduction to Critical Thinking

An introductory lesson designed to pique students' interest in critical thinking and help them realize that "thinking about thinking" is essential to making good decisions.

2. Appeal to Nature Fallacy

The appeal to nature fallacy is also called the "naturalistic fallacy". In this lesson, students will analyze the term "natural" and see how it’s used in advertising.

3. The Placebo Effect

This lesson will help students to to grow into discerning consumers of healthcare and promoters of their own well-being. Students will learn how the placebo effect works and explore the practical implications and ethics in research, health care, and sport.

4. Correlation vs. Causation

Students start this lesson by reflecting on a fake ad claiming that a new study claims that a surge in ice cream sales is linked to an increase in drowning. This lesson explores the logical fallacy of confusing correlation with causation, and aims to build media literacy in students.

5. Weasel Words

Weasel Words are terms that are characterized by their vagueness and misleading nature. Understanding weasel words enables students to identify manipulation, evaluate the credibility of information, prevent misunderstandings, guard against bias, enhance decision-making through informed analysis, and navigate media more effectively.