Higher Order Thinking Skills

H.O.T.S

A good teacher makes you think

even when you don’t want to.
)
(Fisher, 1998, Teaching Thinking
 Higher Order Thinking Skills
Aims of workshop
• To give an insight into Blooms Taxonomy
• To explain Higher Order Thinking Skills
(HOTS)
• To explain how teachers are using Blooms
Taxonomy in the classroom
• To provide guidance on how Blooms
Taxonomy can be used at home
• To visit the classrooms and see it action!
per day
Questioning

0 5 8 46 65
AGE
Questions help children to learn through activating their
brains. Answering different types of questions also helps to
develop knowledge and understanding of different topics.
 H.O.T.S
Based on Blooms Taxonomy
Bloom’s Taxonomy is named after Benjamin
Bloom, a psychologist who in 1956
developed the classification of questioning
according to six levels of higher level
thinking.

Bloom devised a taxonomy in order to

categorise different levels of thinking.

He researched what really made people

think and what didn’t require much of the
grey matter to be engaged. These thinking
skills were further grouped into two
categories, lower order thinking skills and
higher order thinking skills.
Blooms Taxonomy Triangle
 Blooms Taxonomy Triangle
• Bloom’s taxonomy promotes effective
questioning through a series of six key
types of questions that encourage a
deeper engagement with pupils learning
(Higher Order Thinking Skills)
• This approach allows individuals to
consider the breadth of questioning they
use
 Taxonomy Triangle
It is important that all learners are given appropriate opportunities
to develop their thinking skills. These skills can be developed
across a range of contexts including through more practical or
applied learning opportunities:

Lower Order Thinking

Remembering involves such activities as recall
and remembering
Understanding might involve activities such as
describing, explaining and summarising
Applying requires the learner to use or apply
their knowledge and understanding in different
contexts
 Higher Order Thinking
Analysing requires learners to break down
information and search for relationships

Evaluating involves making an informed

judgement about something. Activities
such as comparing, contrasting and
prioritising

Creating happens when learners are

required to generate new ideas through
activities such as designing and inventing
 Bloom’s Taxonomy

I can use the information to

build new ideas Creating How could you change the plot...?

I can say what I think about the What would you say
information and back up my opinion Evaluating is the importance of…?

I can break down the information

Analysing What evidence can you find to…?
to understand it better

I can use the information What questions

in a new way Applying would you ask of…?

I can explain the ideas How could you say that

in the information Understanding in your own words…?

I can remember facts Where does it say…?

about the information Remembering When/why/how did…?
 Higher Order Thinking in the
Classroom
• Effective teacher questioning
• Pupils asking and answering different
questions
• A focus on open questions
• Using colours and terms consistently
• Promoting an awareness of thinking levels
to pupils
Watch the pupils in
action…
 Question Fans
How would change the first chapter?

Compare this book to the last one you read.

Which is better and why?

What one word/phrase describes the main

character really well?

What lesson did you learn from the story?

What is this book about?

Who are the main characters?

 Class Displays
All classrooms have a HOTS display…
 Class Activities
• Questioning in class using fans
• Pupils asking HOTS questions to their
peers
Activities
• Early Level linked to Blooms Taxonomy
When studying Pirates through IDL, Primary 1 might design a new pirate ship
and persuade people to join it

First Level
When studying Egyptians through IDL, Primary 3 might apply their knowledge of
pyramids to make a model.

Second Level
When studying Victorians through IDL, Primary 6 might compare and contrast
the lives of rich and poor children
Class Activities
Guidance for using
Blooms Taxonomy at
home...
 Using Blooms Taxonomy at
Home
• Question through Reading
• Take time to discuss the book and ask a range
of questions before, during and after
• Encourage children to ask you questions
about the book

• Guidance Booklet
Any Questions?