What Doesn't Belong Winter | Critical Thinking Activity

This winter critical thinking activity is a great whole group or small group activity for students to develop critical thinking skills and reasoning. It can easily tie into literacy or math!

Here is how it works best:

• Ask students which picture does not belong - what picture is different? (there are many diverse Christmas pictures!)
• There will be more than one answer that is right and that is GREAT! (Some answers are provided in the speaker notes.) 
• We just want kids to explain their reasoning and if it makes sense, that is the right idea. 
• Best done whole or small group by projecting powerpoint

Some example answers for the Winter Pictures:

4 Penguins

Possible Answers:

1 - only one with glasses, turned sideways

2 - only one with something in its mouth, triangle border

3 - only one with santa hat, smallest one, blue border

4 - only real penguins, no red in the picture, not holding things, not looking

4 Bears

Possible Answers:

1 - brown bear, not a polar bear, angry looking

2 - starry polar bear, upside down

3 - white polar bear, group of 2 

4 - real polar bear, in the water, square border (and many others)

4 Landscape/Setting Pictures

Possible Answers:

1 - only green tree, red border

2 - two houses, chimneys 

3 - only snowman, no snow falling

4 - no house, octagon border