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PZ's Thinking Routines Toolbox

Thinking Routines invite learners of any age to be close observers, organize their ideas, to reason carefully, and to reflect on how they are
making sense of things.

Welcome to Project Zero’s Thinking Routines Toolbox. This toolbox highlights thinking routines developed across a number of research
projects at PZ. A thinking routine is a set of questions or a brief sequence of steps used to scaffold and support student thinking. PZ
researchers designed thinking routines to deepen students’ thinking and to help make that thinking “visible.” Thinking routines help to reveal
students’ thinking to the teacher and also help students themselves to notice and name particular “thinking moves,” making those moves
more available and useful to them in other contexts. If you're new to thinking routines and PZ's research, please click here to explore more
about thinking routines. For Tips for Using Thinking Routines Effectively, click here. For an overview of the Thinking Categories, click here.
For an alphabetical list of thinking routines, click here (/thinking-routines-all).
 Types of Thinking Categories
CORE THINKING ROUTINES INTRODUCING & EXPLORING IDEAS

DIGGING DEEPER INTO IDEAS SYNTHESIZING & ORGANIZING IDEAS

INVESTIGATING OBJECTS AND SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE-TAKING

CONSIDERING CONTROVERSIES, DILEMMAS, AND PERSPECTIVES

GENERATING POSSIBILITIES AND ANALOGIES

EXPLORING ART, IMAGES, AND OBJECTS GLOBAL THINKING

by Teaching Subject... by Thinking Disposition or Competenc by Project...

Clear All Filters

Core Thinking Routines

Simple routines that are applicable across disciplines, topics, and age groups, and can be used at multiple points throughout a learning
experience or unit of study. (A good place to start if you or your students are new to thinking routines.)

Circle of Viewpoints (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/circle-of-viewpoints)

Claim, Support, Question (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/claim-support-question)

Compass Points (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/compass-points)

Connect, Extend, Challenge (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/connect-extend-challenge)

I Used to Think... Now I Think... (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/i-used-to-think-now-i-think)

See, Think, Wonder (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/see-think-wonder)

Think, Pair, Share (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/think-pair-share)

Think, Puzzle, Explore (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/think-puzzle-explore)

What Makes You Say That? (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/what-makes-you-say-that)

Digging Deeper Into Ideas

Routines that support students in building a deeper understanding of topics or experiences by asking them to analyze, evaluate, find
complexity, and make connections.
 Beauty and Truth (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/beauty-and-truth)

Circle of Viewpoints (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/circle-of-viewpoints)

Claim, Support, Question (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/claim-support-question)

Creative Hunt (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/creative-hunt)

Creative Question Starts (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/creative-question-starts)

Creative Questions (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/creative-questions)

Facts or Fiction (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/facts-or-fiction)

Hotspots (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/hotspots)

Layers (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/layers)

Options Diamond (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/options-diamond)

Options Explosion (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/options-explosion)

Outside In (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/outside-in)

Parts, People, Interactions (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/parts-people-interactions)

Peel the Fruit (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/peel-the-fruit)

Projecting Across Distance (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/projecting-across-distance)

Projecting Across Time (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/projecting-across-time)

Red Light, Yellow Light (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/red-light-yellow-light)

Reporter's Notebook (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/reporters-notebook)

See Think Me We (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/see-think-me-we)

Step Inside (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/step-inside)

Take a Stand (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/take-a-stand)

Think, Feel, Care (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/think-feel-care)

Tug for Truth (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/tug-for-truth)

Tug of War (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/tug-of-war)

Unveiling Stories (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/unveiling-stories)

Values, Identities, Actions (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/values-identities-actions)

What Can Be (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/what-can-be)

What Makes You Say That? (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/what-makes-you-say-that)

Who am I? (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/who-am-i)
Introducing & Exploring Ideas
Routines that help students articulate their thinking at the beginning of a learning experience and spark student curiosity and wonder,
motivating further exploration.

3-2-1 Bridge (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/3-2-1-bridge)

Chalk Talk (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/chalk-talk)

Compass Points (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/compass-points)

Creative Question Starts (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/creative-question-starts)

Imagine if... (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/imagine-if)

Lenses (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/lenses)

Name, Describe, Act (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/name-describe-act)

Outside In (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/outside-in)

Parts, Perspectives, Me (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/parts-perspectives-me)

Parts, Purposes, Complexities (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/parts-purposes-complexities)

Peel the Fruit (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/peel-the-fruit)

See Think Me We (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/see-think-me-we)

See, Think, Wonder (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/see-think-wonder)

Step in - Step out - Step back (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/step-in-step-out-step-back)

The Explanation Game (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/the-explanation-game)

Think, Puzzle, Explore (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/think-puzzle-explore)

Walk the Week (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/walk-week)

Ways Things Can Be Complex (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/ways-things-can-be-complex)

Investigating Objects & Systems

Routines that encourage students to examine everyday objects and systems, appreciate their design features, and explore their complexity.

Creative Hunt (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/creative-hunt)

Imagine if... (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/imagine-if)

Parts, People, Interactions (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/parts-people-interactions)

Parts, Perspectives, Me (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/parts-perspectives-me)

Parts, Purposes, Complexities (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/parts-purposes-complexities)

Slow Complexity Capture (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/slow-complexity-capture)

 Think, Feel, Care (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/think-feel-care)

Ways Things Can Be Complex (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/ways-things-can-be-complex)

Perspective-taking
Routines that cultivate students’ capacity to look beyond their own perspective and to consider others’ experiences, thoughts, and feelings.

Circle of Viewpoints (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/circle-of-viewpoints)

Compass Points (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/compass-points)

Creating Space for Learning (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/creating-space-for-learning)

Feelings and Options (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/feelings-and-options)

Lenses (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/lenses)

Options Diamond (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/options-diamond)

Options Explosion (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/options-explosion)

Pass the Parcel (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/pass-the-parcel)

Projecting Across Distance (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/projecting-across-distance)

Projecting Across Time (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/projecting-across-time)

Same and Different (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/same-and-different)

Same Different Connect Engage (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/same-different-connect-engage)

See Think Me We (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/see-think-me-we)

Seek to See (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/seek-to-see)

Step in - Step out - Step back (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/step-in-step-out-step-back)

Step Inside (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/step-inside)

Stop, Look, Listen (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/stop-look-listen)

Stories (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/stories)

Take a Stand (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/take-a-stand)

The 3 Whys (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/the-3-whys)

True for Who? (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/true-for-who)

Values, Identities, Actions (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/values-identities-actions)

Ways Things Can Be Complex (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/ways-things-can-be-complex)

What Can Be (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/what-can-be)

Considering Controversies, Dilemmas, and Perspectives
Routines that promote students’ inclination to seek out and explore differences and tensions among multiple facets of complex issues.

Circle of Viewpoints (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/circle-of-viewpoints)

Does it fit? (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/does-it-fit)

Facts or Fiction (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/facts-or-fiction)

Feelings and Options (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/feelings-and-options)

Here Now / There Then (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/here-now-there-then)

Hotspots (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/hotspots)

Options Diamond (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/options-diamond)

Options Explosion (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/options-explosion)

Same and Different (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/same-and-different)

See Feel Think Wonder (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/see-feel-think-wonder)

Step in - Step out - Step back (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/step-in-step-out-step-back)

Sticking Points (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/sticking-points)

Stop, Look, Listen (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/stop-look-listen)

Take a Stand (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/take-a-stand)

The 4 C's (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/the-4-cs)

Think, Pair, Share (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/think-pair-share)

True for Who? (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/true-for-who)

Tug for Truth (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/tug-for-truth)

Tug of War (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/tug-of-war)

Values, Identities, Actions (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/values-identities-actions)

Who am I? (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/who-am-i)

Generating Possibilities and Analogies

Routines that help students learn to formulate questions, consider alternatives, and make comparisons.

3-2-1 Bridge (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/3-2-1-bridge)

Creative Comparisons (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/creative-comparisons)

Creative Question Starts (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/creative-question-starts)

 Creative Questions (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/creative-questions)

Digital Habits Checkup (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/digital-habits-checkup)

Feelings and Options (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/feelings-and-options)

Options Diamond (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/options-diamond)

Options Explosion (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/options-explosion)

True for Who? (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/true-for-who)

Synthesizing & Organizing Ideas

Routines that help students find coherence, draw conclusions, and distill the essence of topics or experiences.

+1 Routine (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/1-routine)

Circles of Action (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/circles-of-action)

Color, Symbol, Image (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/color-symbol-image)

Creating Space for Learning (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/creating-space-for-learning)

Generate-Sort-Connect-Elaborate (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/generate-sort-connect-elaborate)

Headlines (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/headlines)

How Else and Why? (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/how-else-and-why)

I Used to Think... Now I Think... (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/i-used-to-think-now-i-think)

Portable Surprise (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/portable-surprise)

Take Note (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/take-note)

The 4 C's (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/the-4-cs)

Word-Phrase-Sentence (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/word-phrase-sentence)

Exploring Art, Images, and Objects

Routines that help develop students’ cultivate key skills of observation, interpretation, and questioning through engagement with art and
objects.

Beginning, Middle, End (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/beginning-middle-end)

Colors, Shapes, Lines (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/colors-shapes-lines)

Creative Comparisons (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/creative-comparisons)

Creative Hunt (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/creative-hunt)

Creative Questions (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/creative-questions)

 Elaboration Game (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/elaboration-game)

Headlines (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/headlines)

I Used to Think... Now I Think... (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/i-used-to-think-now-i-think)

Lenses (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/lenses)

Listening: Ten Times Two (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/listening-ten-times-two)

Looking: Ten Times Two (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/looking-ten-times-two)

Parts, Purposes, Complexities (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/parts-purposes-complexities)

See Think Make Discuss (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/see-think-make-discuss)

See Think Me We (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/see-think-me-we)

See Wonder Connect x2 (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/see-wonder-connect-x2)

See, Think, Wonder (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/see-think-wonder)

Slow Complexity Capture (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/slow-complexity-capture)

Step Inside (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/step-inside)

The Complexity Scale (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/the-complexity-scale)

The Explanation Game (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/the-explanation-game)

Think, Puzzle, Explore (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/think-puzzle-explore)

Thinking With Images (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/thinking-with-images)

Values, Identities, Actions (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/values-identities-actions)

What Makes You Say That? (https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/what-makes-you-say-that)

Global Thinking
Beauty and Truth (/resources/beauty-and-truth)

Circles of Action (/resources/circles-of-action)

How Else and Why? (/resources/how-else-and-why)

Same Different Connect Engage (/resources/same-different-connect-engage)

See Feel Think Wonder (/resources/see-feel-think-wonder)

Seek to See (/resources/seek-to-see)

Step in - Step out - Step back (/resources/step-in-step-out-step-back)

Sticking Points (/resources/sticking-points)

The 3 Whys (/resources/the-3-whys)

 True for Who? (/resources/true-for-who)

Unveiling Stories (/resources/unveiling-stories)

Values, Identities, Actions (/resources/values-identities-actions)

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