Primary Teacher Resource Centre - Forum

magpie nic · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 13433 Location: Tyneside

Does anyone use these in school?
I came across the book and there are some fab questions in it to make children think. I have just found a PPT of some of them on TES, which saved me a job coz I was going to offer to type them up for people to use!!
This one is my favourite for today
If the world was ruled by zebras, would there be racism?
www.thunks.co.uk

cofnchoc · Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 2:50 pm Post subject:

Haven't used them but found these

Are gates on a school to keep children in or adults out?

If my middle toe is bigger than my big toe, is it a big toe?

Can you be modern without a mobile phone?

Where do words go after you've heard them? (I like that one!)
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magpie nic · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 13433 Location: Tyneside

There are some great ones, I imagine children would love discussing them!

I also liked what colour would a zebra be if you removed its stripes?
Is a banana yellow or white?
and
If Manchester United and Chelsea swapped all of their players, which would be the team in blue?
and this one is good for adults
If you enjoy your job, is it work?

greyengine · Joined: 27 Oct 2008 Posts: 5729 Location: West Midlands

Thanks for sharing these. Look useful - could be good for getting children to write balanced arguments.

crispy · Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 6:48 pm Post subject:

I have The Little Book of Thunks' somewhere...

It has things like:
If I borrow £1m from the bank am I a millionaire?
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smileylady · Joined: 28 Oct 2008 Posts: 2699

We use them quite a lot Magpie- the kids love them. This website is pretty good.

www.independentthinking.co.uk/Cool+Stuff/Thunks/default.aspx

choccat · Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 7:24 pm Post subject:

Doh!! I thought you were thanking someone for something and had mistyped. Embarassed

But thank you for your Thunks, I really like them and shall endeavour to put them to good use. Smile

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emadam · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 736

Use them all the time - the children love them. First one was 'What colour is MOnday'. You get really interesting responses and a lot of discussion.
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Rainbow_Bright · Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 7:52 pm Post subject:

Are they a bit like a lot of the starter activities in P4C?

magpie nic · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 13433 Location: Tyneside

I need a class to try them on!
Going to look at that website now smiley.

Choccat, that made me laugh!

magpie nic · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 13433 Location: Tyneside

smileylady · Joined: 28 Oct 2008 Posts: 2699

I am not sure RB as we don't really do P4c!

Rainbow_Bright · Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:27 pm Post subject:

emadam · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 736

They are linked to Philosophy For Children (P4C?)
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Rainbow_Bright · Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 9:34 pm Post subject:

em1981 · Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 10:50 pm Post subject:

wotsitagain · Joined: 28 Oct 2008 Posts: 14265

Thanks for the link, magpie.

A few years ago I was privileged to go on a course led by Ian Gilbert. It was inspirational and I have used some of his ideas to get the children thinking in the morning. I often write a question on the board first thing and then get them to give an answer and reason whilst answering the register. that is why we are often late for assembly!
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madax1 · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 3159

I've been at a conference where Ian Gilbert was a keynote speaker. Very funny, some of it a bit gimmicky, but the brain thunks are great fun. Seeing kids in my school discussing 'What colour is Tuesday?' was an experience!
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wotsitagain · Joined: 28 Oct 2008 Posts: 14265

I like the Which day of the week is heaviest - love hearing their reasons!
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madax1 · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 3159

It's when the Y1s immediately go into talking pairs to discuss the question then after about 45 seconds you see them suddenly looking at each other then at you as they realise it's a non-question - and they think you're mad!!! Then they get stuck into their discussion again anyway and love it!!!
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