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Thinking Skill Activities

The thinking skill activities below use the Pledge of Allegiance as the content. Each activity is written as an objective, first for the total class and then differentiated for gifted learners. We use these activities to help teachers better understand Bloom's Taxonomy and ways to differentiate objectives so that enrichment and extensions for gifted students can be included in every program.

 
       I pledge allegiance to the flag
       of the United States of America 
       and to the Republic for which it stands, 
       one Nation under God, indivisible, 
       with liberty and justice for all.
    

Knowledge

Class objective - Students will demonstrate knowledge of the Pledge of Allegiance by reciting it from memory.

Differentiated objective for gifted students - Same

Comprehension

Class objective - Students will demonstrate comprehension (understanding) of the Pledge of allegiance by explaining its meaning in own words.

Differentiated for Gifted Students - Students will demonstrate comprehension (understanding) of the Pledge of allegiance by rewriting the Pledge in a manner that retains the original meaning but without using any of the above words that are italicized.

Application

Class objective - Students will demonstrate the ability to apply the idea of a "pledge of allegiance-type" statement by writing an original "pledge of allegiance" for a club or organization (their family?) to which they belong.

Differentiated for Gifted Students - Same.

Task Analysis:

1. Identify the critical attributes of a "pledge of allegiance-type" statement.
2. Write an original "pledge of allegiance" for a club or organization (their family?) to which they belong.
3. Explain how their statement includes the critical attributes noted in "a" above.

Analysis

Class objective - Students will analyze the Pledge of Allegiance by stating the main idea.

Differentiated objective for gifted students - Students will analyze the Pledge of Allegiance by noting the similarities and differences between the Pledge and the Great Seal of the United States.

Task Analysis:

1. What are some things you know about the Pledge of Allegiance? What are some other things?
2. What is the main idea of the Pledge?
3. What are some things you know about the Great Seal of the United States? What are some other things you know?
4. What is the main idea of the Great Seal?
5. What are some ways the Pledge and the Seal are different? What are some other ways?
6. What are some ways the Pledge and the Seal are similar? What are some other ways?
7. What would you say is the main way the pledge and the Seal are similar? Why do you say this?

Use the following to work through the above.

1. History of the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance
2. Regulations pertaining to the Pledge of Allegiance
3. Great Seal of the United States (pdf.) - http://www.state.gov/www/publications/great_seal.pdf
4. Great Seal of the United States- http://www.greatseal.com/
5. Regulations pertaining to the Great Seal of the United States

Synthesis

Class objective - Students will synthesize the ideas included in the Pledge of Allegiance by adding a word or phrase to the original Pledge which would make it more relevant to today.

Differentiated objective for gifted students - Students will synthesize the ideas included in the Pledge of Allegiance by totally rewriting the Pledge while keeping the original main idea but adding a part or parts thought necessary to make it more relevant to today.

Task Analysis:

1. What are the important ideas found in the Pledge?
2. What are some important ideas that define the U.S. today
3. Cross out the important ideas listed for both "a" and "b" above.
4. Rewrite the Pledge while keeping the original main idea but adding an important idea or ideas (perhaps, those not crossed out in "c" above) thought necessary to make it more relevant to today.
5. Explain why you believe the newly constructed Pledge carries the original main idea and why the additions are necessary to make it more relevant to today.

Evaluation:

Class objective - Students will evaluate the worth of the Pledge of Allegiance by writing a letter to the editor stating why the Pledge should be recited each school day.

Differentiated objective for gifted students - Students will evaluate the Pledge of Allegiance by deciding which of the following would better instill patriotism in a group of sixteen year old students.

1. Saying the Pledge of Allegiance each day.
2. Singing the National Anthem each day
3. Helping raise the flag each day
4. All of the above
5. Another idea

Task Analysis:

1. Create the criteria that will be used to make the decision.
2. Apply each alternative above to the criteria created.
3. Decide which alternative would be the best to instill patriotism.
4. Explain why the alternative selected would be the best to instill patriotism.