Before the lesson: preparation
Visualising thinking hats helps children to recognise and use different ways of thinking.
By choosing the right topic (e.g. a classroom problem or design question), thinking is immediately linked to a real challenge.
During the lesson:
Step 1: Choose a topic or question
• By choosing a specific problem or situation, you activate problem-oriented thinking.
• Children learn that problems have different sides and that you can examine them systematically.
Step 2: Explain the thinking hats
• Each hat represents a specific thinking style:
o White: gathering facts
o Red: feelings and intuition
o Black: risks and objections
o Yellow: advantages and opportunities
o Green: creative ideas
o Blue: overview and planning
• Children learn that problem-solving does not require a single way of thinking, but a combination of perspectives.
Step 3: Use the hats one at a time
• By exploring each perspective separately, children learn:
o To think systematically
o To use multiple angles
o To collaborate and listen to others
• This promotes flexible and analytical thinking.
Step 4: Ask specific questions for each hat
• Open questions encourage deep thinking and evaluation of ideas.
• Children learn:
o To look critically at facts (white)
o To assess risks (black)
o To come up with creative solutions (green)
o Seeing positive aspects (yellow)
o Reflecting on the process (blue)
Step 5: Discuss and evaluate the results
• By reflecting together, children learn to:
o Draw conclusions
o Weigh up solutions
o Substantiate decisions
• This is a core skill in problem-solving thinking.
Steps 6 & 7: Apply and integrate flexibly
• Regular use of thinking hats makes structured thinking a habit.
• Children learn that problem-solving is a process that can be practised and improved.
Role of the teacher
• Encourages thinking, asks probing questions and provides a safe environment in which children dare to think.
• Does not provide answers, but guides the process so that children arrive at solutions themselves.