Step 1 – Introduce the topic
- ‘We are going to discuss our idea for the schoolyard with the six thinking hats.’
Explain what you are going to think about and what the actions are.
- Divide the class in small working groups
- Make the thinking hats-same visual in the classroom and make the six coloured hats (or cards) available to the whole class
| Hat | Question you ask | Sample activity |
|---|---|---|
| ⚪ White (facts) | What do we already know? | Write down or draw information |
| ❤️ Red (feelings) | What do we think or feel? | Let children choose or draw an emoji |
| ⚫ Black (critical) | What doesn’t work well? | Put a cross by what might be tricky |
| 🟡 Yellow (positive) | What’s good about it? | Have children draw a sun by their idea |
| 🟢 Green (creative) | What else can we think of? | Brainstorm on paper or with LEGO/blocks |
| 🔵 Blue (overview) | What should we do next? | Have children make a roadmap or divide tasks |
Step 2 – Think for each hat (one at a time)
Walk step by step through each thinking hat. At each hat, give children space to share their opinion, idea or feeling – verbally, on a post-it or via a worksheet.
- Children present their idea for the playground with their group.
- every student expresses their opinion, feeling, vision or possible solution to each hat
Step 3 – Reflect together
Discuss briefly what you have learned.
For example:
- ‘What did we discover by thinking like this?’
- ‘What idea do we want to develop further?’
- ‘What did you find difficult or fun about this way of thinking?’