If you’re looking for a way to get your students to make meaningful connections and have deep, thoughtful discussions, then hexagonal thinking might just be your new favorite activity.
What is Hexagonal Thinking?
Hexagonal thinking is all about creating connections. Imagine each idea, concept, or term as a hexagon on a board. As students arrange these hexagons, they’re essentially building a web of interconnected thoughts. The beauty of this method lies in the discussions it fosters because students must explain and justify their connections, which leads to deeper understanding and critical thinking.
How Can I Create My Own Hexagonal Thinking Activities?
Creating hexagonal thinking activities is straightforward and incredibly adaptable:
1. Pick Your Topic: Start with a central theme or concept.
2. Generate Hexagons: Write down individual ideas, terms, or concepts on hexagonal cards. You can make your own or use these templates:- Create your own with shapes in Google Slides or make a copy of this Google Drawings Hexagonal Thinking Template.
- This hexagonal thinking template from Kami is an excellent tool for students to link ideas that bounce off one another and link them together.
- Use an online hexagon generator, like this one created by Pam Hook.
- Create instant Hexagonal thinking activities on anything your studying with the help of Diffit and AI. Diffit has two templates, this Hexagonal thinking workbook and these Hexagonal thinking Slides. Just click "Add content with Diffit" on either template to instantly add words from any topic you're studying.
- Punch hexagons out of paper using a hexagon paper punch (2 to 3 inch hexagons).
- Print out these printable hexagon templates and let students cut them out.
Hexagonal Thinking Workbook from Diffit
Hexagonal Thinking Templat from Ditch That Textbook
Hexagonal Thinking for Teachers from Kami
Hexagonal Thinking Slides from Diffit
3. Arrange and Connect: If printing the cards, lay out the hexagons on a large surface. Students can move them around to create a web of connections. If doing the activity digitally students can move the hexagons around, connecting them by placing them together on the screen.
4. Facilitate the Discussion: Encourage students to talk about why they’ve connected certain ideas. Ask probing questions to deepen the conversation.
5. Reflect and Revise: Allow students to continually adjust their hexagons as they develop new insights.
How Can I Use Hexagonal Thinking in Class?
Hexagonal thinking is a fun and engaging way to get students thinking critically and making connections between ideas in the classroom. Here are some ways you can use it:
1. Kickstart New Units: Use hexagonal thinking to introduce a new topic. Students can brainstorm and connect prior knowledge to new concepts.
2. Review Sessions: Perfect for reviewing material. Have students create hexagonal webs of what they’ve learned.
3. Group Work: Break students into small groups and let them create hexagonal webs together. This promotes collaboration and communication.
4. Critical Thinking: Challenge students to connect seemingly unrelated ideas. It’s a great way to promote higher-order thinking.
5. Formative Assessments: Use hexagonal thinking as a formative assessment tool. See how well students understand the material by the connections they make.
6. Project-Based Learning: Integrate hexagonal thinking into project-based learning. It helps students organize their research and findings.
7. Literature Analysis: Use hexagonal thinking to explore themes, characters, and plot points in literature.
8. Build Science Connections: Connect scientific concepts and processes to show their interrelationships.
9. Create History Webs: Explore historical events, figures, and movements by connecting them in a hexagonal web.
10. Engage in a Creative Brainstorms: Perfect for creative writing or any activity that requires brainstorming and organizing ideas.
