Think, Puzzle, Explore: An engaging lesson to introduce background knowledge so students can make connections on sustainability in preparation for their research paper. This is the first lesson in a broader research unit on sustainability and a way for learners to think more intentionally about their search terms.

Introduction:

What is sustainability and what are we doing in our own lives to ensure that the earth lasts?

Discussion of the different pillars of sustainability. If only one pillar works, then the solution won’t work. Students need to see it as a whole. I am modeling how to see the world as a collection of interconnected systems. This is called Systems Thinking and it is the “art and science of making reliable inferences about behavior by developing an increasingly deep understanding of underlying structure.” I ask questions to inspire higher order thinking skills and make connections. They have to compile information that they know about in a different way which is the higher order thinking skill of synthesizing. As a class they analyze different factors that go into sustainability. Is it viable? Businesses save money using cheap chemicals. I repeat what they are saying and connect it to sustainable unit. Why isn’t everyone sustainable? If there is a sustainability solution that does not work for all pillars it is not a good solution.

Think, Puzzle, Explore:

There are five tables set up with librarian pre selected articles on different topics within sustainability. Students sit at a table based on their topic of interest. Topics include: sustainable transportation, fashion, food, design, and agriculture. Students had ten minutes to read the article and take notes in a way that was comfortable for them. Librarian had available post it notes, highlighters, a pre made graphic organizer, pens, pencils, and sharpies.

After they have read their article, students share and discuss what they learned using the Think,

Puzzle, Explore method which “sets the stage for deeper inquiry.” They had to talk through the

following questions:

1. What do you think you know about this topic?

2. What questions or puzzles do you have?

3. How can you explore this topic?

Based on their collaborative discussion students filled out posters documenting their new found

knowledge, what they now wanted to learn more about, and how they were going to begin to delve into

the topic.

Groups then shared their thoughts with the whole class so everyone could get a taste of some different

aspects within sustainability.