UPDATE 3/30/2020: Here is a link to a video where Smithsonian educators demonstrate use of the Thinking Routines with a piece of artwork.
You would have to drill down a bit into these resources that I posted about from the Smithsonian for “A Woman’s Place” to find this excellent compilation of Thinking Routines from Harvard’s Project Zero, so I thought I would give this page of free downloads its very own post. Although the routines are specifically aimed toward discussing works of art, you will quickly see that these questions are adaptable to many different situations, and that they will elicit deep thought about any topic. One of my favorite Visible Thinking Routines is 3-2-1 Bridge (here is a post I did on that, which includes a free template).
I also like the: Artful, Global, and Agency by Design Thinking Routines that are included on this page. For example, I’ve added one of the Global cards below. Imagine applying these questions to the current pandemic, and what answers you might receive from your students! Some might find literal beauty in the microscopic image of the virus, while others may see the beauty of human nature being revealed as people jump in to help their communities.
If you are preparing curriculum for distance learning, I hope that you will consider adding some of these to get a more detailed understanding of the thoughts your students are having while they learn.
