The Starting Block asks students to review what they already know about a topic. Although straight recall isn't itself critical thinking, the Starting Block encourages students to go beyond recall and construct new understandings by synthesizing previously unconnected information. Too often, students are asked to accept the necessity of studying a topic without identifying for themselves reasons for studying it. The Starting Block encourages students to actively seek reasons why it might be important to study a topic. Inventing learning strategies.
Good thinkers are proactive and devise strategies to advance their learning.
The Starting Block challenges students to invent, on their own, steps to take to learn more about the topic they are about to study. When to Use the Starting Block Use the Starting Block when beginning a new topic or unit. The most common time to use the Starting Block is when beginning a new topic or unit. If the topic is something the students already know a little about, you can use the Starting Block as an introductory activity. If the topic is completely new to students, use the starting block after students have had a lesson or two.