Thinking Outside the Box

Thinking Outside the Box

Thinking outside the box is a figure of speech that means to think differently or to form a new view point. It is a type of creative thinking. Thinking outside the box helps us to think about other people's feelings and view points.

Learning Objectives

• Promote flexible and non-stereotyped thinking.

• Understand that assumptions can lead to stereotypes about things, people, and groups.

• Understand that stereotypes affect our lives.

Student Learning Objectives

• I can learn strategies to help me think for myself.

What is "stereotype" thinking?

• a general idea about a thing, person, or group

• ex: Girls are weak.

• ex: People of African descent are better at sports.

• ex: Boys are better at math than girls.

• ex: Girls are better readers than boys.

• ex: People of Asian descent are super smart in academics.

We see stereotypes everywhere!

• In magazines

• On products we buy

• On billboards

• In video games

• In social media

• In movies

Multiple Choice

What is "stereotype" thinking?

• a general idea about a thing, person, or group

• not judging a book by it's cover

Why is it important to think for ourselves?

• Thinking for myself allows me to control my own thoughts and decisions.

• Not every one thinks the same way.

• Thinking for myself will help me form my own opinions about things and others.

• Thinking for myself will help me be a leader.

• Thinking for myself will help me advocate for my needs and wants.

Multiple Choice

Why is it important to think for ourselves?

• Thinking for myself is dangerous. Don't do it!

• Thinking for myself allows me to control my own thoughts and decisions.

Let's look at the results of the questionnaire:

• One person in our class reported they can think for themselves.

• One person reported that he or she usually just agrees with whatever his or her friends think.

• Two people reported that they try not to judge people until they get to know them.

• No one reported that it is easier to just let others do the thinking for them.

Strategies to help us think for ourselves:

• I can not judge people by the way they look.

• I can get to know people before I make a judgement.

• I can think before I speak.

• I can write down things I like and dislike about situations.

• I can create goals for my future and work toward those goals.

Let's put what we learned into action

Ready...

Multiple Choice

Beth and her friends were talking about careers they would like to do when they graduate high school. Beth told her friends she wants to be a pilot. One of her friends said, "Only guys can be pilots."

• This is stereotype thinking.

• This is not a stereotype thinking.

Multiple Choice

Sammy is at the YMCA with his brother. Sammy looked at the list of classes offered and saw ballet class. He really wanted to take ballet, but the counselor told him, "Only girls take ballet. Why don't you try boxing."

• This is stereotype thinking.

• This is not stereotype thinking.

Multiple Choice

Julie tells her father she wants to be a doctor when she grows up. Her father responds, "You can be whatever you want to be if you work hard."

• This is stereotype thinking

• This is not stereotype thinking

Review

• Stereotype thinking is problematic because it creates judgements about things, people, and groups.

• Thinking outside the box helps us think in new ways and understand other people's view points.

• Thinking for ourselves is one why we can think outside the box.

• Getting to know people before we make a judgement is another way we can think outside the box.

Poll

How do you feel about the lesson today?

• I feel I know nothing about stereotype thinking.

• I feel I know a little bit about stereotype thinking.

• I feel I know a lot about stereotype thinking.