Six Thinking Hats - Rev2010

An In-Service Training (INSET) Package in Elementary Science
Developing the Thinking

Process of our Pupils in
Science
(Six Thinking Hats)
Facilitator’s Guide
Presentation Plan
Master Set of Resources
Reprinted
by the Philippines - Australia Hastening the Impact of PROBE (HIP)

under the AusAID Vulnerable Groups Facility (VGF)
Revised
by the Learning Resource Management and Development System (LRMDS) Region VII
under the Strengthening the Implementation of Basic Education in Selected Provinces in the Visayas
(STRIVE)
Philippine-Australia Project in Basic Education (PA-PROBE)

Regional Learning Materials Center (RLMC VII)
Published by the
PHILIPPINES - AUSTRALIA PROJECT IN BASIC EDUCATION (PROBE)
REGIONAL LEARNING MATERIALS CENTER VII (RLMC VII)
Department of Education, Culture and Sports
Region VII, Central Visayas
Cebu City
Copyright © 1999 by PROBE
Reprint Edition 2002
Revised Edition 2010
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Section 9 of Presidential Decree No. 49 provides:
“No copyright shall subsist in any work of the Government of the Republic of the
Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency of office wherein the
work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit.”
This material has been developed within the Project in Basic Education (PROBE)
implemented by the Educational Development Projects Implementing Task Force
(EDPITAF) of the Department of Education (DepEd) in collaboration with the Bureau of
Elementary Education, Bureau of Secondary Education and the Commission on Higher
Education. Prior approval must be given by the PROBE Management Unit lodged at
EDPITAF and the source must be clearly acknowledged.
Bernadita S. Ynclino
ISF –Elementary
Math & Science
Cebu City
Writer
This INSET package has been edited and produced by the PA - PROBE RLMC VII staff.
This edition has been revised for online distribution through the Learning Resource
Management Development System (LRMDS) Portal by Region VII-Bohol under Project
STRIVE for BESRA, a project supported by AusAID.
INSET PACKAGE
Developing the Thinking Process

of Our Pupils in Science
(Six Thinking Hats)
3. Master Set of Resources
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white
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INSET PACKAGE: Developing the Thinking Process of Our Pupils in Science (Six Thinking Hats)
Developing the Thinking Process Of Our Pupils in Science

(Six Thinking Hats)
1 FACILITATOR’S GUIDE
Description
Six Thinking Hats is a method that stimulates and develops the learner’s critical
thinking skills. It encourages them to work cooperatively on the tasks specified in each
color of the hat. It also develops in them a sense of responsibility in the performance of
the roles assigned to them.
Rationale
This workshop is designed to show to the participants how the Six Thinking Hats can
be used to develop the thinking process of our pupils in science. As science teachers, it is our
main goal to produce thinkers who are open-minded, fair, careful in arriving at conclusions,
accurate, free of prejudices and superstitions and intensely curious about his environment.
Target Audience
Grades V and VI Science Teachers
Duration
2 hours and 30 minutes
Objectives
At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• use the Six Thinking Hats to develop critical thinking among our pupils in
science
• conceptualize a science activity wherein any of the Six Thinking Hats could be
used
Evaluation
The success of this workshop will be measured by:

• participants’ involvement in the activities
• participants’ ability to conceptualize a science activity using the specific
Thinking Hat assigned to their group.
1
Resource List
Materials
OHPTs
OHPT 1 Objectives, Rationale and Background of the
Method
OHPT 2 Fundamental Difficulties in Practical Thinking
Activity Cards
Activity Card 1 Put on Your White Hat
Activity Card 2 Put on Your Yelllow Hat
Activity Card 3 Put on Your Blue Hat
Activity Card 4 Put on Your Red Hat
Activity Card 5 Put on Your Black Hat
Activity Card 6 Put on Your Green Hat
Handouts
Handout 1 What is Six Thinking Hats?
Handout 2 Green Hat Thinking
Handout 3 Black Hat Thinking
Handout 4 Blue Hat Thinking
Handout 5 Red Hat Thinking
Handout 6 White Hat Thinking
Handout 7 Yellow Hat Thinking
Handout 8 Summary of Six Thinking Hats
Name Tags using the six colors representing the colors of the hats
Role Cards for:

Reporter
Decision Maker
Encourager
Recorder
Devil’s Advocate
Timekeeper
Creator
2
Consumables
Pentel pens
Sheets of manila paper
Art paper
Acetate markers
Acetate
Equipment
Overhead Projector and Screen
3
OHPT 1
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OBJECTIVES AND RATIONALE
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OF THE WORKSHOP
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BACKGROUND OF THE APPROACH
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Objectives
At the end of the workshop, the participants will be able

to:
• use the six thinking hats to develop critical thinking

among our pupils in science
• conceptualize a science activity using the specific
thinking hat assigned to their group.
Rationale
This workshop is designed to show the participants how

the Six Thinking Hats can be used to develop the thinking
process of our pupils in science. As science teachers, it is our
main goal to produce thinkers who are open-minded, fair,
careful in arriving at conclusions, accurate, free of prejudices
and superstitions and intensely curious about his environment.
Background of the Method
Edward de Bono in his book entitled “Six Thinking Hats

for School” claims that there are three fundamental
difficulties in attempting practical thinking. These are
emotions, helplessness and confusions. These difficulties will
be overcome by using the six thinking hats, since practical
thinking skills are most effectively used if they are taught
directly and deliberately.
Handout 1 What is Six Thinking Hats?
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THE SIX THINKING HATS
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Think of the Six Thinking Hats as:
• a fun way of paying attention to thinking
• a method wherein learners of all ages can learn and apply
• a method which uses the hats to
•• provide a mental image that is easy to learn

and remember
•• provide a framework for learning about the
different aspects of thinking and for under-
standing about thinking
•• avoid confusion by allowing a group or
individuals to focus on just one thing at a time
•• request a certain type of thinking or to request
a change or a switch from one type of thinking
to another without giving offense
•• provide games and role playing situations
which detach ego from the thinking: “This is
not me but my red hat thinking.”
•• allow full attention to be paid to the critical
aspects of thinking (black hat), the constructive
aspects of thinking (yellow hat), the creative aspects
of thinking (green hat), a simple way of doing one
of the most difficult tasks - the teaching of thinking
about thinking (blue hat).
Handout 2 Green Hat Thinking
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GREEN HAT
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This is a powerful hat especially in creative, technical

or design areas as the driving force of change.
Some of the goals of the Green Hat thinker are

bringing out new ideas and innovations and to create
possibilities to be able to move forward.
After discussing new ideas and alternatives and

offering proposals and suggestions, ponder:
What is interesting about this idea?

Where else can we start?
What else can we do?
What else might we try?
What other possibilities are there?
Handout 3 Black Hat Thinking
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BLACK HAT
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This a valuable hat, but it can be over-used due to the

opinion that pointing out what’s wrong is enough.
The Black Hat thinker finds weaknesses and make

assessments.
A word of caution however, is to be remembered

whenever this thinker comes out with an idea:
CHECK IT OUT!
Is there evidence?
Is there logic?
Is it feasible?
Are there problems?
Are there weaknesses?
Handout 4 Blue Hat Thinking
thinking
about
thinking
planning monitoring evaluating
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BLUE HAT
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This is often used at the beginning, the middle and at

the end of a thinking session.
The thinker who uses the blue hat has the following
goals in mind:
• defining focus and purpose

What are we thinking about?
• setting out agenda or plan
What are we trying to do?
What have we done so far?
• deciding on the next step
What do we need to do next?
• defining outcomes
What conclusion/s have we reached?
• summarizing
What have we learned?
Handout 5 Red Hat Thinking
emotions
intuitionss
hunches general feelings
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RED HAT
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It is mainly concerned with feelings

for this recognizes emotions as valid parts of thinking
provided they are signalled as what they are.
This hat does not require justification or explanation

or logical support.
The Red Hat thinker usually pauses to find answers to this

question:
HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT AN IDEA?

Handout 6 White Hat Thinking
facts
information
data questions
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WHITE HAT
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This hat stimulates thinking, prior knowledge and

future directions.
Questions raised will be:
What do we have or know?
What do we need or need to know?
How do we get the information we need?

Handout 7 Yellow Hat Thinking
optimism
good points benefits
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YELLOW HAT
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Using this hat is much harder since it requires a

sustained effort to find the benefits in a suggestion.
A Yellow Hat thinker assesses value, extracts

benefits and strives to make something work.
Since the Yellow Hat projects sunshine and

optimism, it asks us to seek out the different values
and good points in an idea.
What are the strong points?

Why will this idea work?
Why will this be good for us?
What evidence supports this?
OHPT 2
FUNDAMENTAL DIFFICULTIES IN PRACTICAL

THINKING
There are three fundamental difficulties in attempting practical

thinking:
EMOTIONS
We often have a tendency
not to think at all . We rely on
instant gut feeling, emotion, and
prejudice as a basis for action
i. e. reaction.
CONFUSION
We have an inability to
organize. We try to keep
everything in mind at once
and end up in a confused
mess.
HELPLESSNESS
We may react with feelings of inadequacy-
“I don’t know how to think about
this. I don’t know what to do next.”
De Bono claims that thinking skills are most

effectively taught directly and deliberately.
Handout 8 Summary of Six Thinking Hats
SUMMARY OF SIX THINKING HATS
White Hat Thinking: Facts, Figures and Objective Information
Image: The neutrality of a white sheet of paper

Attention: When wearing the white hat, you do not offer interpretations or
opinions. The thinker strives to be more neutral and more objective in
the presentation of and request for information.
Questions: What information is available or missing?
What information do we have?
How are we going to get the information we need?
What questions should we be asking?
Red Hat Thinking: Emotions and Feelings
Image: Fire and warmth, perhaps anger

Attention: Feelings, intuition and emotions.
You may not know the reasons why you do or don’t like something.
Your feelings and intuition exist and the red hat gives you permission to
vocalize these feelings without having to justify or to explain them.
Questions: How could anyone like this plan?
How could anyone not like this plan?
Yellow Hat Thinking: Positive Constructive Thoughts
Image: Sunshine and optimism

Attention: A direct effort to find the benefits in a suggestion. Even if we do not
like the idea, the yellow hat asks us to seek out the different values and
the good points.
Questions: What is good about this?
Where are the benefits?
Who is going to benefit?
How will the benefits come about?
Green Hat Thinking: Creativity and New Thoughts
Image: Vegetation, which suggests growth, energy and life

Attention: Discussing new ideas and alternatives. Offering proposals and
suggestions where everyone makes an effort to be creative and bring up
possibilities.
Questions: What new ideas can we bring to this topic?
How can we see things differently?
How can we modify our current plan?
Black Hat Thinking: Logical Negative Thoughts
Image: Judge’s robes. Black hat of caution.

Attention: Stops us from doing things that are harmful or risky. Probably the most
useful and most over-used hat.
Questions: What are the risks in this situation?
Why may this not work as expected?
What precautions need to be taken?
Blue Hat Thinking: Thinking Steps and Control of the Other Hats
Image: Cool, sensible, sky blue, organized

Attention: The thinking process itself, the sequencing of the hats. We use the blue
hat at the beginning of a discussion in order to define what we are
thinking about; to decide what goals we have for our thinking; and to
summarize what we have achieved at the end.
Questions: What should we do next?
What have we achieved so far?
Put on Your White Hat
Activity Card 1
Time Frame: 10 minutes
Directions:
1. Study and answer the following questions:
• What do you know about chemical sprays and

pesticides?
• Who can give you the needed advice on the

proper use of these sprays to your mango tree?
• What questions will you ask him/her?
2. Share your ideas with the members of your group.
3. Write your answers on the sheet of manila paper given

to your group.
4. Publish your answers.

Put on Your Yellow Hat
Activity Card 2
Time Frame : 10 minutes
Directions:
• Why is it good to consult an expert’s advice

before letting somebody apply chemical sprays
and pesticides to your mango tree?
• Who will benefit from this idea?
• Name some benefits derived from this idea.

to your group.

Put on Your Blue Hat
Activity Card 3
Directions:
• What is our purpose in seeking an expert’s

advice regarding the use of chemical sprays
and pesticides for fruit-bearing mangoes?
• What steps are we going to take to achieve

our goal?
• What do we expect to learn?
3. Summarize what you have discussed and write them on the

sheet of manila paper given to your group.

Put on Your Red Hat
Activity Card 4
Directions:
1. Study and answer the following question/task:
• How do you feel about the idea presented?
• Describe your intuitions, hunches, and general

feelings about the idea/plan.

to your group.

Put on Your Black Hat
Activity Card 5
Directions:
• What preparations are we going to undertake

before pushing through with the plan?
• Do you think this will work? Why or why not?
• Do you expect any problems to be met? What

are these?
3. Write your answers on the sheet of manila paper given to

your group.

Put on Your Green Hat
Activity Card 6
Directions:
• Do you have any proposals or suggestions

aside from the idea presented in the situation?
• Can you modify the plan? How?
2. Share you ideas with the members of your group.

to your group.

yellow
white
black
blue
green
red
SITUATION:
Your brother informs you that your mango

tree is ready to bear fruits. Together, you plan to
hire somebody to apply the needed chemicals. A
friend suggested that before it is done, you have
to gather pieces of information from the expert
about the use of chemical spray and pesticides to
mangoes.
Roles of Group Members
Reporter
It will be your job to report your group’s
ideas to the whole group. Please make sure
that you understand all the points so that you
are able to accurately present your group’s
work.
Decision Maker
If it seems that members of the group are
unsure of whether or not to include some
items, it is up to you to clarify the ideas and
help the group to come to a decision.
Encourager
Encourage your group if it seems that mem-
bers are running out of ideas. You may find
it necessary to read what has already been
written down and then encourage your group
to think more deeply.
Recorder
It’s your job to accurately write down the
points your group makes in response to the
given task.
Devil’s Advocate
Your job is to make people think more
deeply about what they say. Sometimes you
may need to point out reasons why some-
thing may not work. At other times you may
need to present an opposing point of view.
Timekeeper
Your job is to remind your group of the time
so that they will finish the task assigned to
them.
Creator
As your group thinks of the given task, it is
up to you to actively try to think of new ideas
or new ways to present the points made by
the group.
2 PRESENTATION PLAN FOR FACILITATOR
Session Time Activity Comment
1 5 min Introduction to the Workshop

• Present objectives, • Use OHPT 1 for the
rationale and background presentation.
of the method.
2 10 min Grouping of Participants

• Distribute colored name tag • Make sure that the 6
to each participant. colors be divided equally
• Request participants with the among the number of
same colored name tags to sit participants so that there will
together. be more or less equal
number of members for each
group.
• Distribute role cards to each

group.
• Discuss the importance of the • Clear any questions or doubts
role that each member will about the description of their
play during the activity. respective roles.
3 35 min Brainstorming about the Six

Thinking Hats
• Discuss what the Six Thinking • Facilitator refers to
Hats is about. Handout 1 What is Six
Thinking Hats? Allow 5
minutes for this.
• On a piece of cartolina, • Let participants study the

present this situation to the situation and inform them that
class. they will answer questions
Your brother informs you based on the situation.
that your mango tree is ready
to bear fruits. Together, you
plan to hire somebody to apply
the needed chemicals. A
friend suggested that before
it is done, you have to gather
pieces of information from an
expert about the use of
chemical sprays and pesticides
to mangoes.
1

• Give one Activity Card to • Refer to Activity Cards 1
each group. to 6.
Group 1 - Put on Your
White Hat
Yellow Hat
Group 3 - Put on Your Blue
Hat
Group 4 - Put on Your Red
Hat
Black Hat
Green Hat
• Let participants perform the • Remind each member of
tasks given to them. the role assigned to him/
her.
• Move around the group
to monitor the
participation of each
member.
4 20 min Presentation/Group Reporting • Allow 2 minutes for all
• Publishing of group work. groups to publish their
• Group reporting. work and 3 minutes for
each group reporter to
render the report.
• Let them focus their
answers to the questions
given.
• Provide additional
information as needed.
5 20 min Abstraction/Discussion
• Group sharing about the
difficultiesencountered in
performing the tasks.
• Present OHPT 2. • Discuss each difficulty as
• Discuss the insights they shown in OHPT 2.
gained out of the group
presentations.
Ask:
1. What are the different
kinds of thinking hats?
2. What does each color
signify?
2
3. How will these develop the • Let participants explain

thinking skills of the their answer to question
pupils? # 3.
• Distribute Handout 8 to each • Let each group give their
participant. reaction/comments about
the explanations given in the
handout.
6 30 min Conceptualizing a Science

Activity
• Distribute Handouts 2 to 7 to • Let each group choose any
the specific groups involved of the six thinking hats in
(Example: Handout 2 to making the activity.
the Green Hat group).
• Discuss what kind of thinking • Provide materials such as
is developed in each color of pentel pen and a sheet of
the hat. Give examples of manila paper for each group.
questions that can help
develop the different kinds of
thinking.
• Each group decides on a
specific science activity using
the specific thinking hat
assigned to their group.
7 20 min Presentation of Outputs

• Each group publishes their • Facilitator sets the time frame
output. for each undertaking.
• Group reporter renders the (publishing and reporting)
report. • Solicit comments from the
participants after all groups
have presented their outputs.
8 10 min Wrap-up
• Ask a representative from • Record participants’
each group to give a responses.
feedback about the use of
the Six Thinking Hats.
Let each group answer this
question:
Will the Six
Thinking Hats develop
the thinking skills of the
pupils? Why? Why not?

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An In-Service Training (INSET) Package in Elementary Science

Developing the Thinking

by the Philippines - Australia Hastening the Impact of PROBE (HIP)

Philippine-Australia Project in Basic Education (PA-PROBE)

Section 9 of Presidential Decree No. 49 provides:

Developing the Thinking Process

3. Master Set of Resources

Developing the Thinking Process Of Our Pupils in Science

Grades V and VI Science Teachers

2 hours and 30 minutes

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

The success of this workshop will be measured by:

Role Cards for:

Overhead Projector and Screen

At the end of the workshop, the participants will be able

• use the six thinking hats to develop critical thinking

This workshop is designed to show the participants how

Background of the Method

Edward de Bono in his book entitled “Six Thinking Hats

Handout 1 What is Six Thinking Hats?

Think of the Six Thinking Hats as:

• a fun way of paying attention to thinking

• a method wherein learners of all ages can learn and apply

• a method which uses the hats to

•• provide a mental image that is easy to learn

Handout 2 Green Hat Thinking

This is a powerful hat especially in creative, technical

Some of the goals of the Green Hat thinker are

After discussing new ideas and alternatives and

What is interesting about this idea?

Handout 3 Black Hat Thinking

This a valuable hat, but it can be over-used due to the

The Black Hat thinker finds weaknesses and make

A word of caution however, is to be remembered

Handout 4 Blue Hat Thinking

planning monitoring evaluating

This is often used at the beginning, the middle and at

• defining focus and purpose

Handout 5 Red Hat Thinking

hunches general feelings

It is mainly concerned with feelings

This hat does not require justification or explanation

The Red Hat thinker usually pauses to find answers to this

HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT AN IDEA?

Handout 6 White Hat Thinking

This hat stimulates thinking, prior knowledge and

Questions raised will be:

What do we have or know?

What do we need or need to know?

How do we get the information we need?

Handout 7 Yellow Hat Thinking

good points benefits

Using this hat is much harder since it requires a

A Yellow Hat thinker assesses value, extracts

Since the Yellow Hat projects sunshine and

What are the strong points?

FUNDAMENTAL DIFFICULTIES IN PRACTICAL

There are three fundamental difficulties in attempting practical