By using thinking skills, pupils can focus on 'knowing how' as well as 'knowing what' -- learning about the learning process (metacognition). The thinking skills below complement the key skills and are embedded in the geography programme of study:

information-processing skills
the ability to locate and collect relevant information; to sort, classify, sequence, compare and contrast; and to analyse part/whole relationships;

reasoning skills
the ability to give reasons for opinions and actions; to draw inferences and make deductions; to use precise language to explain thoughts; and to make judgements and decisions informed by reasons or evidence;

enquiry skills
the ability to ask relevant questions; to pose and define problems; to plan what to do and how to research; to predict outcomes and anticipate consequences; and to test conclusions and improve ideas;

creative-thinking skills
the ability to generate and extend ideas; to suggest hypotheses; to apply imagination and to look for alternative outcomes;

evaluation skills
the ability to evaluate information; to judge the value of what they read, hear and do; to develop criteria for judging the value of their own and others' work or ideas; and to have confidence in their judgements.

Activities to develop, practise and consolidate these skills involve working in different ways, including:

teacher reflection on, and modelling of, thinking skills;

problem solving in pairs;

co-operative learning;

group discussions.

Managing provision in the general guidance

Matching teaching to pupils' needs in the general guidance

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