Critical Thinking Text Puzzles Bundle | Sub Plans Middle School ELA | SEL

Can your Middle School students figure out who is texting?

14+ Critical Thinking Text Message Puzzles:

• Real world social-emotional learning that isn't babyish.

• Use these high-interest text message conversations as part of your regular English Language Arts program.

• Great as emergency sub plans for Middle School English Language Arts (ELA).

"Trick" students into using reading comprehension strategies to solve each critical thinking text puzzle.

• Who is speaking?

• What is happening?

• How do you know that?

Students have to find evidence from the text (get it? "text"), combined with their own prior knowledge and lived experience to solve the critical thinking puzzles!

NO SURPRISES!

Look at the Product Previews to read the complete text message puzzle.

• Use the slideshow lesson to go through the critical thinking puzzles as part of a whole class lesson (Google Slides or Microsoft Powerpoint).

• Or print the foldable handout, fold on the dotted lines, and your students can unfold the critical thinking puzzle at independent literacy centers. (They record their thinking on a separate worksheet.)

• Or, print off the handouts and have students work on these puzzles as an independent work package.

• The Bundle "BONUS PDF" has all of the puzzles in a single PDF document so it's easier to print. (The answer keys are in the individual resource PDFs included in the ZIP file.)

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING + READING COMPREHENSION STRATEGIES!

✨FEEL CONFIDENT explaining reading comprehension answers to students by using the 215 pages of answer keys / discussion guide as a script. ✨

Help students:

• infer
• make predictions
• connect with the text
• monitor and repair comprehension
• evaluate evidence, and
• find the main idea!

Students explore real world text message scenarios. They reflect on how the text puzzle story line applies both in school and in the real world.

The Critical Thinking Text Puzzles are a great way to start conversations about what students would do in these situations. This helps students develop:

• self-awareness
• social awareness
• relationship skills

HOW TO TEACH / HOW TO PLAY

• Students are shown one text message at a time.

• Each slide in the critical thinking puzzle reveals another text message.

• If you're doing small groups or independent literacy centers, use the foldable printable version so students can unfold one clue at a time!

• Eventually, students have enough clues to solve the critical thinking puzzle!

This is a GROWING bundle: BUY NOW to save money!

• This "Critical Thinking Puzzles" bundle started on Fri Dec 15, 2023 and cost $1.50

• As I add more critical thinking puzzles to the bundle, the price will go up.

• I will publish at least 2 MORE critical thinking puzzles.

• Imagine if I could make 100 of these critical thinking puzzles and you only had to pay $1.50 right now. That's the dream. But I can only do that with your help.

• If you like this resource, please leave an honest review to encourage me to make more.

The Critical Thinking Puzzles Growing Bundle currently includes the following Critical Thinking Text Puzzles!

Critical Thinking Puzzle 1: I love you❤️

• Great emergency sub plans for Middle School ELA
• Includes Foldable Version (for literacy centers)
• Answer Key / Discussion Guide (8 pages)

Critical Thinking Puzzle 2: Christmas Text Mystery

• Great emergency sub plans for Middle School ELA
• Includes Foldable Version (for literacy centers)
• Answer Key / Discussion Guide (12 pages)

Critical Thinking Puzzle 3: 2024 New Year Text Mystery

• Great emergency sub plans for Middle School ELA
• Includes Foldable Version (for literacy centers)
• Answer Key / Discussion Guide (12 pages)

Critical Thinking Puzzle 4: Amazon Shipping Scam?

• Great emergency sub plans for Middle School ELA
• Includes Foldable Version (for literacy centers)
• Answer Key / Discussion Guide (14 pages)

Critical Thinking Puzzle 5: Valentine's Date: Soft Music

• CONTENT WARNING: Healthy Relationships
• Includes Foldable Version (for literacy centers)
• Answer Key / Discussion Guide (21 pages)

Critical Thinking Puzzle 6: Garden Stream

• Great emergency sub plans for Middle School ELA
• Includes Foldable Version (for literacy centers)
• Answer Key / Discussion Guide (15 pages)

Critical Thinking Puzzle 7: Why Would You Post That

• CONTENT WARNING: Healthy Relationships
• Includes Foldable Version (for literacy centers)
• Answer Key / Discussion Guide (20 pages)

Critical Thinking Puzzle 8: Valentine's Day Card For Me

• Great emergency sub plans for Middle School ELA
• Includes Foldable Version (for literacy centers)
• Answer Key / Discussion Guide (17 pages)

Critical Thinking Puzzle 9:She's Coming Back

• Great emergency sub plans for Middle School ELA
• Includes Foldable Version (for literacy centers)
• Answer Key / Discussion Guide (18 pages)

Critical Thinking Puzzle 10: I'M GROUNDED L

• Great emergency sub plans for Middle School ELA
• Includes Foldable Version (for literacy centers)
• Answer Key / Discussion Guide (24 pages)
• Text Puzzle 10 - no prep (print and go) version

Critical Thinking Puzzle 11: I'll go there RN

• Great emergency sub plans for Middle School ELA
• Includes Foldable Version (for literacy centers)
• Answer Key / Discussion Guide (16 pages)
• Text Puzzle 11 - no prep (print and go) version

Critical Thinking Puzzle 12: Spring Break

• Great emergency sub plans for Middle School ELA
• Includes Foldable Version (for literacy centers)
• Answer Key / Discussion Guide (23 pages)

Critical Thinking Puzzle 13: April Fools

• Great emergency sub plans for Middle School ELA
• Includes Foldable Version (for literacy centers)
• Answer Key / Discussion Guide (20 pages)
  

Critical Thinking Puzzle 14: Earth Day

• Great emergency sub plans for Middle School ELA
• Includes Foldable Version (for literacy centers)
• Includes Bloom's Taxonomy Discussion Questions
• Answer Key / Discussion Guide (20 pages)
• Text Puzzle 14 - no prep (print and go) version

Critical Thinking Puzzle 15: Coming soon (April 2024)

• It will be *FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME*
• Great emergency sub plans for Middle School ELA
• Includes Foldable Version (for literacy centers)
• Answer key coming soon

*HOW TO GET THESE CRITICAL THINKING PUZZLES FOR FREE*

• I like to publish my resources for free (or heavily discounted) at the beginning as a thank you to my followers. The early bird freebie version does not have an answer key or editable versions of the files.

• Add the critical thinking puzzles to your account while they are free.

• When I update the resource with the answer key and editable files, it will turn from a FREE resource into a PAID resource.

• As long as you add the critical thinking puzzles to your account while they are free, you will get the update for free as well!

• FOLLOW my TPT store to get free stuff!

• SUBSCRIBE to the Educircles Club newsletter for specials (that TPT won't let me talk about on their platform.)

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

When you download the Critical Thinking Puzzles Bundle ZIP file, it will contain a PDF for each of the Critical Thinking Puzzles. Find the PDF for the critical thinking puzzle you want to teach.

STEP 1: Open the slideshow lesson. (When you download this PDF resource, there will be a link to the slideshow.)

STEP 2: Print the PDF file. It has the worksheets and answer keys

TEACHING IDEAS:

• Option 1. Whole class instruction: Students copy down clues from the slideshow (Google Slides or Microsoft Powerpoint) onto the first worksheet. The act of copying down information might help them pay attention to subtle clues.

• Option 2. Some students may have trouble seeing the board or copying down the clues. There is a version of the worksheet with the text messages. There is also a large version of the phone mock-up. 

• Option 3. Independent Literacy Center: Use the foldable version of the handout. Fold each clue on the dotted line. Students at the literacy center unfold the handout one clue at a time. They record answers on their own worksheet.

• Option 4. Emergency sub plans for Middle School ELA: Leave the critical text puzzle handouts and answer key for your substitute teacher to teach.

CONTENT WARNING: Look carefully at the following text puzzles to decide if your class can handle these puzzles (with a substitute teacher):

• Text Puzzle 5A (Valentine's Day Soft Music)
• Text Puzzle 7 (Why Would You Post That)
  

Why use these Critical Thinking Puzzles / Activities?

• These Critical Thinking puzzles use text messages to hook your Middle School students.

• But, you actually need to use a lot of reading comprehension strategies to solve the critical thinking puzzles.

• Students have to predict, infer, and make connections to figure out who is talking and what is happening.

• They document their learning by filling out a graphic organizer and answering the comprehension reflection questions.

• Yay, assessment and evaluation opportunities. Sometimes students try harder if things are "for marks." Plus, you need evidence of learning for report cards, so it's win:win!

• The answer key contains multiple discussion points and ideas using the "It Says, I Say, And So" and "Somebody Wanted But So" graphic organizers.

Perfect for a fun English Language Arts class to explore Critical Thinking or Reading Comprehension Strategies.

• Use these critical thinking puzzles as part of a digital literacy lesson on text messaging.

• A fun critical thinking activity to explore reading comprehension strategies (It Says, I Say, And So and Somebody Wanted But So)

• These are not your average critical thinking puzzles - They're a way to build transferable life skills.

..... Friday, May 17, 2024: TGIF. And in Canada, it's a long weekend. I hope you and your people get a chance to unwind!

May is Mental Health Awareness month.

• Here's a no prep, just print and go critical thinking activity to give your students (so you can work on stuff that's stressing you out.)

• So many teachers struggle with anxiety, depression, imposter syndrome or other mental health obstacles.

• But, we don't really talk about it in the staffroom.

• If this resonates with you, email me Mike@educircles.org and let me know what colour you are right now.

• Today, I'm confused about what I should be doing. So maybe a slow swirling yellow and blue comes to mind. With a few bubbles. I think if I was excited, the water would boil. Right now, it's just simmering. Trying to find a direction.

• How about you? How are you?

Mental Health is more than just the absence of illness. It's also about the ability to bounce back better when life goes up and down.

Here are some Social Emotional Learning lessons to help deal with some common classroom problems...

Do any of these classroom problems sound familiar?

Problem #1: Students don't try, especially when things don't work right away. They give up.

• ➡️ Check out this CHARACTER unit

Problem #2: Students don't do the right thing or stand up for each other. Being part of a classroom means being an active citizen. We don't always agree, but it's important to speak up.

• ➡️ Check out this CITIZENSHIP unit

Problem #3: Students don't know how to work in groups. Collaboration is not the same as teamwork. One person doing all of the work is not collaboration.

• ➡️ Check out this COLLABORATION unit

Problem #4: Students are mean, especially when they're upset. Good communication isn't just about presentations. It's also about getting your point across when both sides are upset, and things matter!

• ➡️ Check out this COMMUNICATION unit

Problem #5: Students wait for someone else to solve their problems. Creativity is about connecting ideas in new ways. When you are faced with a tricky problem, we use creativity to create a solution. Creativity is a skill we can learn.

• ➡️ Check out this CREATIVITY unit

Problem #6: Students believe rumors, gossip, and viral posts. They don't think for themselves.

• ➡️ Check out this CRITICAL THINKING unit

Problem #7: ALL OF THE ABOVE 

• ➡️ Check out this CHALLENGE TASK. Can your class learn about a growth mindset while trying to stay in a growth mindset at the same time?

My name is Mike Fuchigami. I'm the Grade 8 teacher behind Educircles. 

• I taught middle school English Language Arts for 13+ years in Ottawa, Ontario.

• I had a mental health crisis because of something that happened at school.

• Social Emotional Learning skills (6Cs) literally saved my life. That's why I'm so passionate about this stuff.

• I want to help your students develop Growth Mindset and Social Emotional Learning skills.

• ➡️ Read the article: Former Teacher Michael Fuchigami puts spotlight on lack of student mental health protection

Teachers around the world have DOWNLOADED 112,157 Educircles resources in over 59 countries!

• I donate 10% of everything I earn to STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH organizations. It's a promise I made to get through some dark times.

• Together, we've donated $15,520.51 (Check out the donation log.)

✅ SAVE HOURS OF PREP (and money) with a bundle!

• Reading Strategies

• Social-Emotional Learning (6Cs Growth Mindset)

• Get all of my resources for less than $1 each!!!

⭐ This is the TED talk that I will give one day. If you like this, then you will love my resources.

Questions about these Critical Thinking Puzzles in this growing bundle? Just ask in the TPT Q&A section or email Mike@educircles.org