Six Thinking Hats Worksheet

Six Thinking Hats: A Critical Thinking Exercise

Welcome to the Six Thinking Hats exercise! This method, developed by Edward de Bono, helps you think about problems and ideas from different perspectives. Each 'hat' represents a different way of thinking. Read the descriptions below and then answer the questions that follow.

The Six Thinking Hats

• White Hat: Focuses on facts, figures, and objective information. What do we know? What do we need to know?

• Red Hat: Represents emotions, feelings, and intuition. How do I feel about this idea? What are my gut reactions?

• Black Hat: The hat of caution and judgment. What are the potential problems? What could go wrong?

• Yellow Hat: Symbolizes optimism and positive thinking. What are the benefits? What are the advantages?

• Green Hat: The hat of creativity and new ideas. What new possibilities are there? What alternatives can we think of?

• Blue Hat: Manages the thinking process itself. What is the agenda? What should we do next?

1. Which hat would you wear if you were listing all the known facts about a new school project?

2. When you are thinking about all the positive outcomes and advantages of an idea, you are wearing the   Hat.

3. The   Hat is used to express your feelings and intuition without needing to justify them.

4. Imagine your class is planning a field trip. If you were wearing the Black Hat, what kind of questions or concerns would you raise?

5. The Green Hat is used to manage the thinking process and ensure everyone stays on track.

6. Your friend proposes starting a school newspaper. Describe how you would use the Yellow Hat to contribute to this idea. What positive aspects would you focus on?

Match each hat with its primary focus.