Authentic Lessons for 21st Century Learning

Justified True or False

K20 Center | Published: September 16th, 2020 by K20 Center

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Justified True or False

Students evaluate statements for their validity and then use evidence to justify their decisions.

Justified True or False

Summary

Students decide whether provided statements are true or false and justify their answer using evidence. This strategy provides individuals or small groups with an opportunity to activate their thinking about a particular topic and look into how knowledge is created. The strategy can also be presented orally. In this case, the statements would be posted visibly in the room; then small groups or the whole class would go down the list, debating the statements' validity one by one to come to a consensus. 

Procedure

  1. Select three to six statements to use for this activity and either write them on the board or list them in column one of a pre-made Justified True False table.

  2. Pass out the table or have students create their own. Students separate a piece of paper into four columns. In the first column, students write the statements from the board (one statement per row), and the other columns are titled as follows: True, False, Why I Think So.

  3. Individually or in small groups, students reflect on each statement to decide whether it is true or false. They mark the appropriate box next to the statement, designating what they decided, and then justify their decision (using evidence) in the last column.

Keeley, P. (2008). Science formative assessment: 75 practical strategies for linking assessment, instruction, and learning. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, SAGE.