Discernment 1: Question selection

Today we started a new mini-unit, DISCERNMENT. So what is discernment? We began by brainstorming and working out what it meant.
Then we had a discussion about how to distinguish between different but related things. For example, when I went to Rarotonga on honeymoon, we had a lot of fun checking out ten or twelve different resorts, but we were soon mixed up about the different places and got confused about which place had a pool and which ones had restaurants.
The best thing for us to do was to draw up a table, and give the resorts marks for all the things we thought were important in a resort. (Friendly staff, closeness to beach, equipment hire; all the important things). The table was our way of analysing and comparing the different resorts.
Each class member has had a question assigned to them, but they have also been able to choose from a pile of Wild Cards. All the questions are designed to make students analyse and evaluate a selection of items, places or people, and by using their own self-designed criteria, to come up with a conclusive answer.
Here are the questions which students picked from:

1.       List your top ten engineering wonders of the modern world.

2.       What are the best animals to keep as pets?

3.       What are the top ten best websites to use when researching the topic of endangered animals for school?

4.       What are the ultimate “must have” toys?

5.       Which New Zealanders have contributed the most to our country’s history?

6.       Where are the top ten tourist sites around the world?

7.       What are the best things to do in either Christchurch or Dunedin during the holidays?

8.       List the books that all children should read before they leave school.

9.       Put together your rugby Dream Team: players from any era and any nation.

10.   What are the most dangerous sports you can choose to play?

11.   Grantlea Downs is looking at supporting a charity next year. List the top ten that you would recommend.

12.   Which disasters around the world have been the most influential?

13.   Which well-known figures do you believe are good role models?

14.   Which are the most influential inventions of the last one hundred years?

15.   What are the top sites around South Canterbury for a visitor to see?

16.   What are the top ten most likely “end of the world” scenarios?

17.   Compile a list of the most dangerous animals in the world.

18.   Compile a list of the best professions to be considered after graduation from High School.