40 Critical Thinking Questions for High School Students

How is electricity being produced from rainwater or do aliens exist if there are so many discoveries about them? High school students are certain to come across queries that question reality, everyday rules, general human existence, or anything out of nowhere! 

Young minds are filled with an amazing potential to explore beyond their capabilities and hidden qualities. While high school students might question the existing realities of life, some students might not be aware of their imagination and thinking capacities. That is why it is important to nurture these growing minds with opportunities to question, understand, analyze, find evidence, and arrive at solutions. 

In this case, critical thinking questions act as a helpful way to offer an opportunity to broaden their minds to unlimited knowledge and endless possibilities. When students are given a chance to think beyond the ordinary, they experience a sense of freedom in thinking and expressing their views.

Through critical thinking questions, they receive a wonderful chance to analyze, decode the information, and present their views without being right or wrong. Hence, the below-mentioned questions are drafted in a way to initiate abstract and informative conversations thereby boosting critical thinking.

Brain teasing critical thinking questions for high schoolers

Critical thinking skills are essential for measuring the imagination and creativity of students. High school students are likely to use the new age information and influence of others when processing their thoughts. Hence, the below-mentioned questions are a great way to channel their thoughts in a more positively empowered learning environment.

1. Do you think it is okay to give up your life if you had to save someone?
2. If you could go to your past, what would you change?
3. What is the joy of giving for you?
4. What is better – giving or receiving? Why?
5. If you can change some rules of the school, which ones would you change and why?
6. What if you know your future? What does it look like from your perspective?
7. What if you are dragged into a situation where you disagree with others?
8. What would you do if you are given a task against your willingness to complete it?
9. Would you like to do – go to your past or get to know your future? Why?
10. What would you choose, 1 million dollars or a lifetime free education? Why?
11. What is more important to you, knowledge or money?
12. How can you leverage the benefits of social media and how?
13. Do you think animals should be free or kept in a zoo?
14. What does life look like on the Earth 100 years from now?
15. Imagine a world without mobile phones. What would you do?
16. If you could choose any profession in the world, what would you choose? Why?
17. Would you rather devote your life to helping others through social activities or invest in building a business?
18. What is the most important matter of concern that the world needs to address?
19. Do you think the voting of high school students matters in Government concerns? Why?
20. Which aspect plays a major role in the success of individuals?
21. If you could change any one habit of your parents, what would it be?
22. If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go? Why?
23. Imagine the world is facing a major power cut issue. What would you do and how would you face the situation?
24. What is more important, offering a home to the needy or offering food to the needy on an everyday basis?
25. How does the number 0 change life?
26. Should teenagers be allowed to make major life decisions?
27. Are friendships real in today’s world? 
28. Does an influential person always influence others with actions and words?
29. If animals could talk to you, who would you choose to talk to?
30. What is the difference between happiness and achievements?
31. Do you think success is the same as happiness? 
32. Imagine you have only 24 hours left on Earth. How would you spend it?
33. What if you are given the option to reside on another planet? What would you do and how?
34. Would you forgive your best friend if he/she commits a crime and is found guilty?
35. If your mother and best friend are sinking in two different boats and you have the opportunity to save anyone, who would you choose? Why?
36. Imagine you are stranded on an island and have access to 5 things. Which 5 things would you choose?
37. Which 3 elements make a stronger nation? Why?
38. What are the disadvantages of growing up? How would you tackle them?
39. Would you be blind or deaf? Why?
40. What if you could donate 50% of your wealth and have free food for life? What would you do? 

Critical thinking in students: Why is it crucial?

High schoolers are on their way to exploring various subjects and acquiring knowledge from around the world. In such a phase, students must have the ability to think through things and make the right decision. Critical thinking empowers the brain to analyze and understand situations with complete evidence before concluding. Here’s how critical thinking shapes the life of high schoolers.

1. Develops Problem-Solving Skills

Students are sure to come across everyday problems and issues in their academic journey or personal life. While some students may develop stress, others might ignore it. However, the essence of critical thinking helps students solve these issues with intelligence. Whether it is figuring out about the project or solving an issue between friends, thinking and analyzing the possible solutions makes it easy to tackle situations. 

2. Enhances Creativity

The advertisements you see every day often talk about the problem and how a product solves it. That’s exactly why you need to develop critical thinking skills. When you can identify the core issue and arrive at solutions only then can you think out of the box. Critical thinking helps students be creative with their solutions and find a way out amidst challenges. 

3. Boosts Decision-Making Skills

With every project, assignment, or topic of your thesis, you need to take many decisions in the learning process. Here, critical thinking skills play a crucial role in helping you analyze, decode and disseminate information before making any decision. 

4. Builds Open-mindedness 

As growing individuals, it is important to be open-minded towards various problems and their suggestions. People who think critically are more likely to understand situations from different points of view. Hence, developing critical thinking skills helps you accept different perspectives and respect the opinions of others. The skill helps a long way when you need to work in a group on your projects. It is because you become capable of thinking from various perspectives. 

5. Goal Setting

Success comes with proper planning and execution of tasks. However, you cannot study history if you are weak at math. Similarly, you cannot aim for a 60% growth in your academics if you have been growing at a pace of 30% in each examination. Critical thinking enables you to think practically and map your way out to reach your goals. When you think critically and practically, you can analyze your strengths and weaknesses thereby setting goals accurately.

Conclusion

Critical thinking indeed plays an essential role in shaping the mindset of students and exposing them to different skills simply by developing this one. As you take advantage of the critical thinking questions, know that it is important to keep questioning students to initiate conversations.

Whether it is reflective questions or would you rather-questions, these questions enable them to think beyond their imagination and dive into a world of possibilities. Apart from this, you may also involve students in interactive discussions that boost critical thinking skills.