Six Thinking Hats Game Review
Groups review the game or drill they just played using Edward de Bono's six thinking hats: each color forces a single point of view. Students practice critical thinking, decision-making, and listening.
How to play
- Make groups of 6 sitting in a circle and give each group six colored cards: white, red, black, yellow, green, and blue (1 minute).
- Explain each color: white for facts, red for feelings, black for problems, yellow for what went well, green for new ideas, blue for the summary and conclusion.
- Each student takes a card and has 1 minute to come up with two comments about the game from that point of view.
- Taking turns in the order white, red, yellow, black, green, each student speaks for 30 seconds while the rest only listen.
- The student holding blue sums up in 1 minute and proposes one specific decision for next class.
- Cards pass one seat to the right and the group does a quick 2-minute round with just one idea per person.
- Each blue-hat speaker shares the group's decision with the whole class (1 minute).
Rules
- You may only speak from the color you are holding.
- No one interrupts or argues during someone else's turn.
- Black-hat criticism targets the team's play, not individual people.
- Stay seated in the circle with no balls or other equipment nearby.
Variations
Easier
Use only four colors, white, red, yellow, and black, and the teacher gives the final summary.
Standard
Use all six colors with one full round and one quick rotation.
Harder
The group must come away with a plan of two tactical adjustments backed by facts from the white hat.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: set the circle around the student's chair and pass the cards hand to hand.
- Autism or shyness: offer the white hat first, since it is the most objective, and allow the student to read from a written note.
- Less experienced groups: add an example sentence on the back of each card.
Learning goals
- Analyze a game situation from several points of view.
- Separate facts, feelings, and suggestions when evaluating performance.
- Agree as a group on one tactical decision for the next class.
Equipment for a class of 25
- colored cards: 30
Teacher tip
Make laminated card sets with the meaning printed on them so you can reuse them all year. Don't let the group skip the red hat: saying frustration out loud usually calms everyone down.
PatioLab has "Six Thinking Hats Game Review" and 2499 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More cool-downs for High School
5-5-5 Breathing with Visualization
A breathing technique where students inhale, hold and exhale for five counts each while picturing a peaceful place.
5-Minute Breathing Mindfulness
A short, teacher-guided mindfulness practice focused on the breath and body sensations.
90/90 Hip Switches
A floor sequence based on the 90/90 position, with one leg in front and the other to the side, both bent at right angles, to stretch the glutes and hip rotators.
Active Isolated Stretching with a Rope
A stretching method where students contract the opposite muscle, hold the stretch for only two seconds with help from a rope, and repeat 8–10 times.
Active Listening Partner Debrief
Sitting face to face, each student talks for 90 seconds about a challenge from class while their partner listens without interrupting and then paraphrases what they…
Active Recovery Technique: 5-Min Easy Jog
Active recovery with 5 minutes of very easy jogging where the pace drops each minute until students are walking, followed by a pulse check.