A Study On Developing Primary School Students' Critical Thinking Through English Picture Book Instruction

Critical thinking as one of the important components of thinking quality is a significant part of the core competence according to the National English Curriculum(2017 version).English picture books(EPB),which integrate text with pictures and contain vivid and interesting features,are in line with the psychological and cognitive need of the primary school students.Based on the cognitive dimension of Bloom's Revised Taxonomy of Educational Objectives and Constructivist theory,this thesis adopts the methods of questionnaire,classroom observation,and interview to explore current situation and methods of using EPB instructions to develop students' critical thinking.This research raises the following three questions: 1.What is the current situation of developing primary school students' critical thinking in English picture book instruction? 2.In what aspects can English picture books improve students' critical thinking? 3.How can English teachers develop students' critical thinking using English picture books?Using the questionnaire to investigate 417 primary school English teachers,it is found that more than 70% primary school teachers use English picture books quite often,and most of them consciously design class activities to develop students' critical thinking.By observing six English lessons and interviewing seven teachers,the results show that the analysis of pictures,plots and content of EPB can develop students' critical thinking.In primary school EPB instruction,teachers can develop students' critical thinking by asking analytical,evaluation and creative higher-order questions,designing role-play and group work activities,assigning homework such as creative writing,continued writing and re-writing EPB.Based on the research results,the following teaching suggestions are proposed:in EPB instruction,teachers should design more effective and higher-order questions,activities and homework,strengthen the teaching and selection of English picture books,enhance the study of Pedagogical Content Knowledge and core competence for English subject,renew teaching concept and focus on self-reflection in teaching practice.For further research,researchers may enrich research methods of using EPB to develop students' critical thinking,and strengthen empirical researchand action research.