MYP Individuals & Societies Hexagonal Thinking: Command Terms Playbook

MYP Individuals & Societies Hexagonal Thinking: Command Terms Playbook
Turn Abstract Concepts into Meaningful Connections!
Help your students move beyond memorization and develop a deep understanding of MYP command terms and key Humanities concepts with this engaging Hexagonal Thinking Activity.
Students actively build connections, justify their thinking, and explore relationships across history, geography, and economics—all while strengthening essential assessment skills.
Why This Resource Works
Students often struggle with:
- Understanding what assessment questions are really asking
- Connecting big ideas across units
- Applying command terms accurately
This activity helps students:
✔️ Decode and apply command terms
✔️ Recognize relationships between concepts
✔️ Think critically about cause, perspective, and impact
✔️ Improve performance on MYP-style assessments
What’s Included
✔️ 104 Hexagonal Cards
- Includes MYP Individuals & Societies command terms
- Key Humanities concepts (History, Geography, Economics)
- Supporting academic and thinking vocabulary
✔️ 3 Challenge Cards
- Push students to deeper, higher-order thinking
- Encourage justification, real-world application, and analysis
✔️ Teacher Directions Page
- Clear instructions
- Flexible implementation ideas
- Differentiation strategies
How It Works
Students arrange hexagons so that each connection represents a meaningful relationship.
Then, they:
- Explain and justify their connections
- Engage in academic discussion
- Reflect on how ideas are related
💡 There is no single correct answer—this activity emphasizes quality thinking over memorization.
Perfect For:
- MYP Individuals & Societies (Humanities) classrooms
- Introducing or reviewing command terms and concepts
- Assessment preparation
- Collaborative learning / group work
- Stations or centers
- Sub plans (low prep, high engagement!)
Important Note
This resource is not affiliated with the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) but is designed to support MYP-aligned instruction using widely recognized command terms and Individuals & Societies concepts.