Depth & Complexity Made Easy: 10 Upper-Elementary Classroom Ideas for Big Thinking
- Janis Lodge
- Jul 2
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
If you’ve ever felt like your high-ability students need more challenge—or that your entire class could benefit from deeper thinking—you’re not alone. The Depth & Complexity Framework, created by Dr. Sandra Kaplan, offers powerful tools to help students think more critically, analyze content from multiple perspectives, and make meaningful connections across disciplines.
This framework uses a set of visual prompt icons (like "Big Idea" or "Multiple Perspectives") to encourage students to dive deeper into content, explore complexity, and think like real-world experts.
In upper elementary classrooms, Depth & Complexity can spark curiosity, enrich instruction, and help all students—especially gifted learners—go beyond surface-level learning. Best of all, it doesn’t require a full curriculum overhaul. The strategies below are simple to implement and incredibly effective for building higher-level thinking into your daily routines.
Introduce one Depth & Complexity icon each week using engaging, student-led worksheets and quick daily activities. These can be part of your morning work, warm-ups, or centers. The repetition and focus help students understand the prompts in meaningful ways without overwhelming them. Display a poster of the prompt in a specific spot in the classroom, and rotate it weekly.
✨ Try This: Keep a consistent routine—Monday: define the icon, Tuesday: apply it to a current topic, Wednesday: draw or illustrate the idea, etc. Use these pre-made worksheets, and have it all planned out for you!
Use quadrant-style Thinking Frames that pair Depth & Complexity icons with open-ended prompts. These are especially effective for small group work, collaborative projects, or integrating a “Think Like a Disciplinarian” lens. Students LOVE the jumbo-sized frame on the whiteboard, and they can continually add to it throughout the unit.
✨ Example: “Think Like a Biomimicry Engineer”- have students analyze a science concept using “Language of the Discipline,” “Patterns,” “Unanswered Questions,” and “Multiple Perspectives.” (See below)
These versatile task cards are perfect for morning meeting questions, exit tickets, small group discussion starters, or enrichment activities. They help spark conversations and promote deeper thinking across any subject.
✨ Differentiation Idea: Use the two levels of questioning to meet students where they are—while nudging them forward.
Place customizable student name plates with the Depth & Complexity icons right on their desks or workspaces. This gives students an at-a-glance reference, making it easy to incorporate the prompts into any lesson or discussion.
Give each student a Depth & Complexity cheat sheet to keep in a folder, binder, or journal. It’s a simple yet effective tool for helping students internalize the meaning of each icon and apply them independently.
✨ Classroom Tip: Also display a large version on the wall or in your discussion area for easy whole-class reference.
Depth & Complexity Journals
Encourage students to keep a “Depth & Complexity Journal” where they respond to open-ended prompts using one or more icons. Use it for reflections, content extensions, or choice time enrichment.
✨ Make It Work: Even one journal entry per week can build powerful thinking habits.
As students leave for the day, or at the end of a lesson, have them answer a quick prompt using one Depth & Complexity icon. I like to use the Prompt of the Week. This simple strategy builds daily exposure while doubling as a formative assessment.
✨ Examples: “What rule did you learn today?” or “Whose perspective did we consider?”
During read-alouds or literature circles, guide discussions using Depth & Complexity icons. Ask students to identify patterns, analyze character motivations, or consider ethical dilemmas. These pre-made Fiction and Non-Fiction Prompt Task Cards make this easy to implement!
Use Icons Across the Curriculum
Make it a goal to use one icon in each subject per week—math, science, social studies, ELA. Once you start, you’ll notice how seamlessly Depth & Complexity fits into any lesson. You will also see your students using them more and more independently!
✨ For example: In math, ask students to identify the “rules” behind a formula. In social studies, explore a historical figure’s “perspective.”
Anchor Charts with Icon Integration
Create anchor charts for each icon, and add student examples throughout the year. These become living references and build a culture of deeper thinking in your classroom. I print out a bunch of these prompt icons at the beginning of the year, and have them ready to use.
✨ Student Ownership: Let students add sticky notes or drawings to the charts when they find real-life or academic examples of each prompt.
You can do this!
Incorporating Depth & Complexity doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With small, consistent steps, you can transform your classroom into a place where thinking deeply becomes second nature. These 10 ideas are not only easy to implement—but they also make a real difference when it comes to engaging, challenging, and enriching your upper elementary students.
Want to Dive Deeper?
If you’re ready to make Depth & Complexity a seamless part of your classroom culture, check out my printable resources designed for 3rd–5th grade enrichment. From interactive thinking frames to student-friendly prompts and reference sheets, everything is created with real classrooms—and busy teachers—in mind. You can grab the Complete Year-Long Depth & Complexity Bundle here, or select the individual resources that meet your classroom needs.
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