Category: Critical Thinking Activities

Creative Thinking Questions for Kids 0

Creative Thinking Activities

I just created a new page with a couple of really fun free printables that challenge kids to think critically. Creative Thinking Questions: The first set includes some creative thinking questions I once compiled.  I thought it would be fun to start off the day with something a little different for the kids… some off-the-wall creative thinking questions. The kids had fun with this and I know some other homeschooling...

Math Mindset Mistakes and More 0

Math and the Brain – Mindset, Mistakes and More

The biggest mistake you can make is to be afraid to make one! I often love books about the brain and the latest on brain research. You probably already know about the link between exercise and learning.  There are studies that show that after just twenty minutes of exercise, the brain is fired up! Read all about it in the fitness.gov article, Learning is a Moving Experience. Check out the composite...

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STEM! Paper Circuits (and More!)

In this part of our Electricity and Circuits units, we had a lot of fun with Paper Circuits!! If you’ve been a reader for a while, you know how much we *LOVE* hands-on science and engineering!  We have been having such a great time with our electricity and circuits unit that I just had to come on briefly to share a snippet of what we’ve been doing.  (Normally, I wait...

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Critical Thinking Activities – Analogies, Logic & More

With our yearly testing behind us, we are going to spend some time on another side of math — analogies, logical reasoning, and math puzzles. These help kids develop logical thinking, analytical abilities, and mathematical reasoning. I thought I’d share some of the resources we use in our homeschool. My kids were SO, SO excited to get back to these activities!!  With life as busy as it has been, I can’t...

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Free Sudoku Puzzles and Mazes for Kids

Whether you are going on a long trip or writing the kids a letter at camp, these printables might come in handy this summer!!  We have been using Krazy Dad’s website for years and I wanted to highlight them again since just recently I pulled out some of the printables we made again. I love that his materials are so varied. So, while ED is working on the harder 4×4...

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10 Creative Thinking Questions for Kids – Free Printable

I have something a little different to share with you today! This past week, we’ve been doing some major re-organization of the homeschool room. I came across an old printout with some creative thinking questions I once compiled.  I thought it would be fun to start off the day with something a little different for the kids… some off-the-wall creative thinking questions. I really hope the kids have fun with...

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I laughed so hard…

Today during math circles we had this mind bender:  Cut this magic carpet into three pieces and sew it back together to make a 6×6 carpet. DD and LD got it WAAaaaayy before ED and I did.  ED was sad that she hadn’t gotten it yet, so LD said Well, you are young and your mind is just developing. Mom’s mind is old and her mind is rotting! That had...

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Critical Thinking Activities – Math Circles

A few days ago, I mentioned that we started back into homeschooling with Math Circles rather than jumping into our “normal” math curriculum. What are math circles? From what I understand, they started in Russia where they hosted math contests.  Students competed to answer various word problems. The contest itself was designed to get students intrigued and excited about mathematics. There’s something similar here in the US called the Math Olympiad....

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Strategy Game: Quoridor (ages 6+)

I don’t know about you, but there are times when the kids complain about being bored and not having anything to do.  We’ve been trying to bring out some board games that don’t get much use during the school year. A couple weeks ago, I wrote about a game called Quarto. Another quick strategy game we’ve been playing this summer is called Quoridor. (affiliate link) The goal of this game is...

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Quarto Strategy Game

This summer, we’re trying to bring out some of the board games that are often ignored during the school year. Board games and strategy games can foster the ability to think, focus, and problem solve. Games require players to plan ahead and can help develop more sophisticated thinking skills. Games are beneficial because they foster social interaction and social skills. Everyone practices taking turns and following the rules.  Games also help...

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Free Sudoku Puzzles for Kids

I’ve been trying to get some planning and printing done this afternoon for our homeschool next week.  We’re going to add some critical thinking activities back into our schedule and I often pull out Sudoku puzzles for the kids to work on while I’m gathering materials (that down time while I’m trying to get my act together!). The kids LOVE these puzzles. Krazy Dad has hundreds and hundreds of Sudoku...

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Family Games Night (A Review of Several Games)

It has been WAAaay too long since we had a family games night. For a while we did really well holding a family meeting once a month or so (see this post-Holding a Family Meeting) and this post (Our Monthly Family Meeting).  Last weekend, though, everyone was home (no sleep-overs, no sporting events!) and so we gathered together to play a bunch of games! Fun! This was the first time we...

Math Dice Game: Mmm Brains 0

Math Dice Game: Mmm Brains

With Halloween right around the corner it seems only fitting that I bring up this game, Mmm Brains. It sounds gruesome, but it’s really just a dice game which requires addition and multiplication.  It brings the kids running, so you can’t beat that, right?! This game has five dice with the numbers 1-5 and a brain on each side.  Then there are lots of counters (red brains=5 and white brains=1)....

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Games for Thinking and Learning: Blink

This is a series about the logic and critical thinking games we play in our homeschool.  We have a table in our homeschool room and I rotate in new games a couple of times a week. These are all games we’ve acquired for schooling and/or for fun (I haven’t received them to review). Today I’m going to highlight a card game called Blink that is a great game for preschoolers on...