5 Ways to Build Critical Thinking Skills in School
In this guide, we’ll explore 5 ways to build critical thinking skills in school, offering practical strategies and activities that teachers can implement in their classrooms.
From encouraging open-ended questioning to fostering collaborative problem-solving, these approaches will help students develop the analytical mindset they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Critical thinking is an essential skill that empowers students to analyze information, solve problems, and make informed decisions—abilities that are crucial for success in school and beyond. Teaching students how to think critically not only enhances their academic performance but also prepares them for real-world challenges.
What Does ‘Critical Thinking’ Mean?
Welcome to our character education: kitchen to classroom series where we will look at five topics in which the kitchen inspires education. This article will focus on the importance of critical thinking skills when it comes to learning in the years of middle school education and beyond
Critical thinking refers to the ability to analyze, evaluate, and interpret information in a thoughtful and systematic way. It involves questioning assumptions, considering different perspectives, and drawing logical conclusions based on evidence.
Rather than accepting information at face value, critical thinking encourages individuals to engage with content more deeply, assess its validity, and apply it in practical situations.
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This skill is essential for problem-solving, decision-making, and navigating complex issues, both in academic settings and in everyday life.
By developing critical thinking, students can become more independent, reflective learners capable of making informed and reasoned judgments. The five ways are:
- Read more
- Do more
- Ask questions
- Get creative
- Express yourself
Get a sneak peak at how to build your critical thinking skills and confidence by watching this video below!
These skills meant to encourage new ways of thinking to bring about new insight to knowledge.
Critical thinking skills simply means to use your own objective (open) approaches to asking questions or challenging what is before for your own level of understanding.
In learning how to cook or bake, we are building our critical thinking skills!
Being able to skillfully understand how to put together a food recipe so that everything comes together peacefully and smoothly, allows us to learn and follow along.
Building Critical Thinking Skills Video
Watch this video below to see how thinking skills we learn in the kitchen can help build critical thinking skills in the classroom.
For more benefits thinking critically brings to education, click to read our kitchen to classroom article.
Improving your critical thinking skills will also have a liberating effect on how you study.
When you learn how to study, you will find it takes away the pressures you feel in trying to achieve those top scores success in school.
Inside and outside the classroom, people will see that improving their critical thinking skills will help with organizing, problem solving, and understanding what needs to be done to get assignments or projects done on time.
Tools to Help Build Their Critical Thinking Skills in School
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Here are five tools from Amazon that teachers can use to help students improve their critical thinking skills:
ThinkFun Gravity Maze Marble Run Brain Game
A logic-based puzzle game that challenges students to build marble runs with specific rules. It enhances problem-solving, spatial reasoning, and critical thinking through engaging hands-on activities.
The Critical Thinking Co. Mind Benders Book
This workbook offers challenging logic puzzles that promote analytical thinking and deductive reasoning. It encourages students to solve problems step-by-step and draw conclusions based on evidence.
Melissa & Doug Suspend Family Game
A fun balancing game that requires strategy and careful decision-making. Students must think critically to decide where to place their pieces to keep the structure balanced, developing their reasoning and coordination.
Pattern Blocks Math Activity Set
This hands-on tool encourages students to create and recognize patterns, developing their logical thinking and problem-solving skills. The set can be used for creative exploration or structured math-based critical thinking activities.
4D Master Rubik’s Cube Puzzle
A classic brain teaser that develops problem-solving and spatial reasoning. Working through different strategies to solve the cube enhances students’ critical thinking, perseverance, and analytical skills.
These tools offer a variety of ways to engage students in critical thinking activities while making learning fun and interactive.
Five Ways to Build Critical Thinking Skills While Having Fun
We now look at the five ways to build your critical thinking skills to help make life more enjoyable inside and outside the classroom.
First, you will have to step away from social media and reconnect with the world around you.
I. Read More
When we read, we gain knowledge, vocabulary, and new understanding that we may not have had before.
As we read, we begin to formulate our own thoughts and opinions as to what benefits we have gained after reading.
Reading not only benefits our mind, but it benefits us in how we share what we learn with others by allowing us to engage in meaning dialogue that can benefit everyone.
In gaining this new knowledge through reading, it can help us think about ways we can do more in sharing what we learned.
II. Do More
By doing more to keep ourselves interested in the world around us, we can gain new insights, thoughts, and opinions as to what is happening in the world we live in. We need to do more so we can take charge of our own thoughts, and not just go along with what others tell us based on what they are doing.
What are some ways we can do more? Get involved with helping your family, friends, neighbors, or community in giving your time in service or in advocating for good changes.
III. Ask Questions
Asking questions that help us grow in learning are one important way in building our critical thinking skills.
In building your critical thinking skills, it’s important to think about why you are asking the questions you want to ask.
The main reason to ask questions is to gain knowledge, and another reason may be to help others understand when they are not able to ask the questions.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
IV. Get Creative
You can get creative in many different ways. If you are into the arts, you can show your critical thinking skills through the art you produce.
If you are into the sciences, you can show your critical thinking skills through the projects you build.
V. Express Yourself
There are ways to express who you are that make people want to listen.
When you use your critical thinking skills in the right way in expressing yourself, others will learn and benefit from what you have to say.
Remember, words matter, so choose your words carefully!
Related Topics
Connect to our other pages as you navigate through our website. Explore what these pages have to offer you and you will be glad you did!
- 5 Life Skills Needed For Classroom Learning
- 7 Proven Ways to Teach for Success in Any Classroom
- 5 Ways to Teach Communication Skills in School
- 5 Ways to Improve Problem Solving Skills in Students
- 5 Ways to Improve Time Management Skills in School
- 5 Ways to Stay Organized in School
Final Thoughts…
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and found it useful for building good critical thinking skills that will help with your educational goals in learning for years to come!
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Leave us a comment below to let us know your thoughts on our ideas on the importance of building your critical thinking skills in education.
