THINKING SKILLS

KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE

Thinking skills are always incorporated into the core curriculum. However, there are some strategies and metacognitive methods that can be directly taught to enhance student thought. Listed below are also some resources that have been used in K-1 gifted or advanced classes. If you have any questions about any of these resources or have suggestions for additions, please send a MESSAGE.

RECOMMENDED MATERIALS / CURRICULUM

Primary Education Thinking Skills (PETS) (see newsletter archives and this page for ideas) NEW! PETS Virtual Curriculum

Six-Hat Thinking (blog post)

Philosophy and Children’s Literature – (Center for Philosophy for Children) ~ books to help generate classroom philosophical conversations that encourage questioning and thinking

Chess Kid ~ online chess lessons and games

Thinker’s Toolbox (blog post)

LESSON and UNIT IDEAS

P.E.T.S. Higher-Level Thinking Activities with Playing Cards (blog post)

P.E.T.S.-Friendly Activities – activities and lessons that complement the PETS program

Six-Hat Thinking and Cinderella (1-2 lessons)

S.C.A.M.P.E.R. – Introductory Lesson (FREE)

S.C.A.M.P.E.R. – Numbers and Math – (mini-unit / TPT $4 – see blog post)

Mastermind Game for Beginners

Spot the Difference (visual-spatial thinking)

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