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11 Activities That Promote Critical Thinking In The Class

52 Critical Thinking Flashcards for Problem Solving

Critical thinking activities encourage individuals to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information to develop informed opinions and make reasoned decisions. Engaging in such exercises cultivates intellectual agility, fostering a deeper understanding of complex issues and honing problem-solving skills for navigating an increasingly intricate world. Through critical thinking, individuals empower themselves to challenge assumptions, uncover biases, and constructively contribute to discourse, thereby enriching both personal growth and societal progress.

Critical thinking serves as the cornerstone of effective problem-solving, enabling individuals to dissect challenges, explore diverse perspectives, and devise innovative solutions grounded in logic and evidence. For engaging problem solving activities, read our article problem solving activities that enhance student’s interest.

What is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking is a 21st-century skill that enables a person to think rationally and logically in order to reach a plausible conclusion. A critical thinker assesses facts and figures and data objectively and determines what to believe and what not to believe. Critical thinking skills empower a person to decipher complex problems and make impartial and better decisions based on effective information.

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Critical thinking skills cultivate habits of mind such as strategic thinking, skepticism, discerning fallacy from the facts, asking good questions and probing deep into the issues to find the truth.

Importance of Acquiring Critical Thinking Skills

Acquiring critical thinking skills was never as valuable as it is today because of the prevalence of the modern knowledge economy. Today, information and technology are the driving forces behind the global economy. To keep pace with ever-changing technology and new inventions, one has to be flexible enough to embrace changes swiftly.

Read our article: How to Foster Critical Thinking Skills in Students? Creative Strategies and Real-World Examples

Today critical thinking skills are one of the most sought-after skills by the companies. In fact, critical thinking skills are paramount not only for active learning and academic achievement but also for the professional career of the students. The lack of critical thinking skills catalyzes memorization of the topics without a deeper insight, egocentrism, closed-mindedness, reduced student interest in the classroom and not being able to make timely and better decisions.

Benefits of Critical Thinking Skills in Education

Certain strategies are more eloquent than others in teaching students how to think critically. Encouraging critical thinking in the class is indispensable for the learning and growth of the students. In this way, we can raise a generation of innovators and thinkers rather than followers. Some of the benefits offered by thinking critically in the classroom are given below:

• It allows a student to decipher problems and think through the situations in a disciplined and systematic manner
• Through a critical thinking ability, a student can comprehend the logical correlation between distinct ideas
• The student is able to rethink and re-justify his beliefs and ideas based on facts and figures
• Critical thinking skills make the students curious about things around them
• A student who is a critical thinker is creative and always strives to come up with out of the box solutions to intricate problems
• Critical thinking skills assist in the enhanced student learning experience in the classroom and prepares the students for lifelong learning and success
• The critical thinking process is the foundation of new discoveries and inventions in the world of science and technology
• The ability to think critically allows the students to think intellectually and enhances their presentation skills, hence they can convey their ideas and thoughts in a logical and convincing manner
• Critical thinking skills make students a terrific communicator because they have logical reasons behind their ideas

Critical Thinking Lessons and Activities

11 Activities that Promote Critical Thinking in the Class

We have compiled a list of 11 activities that will facilitate you to promote critical thinking abilities in the students. We have also covered problem solving activities that enhance student’s interest in our another article. Click here to read it.

1. Worst Case Scenario

Divide students into teams and introduce each team with a hypothetical challenging scenario. Allocate minimum resources and time to each team and ask them to reach a viable conclusion using those resources. The scenarios can include situations like stranded on an island or stuck in a forest. Students will come up with creative solutions to come out from the imaginary problematic situation they are encountering. Besides encouraging students to think critically, this activity will enhance teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills of the students.

Read our article: 10 Innovative Strategies for Promoting Critical Thinking in the Classroom

2. If You Build It

It is a very flexible game that allows students to think creatively. To start this activity, divide students into groups. Give each group a limited amount of resources such as pipe cleaners, blocks, and marshmallows etc. Every group is supposed to use these resources and construct a certain item such as building, tower or a bridge in a limited time. You can use a variety of materials in the classroom to challenge the students. This activity is helpful in promoting teamwork and creative skills among the students.

It is also one of the classics which can be used in the classroom to encourage critical thinking. Print pictures of objects, animals or concepts and start by telling a unique story about the printed picture. The next student is supposed to continue the story and pass the picture to the other student and so on.

4. Keeping it Real

In this activity, you can ask students to identify a real-world problem in their schools, community or city. After the problem is recognized, students should work in teams to come up with the best possible outcome of that problem.

5. Save the Egg

Make groups of three or four in the class. Ask them to drop an egg from a certain height and think of creative ideas to save the egg from breaking. Students can come up with diverse ideas to conserve the egg like a soft-landing material or any other device. Remember that this activity can get chaotic, so select the area in the school that can be cleaned easily afterward and where there are no chances of damaging the school property.

6. Start a Debate

In this activity, the teacher can act as a facilitator and spark an interesting conversation in the class on any given topic. Give a small introductory speech on an open-ended topic. The topic can be related to current affairs, technological development or a new discovery in the field of science. Encourage students to participate in the debate by expressing their views and ideas on the topic. Conclude the debate with a viable solution or fresh ideas generated during the activity through brainstorming.

7. Create and Invent

This project-based learning activity is best for teaching in the engineering class. Divide students into groups. Present a problem to the students and ask them to build a model or simulate a product using computer animations or graphics that will solve the problem. After students are done with building models, each group is supposed to explain their proposed product to the rest of the class. The primary objective of this activity is to promote creative thinking and problem-solving skills among the students.

8. Select from Alternatives

This activity can be used in computer science, engineering or any of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) classes. Introduce a variety of alternatives such as different formulas for solving the same problem, different computer codes, product designs or distinct explanations of the same topic.

Form groups in the class and ask them to select the best alternative. Each group will then explain its chosen alternative to the rest of the class with reasonable justification of its preference. During the process, the rest of the class can participate by asking questions from the group. This activity is very helpful in nurturing logical thinking and analytical skills among the students.

9. Reading and Critiquing

Present an article from a journal related to any topic that you are teaching. Ask the students to read the article critically and evaluate strengths and weaknesses in the article. Students can write about what they think about the article, any misleading statement or biases of the author and critique it by using their own judgments.

In this way, students can challenge the fallacies and rationality of judgments in the article. Hence, they can use their own thinking to come up with novel ideas pertaining to the topic.

10. Think Pair Share

In this activity, students will come up with their own questions. Make pairs or groups in the class and ask the students to discuss the questions together. The activity will be useful if the teacher gives students a topic on which the question should be based.

For example, if the teacher is teaching biology, the questions of the students can be based on reverse osmosis, human heart, respiratory system and so on. This activity drives student engagement and supports higher-order thinking skills among students.

11. Big Paper – Silent Conversation

Silence is a great way to slow down thinking and promote deep reflection on any subject. Present a driving question to the students and divide them into groups. The students will discuss the question with their teammates and brainstorm their ideas on a big paper. After reflection and discussion, students can write their findings in silence. This is a great learning activity for students who are introverts and love to ruminate silently rather than thinking aloud.

Finally, for students with critical thinking, you can go to GS-JJ.co m to customize exclusive rewards, which not only enlivens the classroom, but also promotes the development and training of students for critical thinking.

Read our next article: 10 Innovative Strategies for Promoting Critical Thinking in the Classroom

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Thanks for the great article! Especially with the post-pandemic learning gap, these critical thinking skills are essential! It’s also important to teach them a growth mindset. If you are interested in that, please check out The Teachers’ Blog!

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7 Puzzles to Challenge Your Critical Thinking

Can you spot the connections and sort these items.

Posted March 5, 2015 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

The theme of this post is critical thinking—and the kinds of puzzles that can be constructed around it. This term is used frequently in psychology and education . There are various definitions, but the one that best suits our purpose and which is, in the end, perhaps the best, is the ability to comprehend the logical connections among ideas, words, phrases, and concepts . In the relevant scientific literature, of course, the term is used much more broadly as a framework for understanding human cognition . But in my opinion, the best way to understand things is to construct puzzles to illustrate their basic essence.

Critical thinking involves skill at recognizing a pattern in given information and especially recognizing how the information is connected to the real world. Here are a couple of very simple examples. First, consider the five words below:

• Cruise ship
• Walking on foot
• Automobile (not a race car)

Now, put them in order from the slowest to the fastest, when they are going at maximum speed. The solution, of course, is: 4-2-5-1-3.

As with all such puzzles, there might be slightly different solutions—one could claim that some automobiles go faster than cruise ships. This “indeterminacy” characterizes this kind of thinking. However, some puzzles are straightforward. For instance, what do the following five things have in common?

The answer? These are all words referring to shades of blue.

The seven puzzles below are to the ones above, though hopefully more challenging. Some involve knowledge of facts, but critical thinking is still involved in such cases because the organization of the facts according to some principle is always involved—for example, a puzzle may ask you to put five items in order of their dates of invention.

The following tongue-in-cheek definition of critical thinking by Richard W. Paul, a leading expert on critical thinking theory, says it all: “Critical thinking is thinking about your thinking while you’re thinking in order to make your thinking better.”

I. What do the following 5 things have in common?

• Orange juice

II. Put the following buildings or structures in order of height, from the shortest to the tallest.

• Typical camping tent

III. What do the following animals have in common?

IV. Put the following inventions in order from earliest to most recent.

V. What feature do the following words have in common?

• Imagination

VI. Put these bodies of water in order in terms of volume, from smallest to largest .

VII. What do the following landmasses have in common?

I. They are all drinkable liquids. II. 5-1-4-3-2 III. They all have a tail. They are also all quadrupeds. IV. To the best of my knowledge: 5-4-3-1-2 V. They start with a vowel: a, e, i, o, u VI. 4-2-1-5-3 VII. They are all peninsulas.

Marcel Danesi, Ph.D. , is a professor of semiotics and anthropology at Victoria College, University of Toronto. His books include The Puzzle Instinct and The Total Brain Workout .

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5 Games for Building Critical Thinking Skills

• alfordabby's Blog

Games can be more than just a fun way to pass time; they can stimulate your brain and help you develop critical thinking skills. Critical thinking is the ability to examine information rationally and make a logical judgment based on your analysis. Critical thinking skills help us solve problems, make good decisions, and understand the consequences of our actions.

In this blog, we discuss five of our favorite games to improve critical thinking skills and sharpen the mind.

Chess is the most widely played board game of all time. Your goal in chess is to get a checkmate by getting your opponent’s king into a position where it can be captured and cannot be freed by your opponent’s next move. To win, you must use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to decide which pieces to move to yield the best results on the board.

Chess is all about thinking strategically, anticipating consequences, weighing options, and making strategic decisions. If you want to beat your opponent, you’ve got to get your mental muscles moving!

2. 4 in a Row

4 in a Row is a classic strategy game that encourages players to think strategically with every move to trick and beat their opponent. The objective of the game is to connect four pieces horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Like Chess, you’ll have to plan your moves in advance to stump your opponent.

Identifying patterns and thinking ahead are both key critical thinking skills and 4 in a Row teaches both.

3. Backgammon

Despite being one of the oldest known board games, Backgammon is still one of the most popular critical thinking games. The objective of the game is to move all your checker pieces off the board and into one of the boxes on the right side.

Playing Backgammon can help teach basic arithmetic as well as more complicated themes like probability and luck. The game teaches players to not rely on pure luck by using strategies and tactics to overcome a bad roll. Players must use critical thinking skills to think ahead and identify patterns to determine the least damaging move and what move will give them an advantage if their opponent has a good roll.

2048 is a single-player puzzle game that encourages players to plan ahead and think strategically. The objective of the game is to join the numbers to get a single tile to be 2048.

2048 requires you to use critical thinking skills to identify the best way to move a tile to generate the number 2048. The game also promotes strategic planning to maximize your time before you run out of moves.

To further improve your critical thinking skills and make the game more challenging, consider setting a time limit.

5. Minesweeper

This single-player puzzle game teaches pattern recognition and deductive reasoning. Minesweeper is a game rooted in logic, problem solving, and deduction. The objective of the game is to clear all the squares on the board that don’t have mines and flag all the mines in the shortest time possible.

Minesweeper teaches pattern recognition as you’ll learn how to look at a series of numbers and figure out what the numbers mean when they’re in a specific order. The more you play the more you’ll pick up on different patterns and the quicker you’ll be able to solve deduction-based problems.

This goes to show that games are not just a form of entertainment. The right games can also be intellectually stimulating and improve critical thinking skills. To further improve your critical thinking skills while having fun at the same time, check out our favorite thinking games to put your critical thinking skills to the test and train your brain.

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Group games are ideal for developing critical-thinking skills.

The link between critical thinking and one’s education is obvious – you can’t learn well unless you think well.

Critical thinking is the ability to look at problems in new ways, to analyse how parts of a whole interact with one another and to interpret information and draw conclusions.

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills were once thought to be the domain of gifted people. Today, they are necessary for every individual and group who seeks to make sensible decisions about financial, health, civic, workplace and leisure activities.

The solutions to international concerns such as climate change and global warming require highly developed critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. These skills include the ability to effectively analyse and evaluate evidence, arguments, claims and beliefs.

Benefits of Developing Critical-Thinking Abilities

The ability to solve interesting and unfamiliar problems often leads to the development of other skills such as increased engagement, higher concentration levels and improved thought processing.

Here are a few examples of experiences that occur in many programs which may provide you with an opportunity to focus on problem-solving skills:

• Forming a project team to solve an existing, yet complex problem.
• Thinking of a new campaign slogan to broadcast a difficult, yet important message.
• Adopting a rational, analytical and evidence-based approach to investigate a conflict.
• Challenging one of your group’s long-held beliefs or practices.

Naturally, one of the most powerful (not to mention, enjoyable) ways to develop and strengthen your group’s problem-solving skills is to employ the use of fun group games.

Group Activities Which Develop Critical-Thinking Skills

The images below provide links to a sample of simple group activities which may help you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving abilities of your group, drawn from playmeo’s ever-expanding activity database .

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Engaging Critical Thinking Games for Developing Analytical Skills

Annie Walls

In today's fast-paced and complex world, developing analytical skills is essential for success. Analytical skills allow individuals to think critically, solve problems, and make informed decisions. One effective way to enhance analytical skills is through engaging critical thinking games. These games not only provide entertainment but also stimulate the mind and encourage logical reasoning. In this article, we will explore the importance of critical thinking, various engaging critical thinking games, how to incorporate critical thinking in everyday activities, and ways to promote collaborative critical thinking. Here are the key takeaways:

Key Takeaways

• Critical thinking is crucial for developing analytical skills.
• Engaging critical thinking games can enhance analytical thinking.
• Puzzle games, strategy games, logic games, and problem-solving games are effective in developing critical thinking.
• Incorporating critical thinking in everyday activities such as reading, writing, decision making, and analyzing data is important.
• Promoting collaborative critical thinking through group activities, role-playing games, debates, and collaborative problem-solving exercises is beneficial.

The Importance of Critical Thinking

Understanding the Role of Critical Thinking in Analytical Skills Development

Critical thinking plays a crucial role in the development of analytical skills. It is the ability to objectively analyze and evaluate information, allowing individuals to make informed decisions and solve complex problems. By engaging in critical thinking, individuals can enhance their analytical skills by honing their ability to identify patterns, analyze data, and draw logical conclusions.

To further understand the importance of critical thinking in analytical skills development, let's take a look at a few key points:

• Critical thinking helps individuals develop a systematic approach to problem-solving, enabling them to break down complex issues into manageable parts.
• It encourages individuals to question assumptions and biases, promoting a more objective and unbiased analysis of information.
• Critical thinking fosters creativity and innovation, as it encourages individuals to think outside the box and explore alternative solutions.

Incorporating critical thinking into everyday activities can significantly enhance analytical skills and contribute to personal and professional growth.

Benefits of Developing Analytical Skills through Critical Thinking

Developing analytical skills through critical thinking offers numerous benefits. Improved Problem-Solving: Critical thinking enhances the ability to analyze complex problems and find effective solutions. Enhanced Decision Making : By developing analytical skills, individuals can make informed decisions based on logical reasoning and evidence. Increased Creativity : Critical thinking fosters creativity by encouraging individuals to think outside the box and explore innovative solutions. Effective Communication : Analytical skills developed through critical thinking enable individuals to articulate their thoughts and ideas clearly and persuasively. Better Time Management : Critical thinking helps individuals prioritize tasks and make efficient use of their time.

Engaging Critical Thinking Games

Puzzle Games that Enhance Analytical Thinking

Puzzle games are a great way to enhance analytical thinking skills. These games require players to think critically and strategically in order to solve complex puzzles. By engaging in puzzle games, individuals can improve their problem-solving abilities and develop a logical mindset. Additionally, puzzle games provide an opportunity to exercise creativity and think outside the box. They challenge players to approach problems from different angles and come up with innovative solutions. Overall, puzzle games are an effective tool for developing analytical skills and fostering critical thinking.

Strategy Games for Developing Critical Thinking

Strategy games are an excellent way to develop critical thinking skills. These games require players to analyze different situations, consider various options, and make strategic decisions. By playing strategy games, individuals can enhance their problem-solving abilities and learn how to think critically in complex scenarios. Chess is a classic example of a strategy game that promotes critical thinking. Players must anticipate their opponent's moves, plan their own moves, and strategize to achieve victory. Other strategy games, such as Risk and Settlers of Catan , also provide opportunities for players to develop their analytical skills and make strategic choices.

Logic Games to Stimulate Analytical Skills

Logic games are an excellent way to stimulate analytical skills. These games require players to think critically, analyze information, and make logical deductions. By engaging in logic games, individuals can enhance their problem-solving abilities and develop a systematic approach to decision-making. One popular logic game is Sudoku, which challenges players to fill a grid with numbers based on specific rules. Another example is the game Mastermind, where players must deduce a secret code by using clues provided. These games not only provide entertainment but also help sharpen analytical thinking skills.

Problem-Solving Games that Foster Critical Thinking

Problem-solving games are an excellent way to foster critical thinking skills. These games require players to analyze complex situations, think creatively, and come up with innovative solutions. By engaging in problem-solving games, individuals can develop their analytical skills and enhance their ability to think critically. These games often involve puzzles, riddles, and challenges that require logical reasoning and strategic thinking. They provide a fun and interactive way to practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Incorporating Critical Thinking in Everyday Activities

Critical Thinking in Reading and Writing

Critical thinking plays a crucial role in both reading and writing. When reading, it involves analyzing and evaluating the information presented, questioning the author's arguments, and identifying any biases or logical fallacies. It also requires the ability to make connections between different ideas and draw conclusions based on evidence. In writing, critical thinking helps to organize thoughts, develop coherent arguments, and present information in a logical and persuasive manner. It involves evaluating the credibility of sources, considering alternative perspectives, and anticipating counterarguments. By incorporating critical thinking skills in reading and writing, individuals can enhance their analytical abilities and become more effective communicators.

Critical Thinking in Decision Making

Critical thinking plays a crucial role in decision making. It involves analyzing information, evaluating options, and making informed choices. Effective decision making requires the ability to think critically and consider multiple perspectives. It is important to gather relevant data, assess the credibility of sources, and identify potential biases. Additionally, evaluating the potential outcomes of different decisions can help in making the best choice. Decision making is a skill that can be developed through practice and by incorporating critical thinking strategies.

Critical Thinking in Problem Solving

Problem solving is a crucial skill that requires analytical thinking and creative problem-solving abilities. It involves identifying and analyzing problems, generating potential solutions, evaluating the effectiveness of each solution, and selecting the best course of action. Critical thinking plays a vital role in this process as it helps individuals to think logically, consider different perspectives, and make informed decisions.

To enhance critical thinking in problem solving, individuals can follow a structured approach that includes the following steps:

• Identify the problem : Clearly define the problem and understand its underlying causes.
• Gather information : Collect relevant data and information related to the problem.
• Generate potential solutions : Brainstorm and come up with multiple possible solutions.
• Evaluate the solutions : Analyze the pros and cons of each solution and assess their feasibility.
• Select the best solution : Choose the solution that is most effective and feasible.

By applying critical thinking skills in problem solving, individuals can improve their ability to analyze complex situations, think creatively, and make well-informed decisions.

Critical Thinking in Analyzing Data

Analyzing data requires careful examination and interpretation of information to draw meaningful conclusions. It involves evaluating the reliability and validity of data sources, identifying patterns and trends, and making informed decisions based on the findings. To effectively analyze data, it is important to follow a systematic approach that includes the following steps:

• Data collection : Gather relevant data from reliable sources.
• Data organization : Arrange the data in a structured format for easy analysis.
• Data cleaning : Remove any errors or inconsistencies in the data.
• Data exploration : Explore the data to identify patterns, correlations, and outliers.
• Data analysis : Apply statistical techniques and tools to analyze the data.
• Data interpretation : Interpret the results and draw meaningful conclusions.

Tip: When analyzing data, it is crucial to critically evaluate the quality and relevance of the data sources to ensure accurate and reliable findings.

Promoting Collaborative Critical Thinking

Group Activities for Critical Thinking

Group activities are an effective way to promote critical thinking skills in a collaborative setting. These activities encourage participants to work together, share ideas, and analyze different perspectives. Here are some examples of group activities that foster critical thinking:

• Brainstorming sessions : In these sessions, participants come together to generate a large number of ideas on a specific topic. This activity encourages creative thinking and helps participants explore different possibilities.
• Case studies : Case studies provide real-life scenarios for participants to analyze and solve. By examining the details of the case, participants develop their analytical skills and learn to apply critical thinking to practical situations.
• Debates : Debates require participants to critically analyze arguments, present evidence, and counter opposing viewpoints. This activity enhances critical thinking by challenging participants to evaluate information and construct persuasive arguments.
• Problem-solving challenges : These challenges present participants with complex problems that require critical thinking to solve. By working together to find solutions, participants develop their analytical skills and learn to think critically under pressure.

Group activities provide a dynamic and engaging environment for developing critical thinking skills. They encourage collaboration, communication, and the exploration of different perspectives, all of which are essential for analytical skills development.

Role-Playing Games to Encourage Analytical Thinking

Role-playing games are a great way to encourage analytical thinking in a fun and interactive way. By assuming different roles and solving problems within a fictional setting, players are challenged to think critically and make strategic decisions. These games often require players to analyze information, consider different perspectives, and come up with creative solutions. They also promote teamwork and communication skills as players work together to achieve common goals. Engaging and immersive , role-playing games provide a unique opportunity for individuals to develop their analytical thinking abilities.

Debates and Discussions for Developing Critical Thinking

Debates and discussions are powerful tools for developing critical thinking skills. They provide opportunities for individuals to analyze different perspectives, evaluate evidence, and construct logical arguments. Through engaging in debates and discussions, participants can enhance their ability to think critically and communicate effectively. These activities also foster active listening and respectful dialogue, encouraging individuals to consider alternative viewpoints and challenge their own assumptions. By engaging in debates and discussions, individuals can develop a deeper understanding of complex issues and strengthen their analytical skills.

Collaborative Problem-Solving Exercises

Collaborative problem-solving exercises are a valuable tool for developing critical thinking skills. These exercises involve working together with others to solve complex problems, allowing individuals to learn from different perspectives and develop creative solutions. By engaging in collaborative problem-solving exercises, participants can enhance their analytical thinking abilities and improve their ability to work effectively in a team.

One effective collaborative problem-solving exercise is the use of case studies. Case studies provide real-world scenarios that require critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Participants can analyze the situation, identify the key issues, and work together to develop strategies and solutions. This exercise not only enhances critical thinking but also promotes teamwork and communication skills.

Another collaborative problem-solving exercise is the use of group projects. Group projects require individuals to work together to achieve a common goal. This exercise encourages participants to think critically, delegate tasks, and collaborate effectively. It also provides an opportunity for individuals to learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.

In addition to case studies and group projects, collaborative problem-solving exercises can also involve role-playing scenarios. Role-playing allows participants to step into different roles and perspectives, challenging their assumptions and encouraging critical thinking. By engaging in role-playing exercises, individuals can develop empathy, problem-solving skills, and the ability to think critically from multiple viewpoints.

Overall, collaborative problem-solving exercises are an effective way to develop critical thinking skills. They provide opportunities for individuals to work together, learn from each other, and develop creative solutions to complex problems. By incorporating these exercises into educational and professional settings, individuals can enhance their analytical thinking abilities and become more effective problem solvers.

Promoting Collaborative Critical Thinking is essential in today's fast-paced and ever-changing world. As a keynote speaker, James Taylor inspires creative minds to think outside the box and find innovative solutions. With his expertise in business creativity and innovation, James Taylor has become an internationally recognized leader in this field. If you're looking to ignite your team's creativity and foster collaborative critical thinking, visit our website at www.jamestaylor.com and book James Taylor as your keynote speaker today!

In conclusion, engaging critical thinking games are a valuable tool for developing analytical skills. These games provide a fun and interactive way for individuals to practice and enhance their critical thinking abilities. By challenging players to think critically, analyze information, and make informed decisions, these games help to improve problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, and decision-making abilities. Additionally, critical thinking games promote creativity, innovation, and the ability to think outside the box. Overall, incorporating critical thinking games into educational and professional settings can greatly benefit individuals in their personal and professional lives, enabling them to become more effective problem solvers and decision makers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is critical thinking.

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze and evaluate information, arguments, and ideas in a logical and systematic manner.

Why is critical thinking important?

Critical thinking is important because it helps individuals develop analytical skills, make informed decisions, and solve complex problems effectively.

How does critical thinking contribute to analytical skills development?

Critical thinking enhances analytical skills by encouraging individuals to think critically, analyze information, identify patterns, and draw logical conclusions.

What are the benefits of developing analytical skills through critical thinking?

Developing analytical skills through critical thinking improves problem-solving abilities, enhances decision-making skills, and promotes creativity and innovation.

What are some engaging critical thinking games?

Some engaging critical thinking games include puzzle games, strategy games, logic games, and problem-solving games.

How can critical thinking be incorporated into everyday activities?

Critical thinking can be incorporated into everyday activities such as reading and writing, decision making, problem solving, and analyzing data.

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Critical thinking puzzles for adults (with answers)

Critical thinking can help to better navigate the information-dense and complex world we live in. By thinking critically we can better identify priorities, take a sensible approach to problem-solving and reach conclusions logically in line with evidence. Puzzles are an excellent way both to learn and practice critical thinking skills.

If you’d like to learn more about critical thinking or simply practice your skills with some puzzles, then this is the article for you. Read a little bit more about critical thinking skills and how to apply them first, or just skip straight to the puzzles and see how you get on.

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is a broad approach to problem solving and analysis based on logic and evidence. It brings together a wide range of intellectual competences and the ability to combine and cross-reference them. Some of the most important elements of a critical thinking approach include:

Analytical skills:

• understanding of questions and concepts
• differentiation of relevant / irrelevant evidence and information
• identification of similarities, connections and differences
• use of metaphors or analogies to communicate ideas

Powers of inference:

• extraction of meaning from data using inductive or deductive reasoning
• extrapolation of data or abstraction into concepts and patterns
• correct identification and deployment of analogies and assumptions
• grasp of causal relationships, allowing development of conclusions and theories.

Data and theory evaluation:

• assessment of how strong, important or credible a theory might be
• taking on board new data and new arguments which alter understanding of ideas and theory

Rational decision-making:

– application of all the skills and competences above in order to come to a rational conclusion.

Problem-solving attitude: In addition to being able to think critically, you must also be personally inclined to think critically when facing a difficult or complex challenge. Developing qualities including curiosity and fairness, while distancing yourself from ideologies and group-think, should all help to create the kind of psychological landscape where critical thinking can flourish.

How can I learn critical thinking?

Critical thinking skills are hard to develop from only reading books or listening to lectures. The most effective way to sharpen and deepen critical thinking faculties is to practice critical thinking . Critical thinking puzzles offer a fun way to learn and the eight critical thinking puzzles we’ve chosen for this article should help you make a good start.

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Eight critical thinking puzzles – with answers

Puzzle 1 – letter puzzles.

What common feature do the following words share?

Answer: All of these words begin with a vowel. This type of puzzle may send your mind off in the wrong direction, thinking about the objects or concepts described by the words, and the properties they might share. In fact, the solution lies in a far more simple consideration of the alphabet. Puzzle 1 is a simple example of a common type of letter or word puzzle.

Puzzle 2 – Commonalities and differences

What do the following items have in common and which is the odd one out?

Orange Juice

Answer: These items are all liquids and the odd one out is petrol, since all the others are drinkable liquids.

Puzzle 3 – Falling on his feet

A man who lives in a high-rise building decides to exit through the window one morning rather than using the door. Somehow he survives the fall without a scratch and walks away to work. How did this happen?

Answer: The man lived on the ground or first floor and merely stepped or jumped down to the pavement outside. By stating early on that the building in question was a high-rise building, it’s easy for someone reading quickly to assume that the man jumped from a window on a high store but this it s not necessarily the case.

Puzzle 4 – Walk this way

A group of five people enter a windowless meeting room together. An hour later when the meeting ends, four walk out of the door, leaving the room empty. What has happened to the fifth member of the group?

Answer: The fifth person was in a wheelchair and wheeled out of the room rather than walked. Solving this puzzle requires you to think laterally about the question and the possible solutions. The answer can be found by asking yourself whether the emphasis of the question is on the emptiness of the room or the means by which the other four people left.

Puzzle 5 – Shapes and symbols

When lying on my side, I am everything, but when cut in half, I am nothing. What am I?

Answer: The number 8. This puzzle requires that you think about a shape being repositioned or cut in a way that can change it to “everything” or “nothing”. Number 8 on its side is the mathematical symbol for infinity (i.e. everything) and also shaped like two small number 0s put together.

Puzzle 6 – Three hard options

The hero is escaping the lair of an evil super-villain and is faced with three possible exits:

• Door A leads into a pit of bubbling lava
• Door B leads to a room housing a deadly hitman
• Door C leads to the den full of lions that haven’t had a meal for a year.

Which door should the hero choose?

Answer: Door C. If the lion hasn’t eaten in a year, it will definitely be dead by now. This type of puzzle requires you to consider the full implications of the information given, rather than being drawn into a comparison of the relative dangers of lava, hitmen and lions…

Puzzle 7 – The bus driver’s eyes

You are a bus driver. Today the bus is empty at the start of your route but at the first stop, four people get onto the bus. Eight people get on at the second stop, while three alight. When the bus reaches the third stop, one more gets off, and three get on.

At the fourth stop, two people get off the bus and one gets on. The bus is traveling at an average speed of 30mph and its tires are new.  What color are the bus driver’s eyes?

Answer: You are the bus driver so the color will be the color of your own eyes. This type of puzzle tries to confuse you and obscure the single piece of relevant information by presenting large quantities of irrelevant information.

Puzzle 8 – Losing weight

A man walks into a room, closes the doors behind him and presses a button. In a matter of seconds the man is 20lb lighter. Despite this, he leaves the room at the same weight he entered it.

Answer: The room in question is actually an elevator. When the man gets in and presses the button, the elevator moves downwards with an acceleration that reduces the effect of gravity and makes the man temporarily 20lb lighter. Once the lift stops moving, the man’s weight is subject to normal gravity, just the same as before. Solving this puzzle requires a small piece of general physics knowledge.

A final word…

We hope you’ve enjoyed our critical thinking puzzles for adults and that your critical thinking skills are feeling refreshed and sharpened after reading our article. Whether at school, in the workplace, or in general life, critical thinking can be a valuable tool for success and anyone can learn to use it.

Get more critical thinking puzzles on our Youtube channel:

20 Challenging Lateral Thinking Puzzles That Are Harder Than They Seem

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Parent Resources for Learning > Critical Thinking > 5 Fun Critical Thinking Games to Play with Your Child

5 Fun Critical Thinking Games to Play with Your Child

by Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos | Mar 27, 2024 | Critical Thinking

Playing games is a great way for your child to develop their critical thinking skills—and the metaphor of a game is a great way to think about these important life skills!

Every time your child works through a problem they need to solve, a sequence they need to memorize, or a decision they need to make, they’re making their way toward the goal of improving their critical thinking.

It’s like a game where the reward at the end is better decision-making, stronger reasoning skills, and academic and professional success!

Kids will keep playing this game over the course of their lives, connecting new ideas to old ones and discarding one opinion for another. Each time, they’ll get better.

Ready to start? We’ve got some fun and easy game ideas for you!

The Short Cut

• Critical thinking  is one of the 5 C’s  that help kids thrive in school and life (an essential part of the Begin Approach to learning)
• The ability to think critically—as opposed to being intelligent—has been linked to wellness and fewer “negative life events”
• Good critical thinking activities  often involve following rules, breaking tasks into sequences, asking questions, and understanding multiple perspectives
• Games (like this memory game ) are a fantastic way to develop critical thinking with kids because you can slip in challenges with the fun!

Why Is Critical Thinking Important?

Critical thinking is a necessary skill for understanding the world.

Through weighing options, studying different perspectives, and making good choices, our children can lead their lives in a positive and healthy way.

Critical thinking allows our kids to:

• Analyze information and make decisions
• Recall short sequences of information and simple instructions
• Ignore distractions to focus on a task
• Grasp the differences between sources of information
• Reason using logic
• Make connections between things

It’s one of the most important contributors to their overall well-being!

6 Critical Thinking Exercises for Everyday Life

Games aren’t the only critical thinking exercises that work well for kids. They also encounter many opportunities to build their skills on any given day.

How can you tap into those chances? Try these techniques.

1. Explain Things

No doubt you often find yourself on the receiving end of your child’s questions. Try to answer all of them. Daunting as that might sound (we know!), this helps your child learn how to formulate the questions they need to ask to make good judgments.

2. Back Up Rules with Good Reasons

Help your child understand the reasons behind rules. (A typical Q&A volley:  “Please find a quiet activity to do after dinner.” “Why?” “Because your brother is asleep and we don’t want to wake him up.”)

This kind of exchange allows your child to understand why you’re asking them to do something, which fosters critical thinking.

3. Play Real-Life Problem-Solving Games

Playing strategy games—even simple ones designed for kids—develops analytical skills. You can also have fun turning household tasks into problem-solving games, like figuring out which socks go to which person when you’re folding laundry.

4. Cultivate Curiosity

Encourage your child to ask questions and dig deep to find answers. Curiosity leads to challenging assumptions and gaining new information. Ultimately it helps your child develop complex thinking skills.

5. Encourage Open-Mindedness

Help your child learn to be flexible in their thinking by giving them time to gather information before they make decisions. Considering various solutions helps kids learn that more than one way to do things can be correct.

6. Model Analytical Thinking

Our kids are always watching us. One of the best ways to influence your child’s critical thinking skills is by talking through decisions as you make them. (“I want to walk to the store. I can take a shortcut, but it’s on that dirt path and I’m wearing new sneakers. I want to keep them clean, so I’ll walk on the sidewalk instead.”)

5 Games to Guide Your Child’s Critical Thinking

There are many educational critical thinking games  you can play at home that help kids improve their skills! We’ve gathered a few we love:

This classic guessing game encourages analytical thinking and problem-solving skills (like deduction) as your child searches for specific objects based on clues.

Plus, it‘s highly portable! Play it in the car, on a walk, or even at the grocery store!

What You Need

• Nothing except space!
• Explain you’ll take turns identifying an object in your space.
• Model the game by going first. Choose an object that both of you can see.
• Share one detail about it. (“I spy something purple.”)
• Ask your child to guess what you’ve chosen.
• If your child is stumped or getting frustrated, add more clues (“The purple thing is a food, and it’s over by the apples.”)
• Trade roles so that your child chooses something for you to guess.

More Ways to Play

• Choose different rules, such as “the object has to start with A,” or “share three adjectives that describe the object,” or “make up one phrase this object might say”

2. Once Upon a Time

Storytelling is a great way to work on critical thinking skills like understanding cause and effect, choice-making, and sequencing. This game also taps into kids’ creativity  (another one of the 5 C’s) through making up stories.

• Nothing but your imagination!
• Explain you’re going to build a story together by taking turns, one sentence at a time. You can give an example by reciting a story that your child already knows.
• Give an exciting first sentence that jumps into action, such as, “Once upon a time, a kid was on a rocket ship headed to Mars, when a meteor hit and fuel began to leak.”
• Ask your child to continue the story. If they get stuck, try asking them questions like “What did the rocket ship do next?” or “What did the kid do first to fix the problem?” or “How did the kid feel?”
• Continue taking turns until you come to a natural ending.
• Write down the story as you tell it, then read it out loud
• Create a book out of the story, using paper, markers, and a stapler or tape (art projects use many critical thinking skills)
• Use a prop to center the story on, like a toy or a stuffed animal
• Go outside and tell a story based on what you imagine you see in the clouds

3. Bet You Can Build It!

Designing a structure takes curiosity, planning, trial and error, and problem-solving. You can turn this activity into a game by laying out rules to follow.

• Marshmallows
• Craft sticks
• Cardboard tubes
• Anything else you’ve got at home!
• Gather your materials.
• Give your child the rules for the building challenge. (“Create the tallest building you can without it tipping over” or “Use all the marshmallows and toothpicks.”)
• Work on the structure together or each do your own.
• Celebrate when you’ve finished!
• Use a timer to add urgency to the game
• Bring the game to the floor and use bigger building materials, like blocks or plastic bricks
• Bring it outside and use objects found in nature

Get your child moving their whole body as they use planning, organization, and problem-solving skills to find their way through a maze.

• A surface to draw on, like a sidewalk, driveway, or playground blacktop
• Objects to use as obstacles
• A finish-line treasure (a favorite toy, a treat, etc.)
• Draw a maze with chalk. Try making a path by drawing borders on each side or a “tightrope” by only drawing one line your child will need to balance on as they walk.
• Add dead ends to make the maze more challenging.
• Use objects to create obstacles for your child to problem-solve a way past.
• Add a treasure at the finish to engage their imagination.
• Have your child start at one end and try to find their way through!
• Hone in on the treasure component of the maze by creating a scavenger hunt .
• Ask your child to draw a map of the maze when they’ve finished.

5. Obstacle Course

An obstacle course builds real-life skills. To get through their days, kids need to be able to remember lots of information (just think about all the rules at school!).

They also encounter problem-solving based on sequencing and memorizing shortcuts, directions, and solutions. (Think about learning how to write. Letters have to be in a specific order to make a word. That’s sequencing.)

Or you may allow your child to walk to school or the bus stop on their own. That’s all about memorizing directions.

Obstacle courses can help them practice these skills!

• Masking tape or chalk
• Jump rope or broom
• Big bouncy ball
• Play tunnel, table, or chair
• Board or pool noodle
• Log and plank
• Pillows, bean bag chairs, or large stuffed animal
• Any other objects you want!
• Gather your objects—you can play this game inside or outside.
• Design a path for your child by placing interactive objects along it. For instance, they can jump over the broom, crawl under the table, and balance on the log and plank.
• Show your child the sequence. You can demonstrate it or have them do a trial run.
• Let them start!
• Try asking your child to do the course backwards or blindfolded—with a partner!
• On a hot day (and outdoors!), add water components like carrying a bucket of water or running through a sprinkler
• Draw a map and instead of telling your child how to move through the course, give them the map to follow
• Add a fun time component and challenge your child to finish the course faster each time they do it

Cultivating Critical Thinking Skills with Begin

Because critical thinking is such an essential skill set, at Begin we build it into our age- and stage-matched learning membership . Through playing with Little Passports activity kits, the codeSpark coding app , and other award-winning learning products from Begin, kids can learn sequencing, make their own games, do science experiments, and more !

Take our online quiz  today to discover which stage of the Begin membership is best for your family!

Jody has a Ph.D. in Developmental Science and more than a decade of experience in the children’s media and early learning space.

View all posts

Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos

Chief Learning Officer at Begin

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15 Fun Decision Making Games for Kids

1. Online Decision Making Games 

3. connect four, 5. ticket to ride: first journey, 6. catan junior, 9. battleship, 10. guess who.

Making decisions is a big part of growing up. Learning to make good decisions early on is super important for kids. It helps them become more independent, confident, and ready to face the world. That’s where decision making games for kids come into play. These games teach kids how to think ahead, make choices, and understand what happens because of those choices—all while having a blast!

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In this blog, we’re going to dive into some fantastic games that do just that. From classic board games that have been around for years to new card games that will soon become favorites, we’ve got a list that will help any kid become a decision-making champ. 

Best for Which Ages: 3 years and up

Decision making games online are one of the best choice making activities for kids to sharpen their critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills in a fun, interactive environment. Engaging with these games teaches children to make quick decisions, analyze outcomes, and adapt their strategies in real time. Here’s a look at some engaging online decision making games that are perfect for young minds:

• Challenge Two of a Kind Game

This game tests memory and attention to detail as players flip cards to find matching pairs. It’s about remembering what you saw and making strategic decisions on which cards to flip next. Perfect for developing concentration and memory recall, it’s a hit among kids looking to challenge their minds.

• Play Jumble Mania Game

Jumble Mania sharpens spelling and vocabulary by challenging players to rearrange jumbled letters to form words. This game enhances decision making by requiring players to choose the most logical order of letters, improving their language skills and quick thinking in a fun, engaging way.

• Challenge Match-Up Puzzles Game

Match-up puzzles take the challenge up by mixing memory skills with problem-solving. Players must match related items, not just identical ones, adding an extra layer of decision making. This game is excellent for kids who enjoy puzzles and are ready to think outside the box.

Best for Which Age: 3 years and up

Go Fish is a card game that sharpens memory and introduces kids to strategic thinking. Players ask each other for cards to make sets, using strategy to remember who holds which cards.

How to Play:

• Deal five cards to each player and place the rest in a “fish pond” in the center.
• Players ask others for specific cards to make sets of four.
• If the player has the card, they must hand it over; if not, they say “Go Fish,” and the asking player draws from the pond.
• The game ends when all sets are made, and the player with the most sets wins.

Buy here: Amazon

Best for Which Age: 6 years and up

Connect Four is all about strategic planning. Players aim to line up four discs in a row. This game challenges kids to think ahead and block their opponents, making it one of the most fun choice games for kids.

• Players choose a color and take turns dropping their colored discs into a vertically standing grid.
• The objective is to be the first to form a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line of four of one’s discs.
• Players must strategize to block their opponent’s moves while working towards their four-in-a-row.
• The game ends when one player achieves a Connect Four or the grid fills up, indicating a tie.

Price: $12.51

Buy Here: Amazon

Mancala is a classic game that requires players to strategically move pieces around the board to capture more stones than their opponent. It’s a brilliant choice among decision making games for kids, teaching them to plan ahead and predict their opponent’s moves.

• The board is set up with an equal number of pieces in small pits.
• Players take turns picking up all the pieces in one of their pits and distributing them one by one in subsequent pits.
• The goal is to capture more pieces than the opponent by strategic placement and captures.

Price:  $12

Ticket to Ride: First Journey simplifies the classic game for younger audiences, focusing on strategic thinking as players plan train routes across a map. This making choices game is perfect for introducing basic strategy and planning skills to kids.

• Players collect train cards that enable them to claim railway routes on a map.
• The aim is to connect distant cities through a network of trains.
• Strategic planning is required to block opponents and efficiently connect cities.

Price:  $27

Catan Junior takes the beloved strategy game and simplifies it for younger players, focusing on resource management and basic strategic planning. It’s an excellent choice among decision making activities for elementary students, teaching them the importance of resource allocation and strategy.

• Players collect resources like wood and gold to build their pirate lairs.
• Trading resources with other players is a key part of the game.
• The first player to build all their pirate lairs wins, requiring careful planning and resource management.

Price:  $24.99

Best for Which Age: 7 years and up

Uno is a popular card game that combines strategy with luck, requiring players to adapt their strategies based on the cards they have and the actions of their opponents. It’s one of the most fun and engaging decision making activities for children, teaching them adaptability and strategic thinking.

• Players aim to match a card in their hand with the current card shown on top of the deck either by color or number.
• Special action cards, like skips and reverses, add complexity.
• The first player to rid themselves of all their cards wins, requiring strategic decision-making and adaptability to changing game dynamics.

Price:  $11.16

Chess is one of the best decision making games, teaching players to think several moves ahead and consider the consequences of their actions. It’s a classic game of strategy and tactics where every move counts.

• Each player starts with 16 pieces that move in specific ways across the board.
• The objective is to checkmate the opponent’s king, meaning the king is in a position to be captured and cannot escape.
• Players must protect their own pieces while strategizing to capture their opponent’s king.

Price:  $14.99

Battleship is a game that combines strategic planning and deduction, making it a great choice among decision making board games. Players guess the locations of their opponent’s ships and aim to sink them, all based on logical deduction and strategic thinking.

• Each player places their ships secretly on a grid.
• Players take turns calling out grid coordinates to guess the location of the opponent’s ships.
• The first player to sink all of the opponent’s ships wins.

Best for Which Age: 5 years and up

Guess Who? is a fun decision making situations game that enhances logical thinking and decision-making. Players ask yes or no questions to deduce the identity of the opponent’s character, using logic and deduction at every turn.

• Each player chooses a character card and places it in front of them.
• Players take turns asking yes or no questions to narrow down the possible characters their opponent has chosen.
• The first player to correctly guess the opponent’s character wins.

11. Clue (Cluedo)

Best for Which Age: 8 years and up

Clue, or Cluedo, is a classic among group decision making games, where players solve a mystery by deducing who committed the crime, with what weapon, and in which room. It’s a fantastic game for developing deductive reasoning and decision-making skills.

• Players move around the game board, which represents the rooms of a mansion, to collect clues.
• Through a process of elimination and deduction based on the clues gathered, players try to solve the mystery.
• The first player to correctly accuse the murderer, the weapon, and the room wins the game.

Price:  $17.99

12. Tic-Tac-Toe (Noughts and Crosses)

Tic-Tac-Toe, also known as Noughts and Crosses, is a perfect introductory decision making game for kids. It teaches young children the basics of strategy and foresight by encouraging them to think about their moves and anticipate their opponent’s next step.

• Players take turns marking a space in a 3×3 grid with their symbol, either a nought or a cross.
• The aim is to be the first to get three of your symbols in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
• Players need to block their opponent’s moves while working towards their own line of three.

13. Checkers (Draughts)

Checkers, known as Draughts in some countries, simplifies strategy and decision-making, making it one of the easiest decision making games for kids. It teaches them to plan their moves and predict their opponent’s actions in a straightforward, engaging way.

• Players move their pieces diagonally across a checkerboard, with the aim of capturing the opponent’s pieces by jumping over them.
• The game encourages players to protect their own pieces while finding opportunities to capture their opponent’s.
• The player who captures all of the opponent’s pieces wins.

Price:  $15.99

14. Rat-a-Tat Cat

Rat-a-Tat Cat is a card game that boosts memory and strategy through the use of card swaps and peeks. It’s a fun and engaging way to enhance decision-making skills in kids, as they must remember the cards’ values and decide the best times to swap.

• Players are dealt cards that they can peek at but then must keep face down, trying to remember the values.
• The aim is to end up with the lowest score by swapping out high-value cards for lower ones.
• Strategic thinking is required to decide when to swap cards and when to stick with what you have.

Price:  $11.99

15. Memory Game

The Memory Game, also known as Concentration, is a fantastic choice for kids to boost their memory and focus. By matching pairs of cards, children practice attention to detail and improve their recall abilities, making it a great pick from games on decision making.

• Spread all cards face down on a table.
• Players take turns flipping over two cards at a time.
• If the cards match, they keep them and go again.
• If they don’t match, they turn them back over, and the next player goes.
• The game continues until all pairs are matched.

Price:  $9.99

Decision making games for kids offer fun and interactive ways to boost critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These games not only keep children engaged but also play a crucial role in their cognitive development. So, let’s encourage our kids to play more of these games and watch them grow smarter every day!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you teach children decision-making.

Teaching children decision-making involves guiding them through the process of making choices, discussing possible outcomes, and allowing them to experience the consequences in a safe environment. Encouraging them to weigh options and think ahead helps build this skill.

What is a decision-making game?

Decision making games for kids are an interactive activities designed to simulate scenarios where players must make choices, often within a set of rules or constraints, to achieve a goal or solve a problem, thereby sharpening their decision-making skills.

What is decision-making icebreaker activity?

A decision-making icebreaker activity is a short, engaging task that encourages participants to make choices and share their reasoning. It’s often used to warm up a group, foster teamwork, and introduce the concept of decision-making in a fun way.

What are some fun decision-making questions?

Fun decision-making questions can range from hypothetical scenarios like “Would you rather have the ability to fly or be invisible?” to practical choices such as “If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?” These fun would you rather questions stimulate thinking and conversation.

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Problem Solving Games, Activities & Exercises for Adults

By: Angela Robinson | Updated: February 13, 2024

Here is our list of the best problem solving games, activities and exercises for adults.

Problem solving games are activities that require players to use critical thinking skills to solve puzzles. Example activities include escape rooms, Sudoku, and murder mysteries. The purpose of these exercises is to sharpen reasoning and decision-making skills in group settings and to do team building with employees.

These activities are a subset of remote team games , found in problem solving books , and are similar to team puzzles , team building brain teasers and team riddles .

This article contains:

• team building problem solving activities for employees
• free problem solving games for adults
• virtual problem solving activities for students
• group problem solving activities
• problem solving team builders

Here we go!

List of problem solving games & activities

From word and number puzzles to role-playing games, here is a list of inexpensive and free problem solving team builders that help groups practice the art of critical thinking and compromise.

1. Espionage! (Team Favorite)

For an exciting game of social deduction, check out Espionage! This thrilling experience will put your team’s wits and instincts to the test.

Espionage! offers the following:

• a 90-minute session led by an experienced host
• undercover teams of agents and spies
• challenging puzzles, tasks, and maneuvers
• team conversations to help uncover secret identities

The best part is we will bring all the necessary game materials to your preferred location. If you are interested in boosting communication and critical-thinking skills within your team, then consider Espionage!

Learn more about Espionage!

2. Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh (Hosted)

You can turn your team into skilled detectives with Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh! In this captivating mystery, participants will locate the stolen artwork, The Bedroom .

Key features of this experience include:

• a 90-minute adventure led by a world-class host
• detailed puzzles, clues, and mysteries to unravel
• trails of evidence and hidden secrets
• group discussions to find the art

Additionally, you can include a cocktail kit to spice up your event. Through Art Heist, you will enhance your team’s ingenuity and problem-solving skills!

Learn more about Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh .

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3. War of the Wizards (Popular)

With War of the Wizards, teams roleplay as minions of powerful wizards to vanquish forces of evil. Participants will play thrilling games and go on a quest to restore harmony to the realm!

War of the Wizards offers the following:

• a 90-minute journey guided by a distinguished host
• immersive storytelling that transports players into a magical realm
• engaging activities like world-building, role-playing games, and storytelling
• opportunities for forming alliances, facing challenges, and going on quests

Through the power of imagination and teamwork, your team can overcome tasks and participate in an epic fantasy battle. To improve communication and bonds, include War of the Wizards in your agenda!

Learn more about War of the Wizards .

Sudoku is one of the most popular free problem solving games for adults. The objective of this game is to fill each box of a 9×9 grid so that every row, column, and letter contains each number from one to nine. The puzzle makes a great team challenge. To play Sudoku on Zoom, screen share the game board. Then, turn on the annotation features. Using the add text functions, participants can fill in the numbers on the grid.

We made a starter puzzle you can use in your next meeting or virtual team bonding session:

Here are more online Sudoku puzzles .

5. Crossword puzzles

Crossword puzzles are word games that ask players to fill in words based on clues. Words interconnect, and players must think critically about the surrounding words to select the right phrase for the space.

You can use an online crossword puzzle maker to create a custom puzzle. Here are a few themes you may want to consider:

• teammates’ tastes and interests
• company knowledge and history
• industry terms and trends

Or, create a miscellaneous puzzle just for fun.

We made a sample puzzle you can use for your game:

To complete puzzles during online meetings, you can use the share screen function and add text through annotations.

Or, subscribers can play the New York Times’ daily crossword puzzle virtually . Dictionary.com also offers a free daily online crossword puzzle .

Check out more vocabulary games .

6. Online Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are timed games that get groups working together to solve puzzles. Traditionally, players enter a locked room and must complete all puzzles in an hour or two to unlock the door. However, groups can also play escape rooms online.

Digital escape rooms typically come in one of two forms: in a Zoom room and led by a host, or in a choose-your-own adventure format via Google Forms or websites. To play escape rooms virtually, enter a video meeting and follow the prompts, or screen share the Google Form and work out the puzzles together.

Check out our full list of online escape rooms .

7. Murder Mysteries

Murder Mysteries are story-based games that ask players to take on the roles of suspects or detectives while trying to identify a killer. These games often involve reading lines from a script, searching for clues, and occasionally solving puzzles to get hints.

These games make participants pay attention to conversations, analyze other characters’ behavior, and search for hidden meaning in the script. Players must use their powers of observation and logic to unravel the mystery.

Check out our list of Zoom murder mystery games .

8. Treasure Hunts

Treasure hunts are scavenger hunts with intention. While virtual scavenger hunts often ask players to collect random items, treasure hunts require participants to locate clues that lead to other prompts and hints. The game typically ends with players finding a treasure or solving a mystery, sometimes both.

The treasure hunt can have a specific theme such as secret agent missions or a hunt for pirate treasure, or you can run a more general hunt. Teammates can either compete simultaneously via Zoom call, or can play the hunt on an app individually and compete to beat each other’s scores.

Check out our list of treasure hunt apps .

9. Poem or story challenge

Most team building problem solving activities for employees revolve around science, math, and logic. Poem/story challenges rely on writing skills and are sure to appeal to the language lovers on your team.

Each player receives a limited word bank to use to create a story or poem. Then, players have a few minutes to craft their pieces. Afterward, everyone reads out or screen shares their creations.

Here are a few word challenge activities you can do remotely:

• Found poems or stories : Participants make poems or stories out of words they find by visiting websites, searching emails, glancing out the window, or taking a walk or drive around the neighborhood.
• Random word generators : Teammates use a random word generator to populate a word bank, and must use each word in the poem or story.
• Poetry magnets : Group members make poems using poetry magnets. You can send poetry magnet sets to employees and assemble the verses on a cookie pan during a Zoom call. Or, teammates can play with poetry magnets online .
• Page poems: Participants receive one page of a book or magazine, and must make a poem or story by blocking out other words so only the chosen text remains visible. This activity is part storytelling, part art, since story crafters can illustrate the pages as part of the design.
• Ransom note stories or poems : Players cut out letters from magazines and must form new words to make poems and stories. Or, players can receive a mix of random letters, form words, and run the text through a ransom note generator .

These activities are suitable for teams and individual players.

10. Moral challenge

Some problems are ethical rather than factual. Moral judgment plays just as important a role in the decision-making process as technical prowess. Players can flex their moral problem-solving skills by tackling ethical dilemmas or social puzzles.

Here are some social problem solving games online:

• Moral machine
• Scruples – the game of moral dilemmas
• Morality play

To play these games, either download the apps, or pull up the website and then screen share the prompts. These games are best played when discussed as a group, because the more belief systems and opinions, the harder an issue is to resolve. These exercises provide practice for real-life conflict resolution.

You can find similar challenges on our list of online personality tests .

11. Frostbite

Frostbite is a group game that hones team leaders’ communication skills while sharpening teammates’ listening and cooperation skills. The premise behind the game is that a group of explorers gets caught in a snowstorm and must build a shelter. Frostbite has paralyzed the leaders’ hands and snow-blinded the rest of the team. The leader must give the team instructions to build a tent that can resist arctic winds.

To play Frostbite, each teammate wears a blindfold. Then, the leader gives directions. Once the structures are complete, players turn on a fan to test whether tents can withstand the wind.

Frostbite is usually an in-person game, however you can also play virtually. In the remote version of the game, teammates construct tents out of cards and tape, while the leader surveys the scene on screen.

This exercise demonstrates the challenges of leading remotely, as teams need to operate with minimal oversight or supervisor observation. Therefore, instructions need to be clear and direct to be effective.

Check out more team building games .

12. Virtual Hackathons

Hackathons are events where participants have a set amount of time to design and pitch a new product or solution. This type of event originated in the programming world and is often used to create new apps, however you can apply the game to any industry or school subject.

Virtual hackathons are online versions of the event. Teams enter the competition, then work with each other via virtual meeting software or remote work communication platforms to design the solution. At the end of the competition, teams pitch ideas to a panel of judges and a winner is decided.

To run a virtual hackathon, first announce the theme of the event and collect sign-ups. So that no teams work ahead, hint at the general idea of the issue, and only explain the precise problem when the event begins. Then, give teams anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete the project.

Discover more virtual hackathon ideas .

13. Improv games

Improv games are excellent problem solving activities. These exercises force participants to think and respond quickly to keep scenes moving in a logical and entertaining way.

Here are some good problem solving improv games:

Banned words : Performers cannot say certain words. Scene partners will conceive of situations that encourage the actors to use those words, and the actors must find alternatives, such as using synonyms or taking the scene in a new direction.

Scenes from a chat : Audience gives a suggestion for a scene, and players act the scene out. Though it’s a fictional and often ridiculous scenario, actors must react to the situation and solve the problem in order for the scene to end.

Miracle cure : Miracle cure is a quick-moving exercise that follows a simple format. One player declares, “I have a problem.” Another player responds, “I have a….[random object.]” The first player then replies, “great! I can use the [random object] to….” and describes how they will solve the problem.

Check out more problem-solving improv games .

14. Spaghetti Tower

The spaghetti tower is a classic team building game. Participants gather uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows, and must construct the tallest freestanding tower.

During the in-person version, players must construct one tall freestanding tower. However, for the virtual version of the game, players construct individual towers. You can send groups to breakout rooms for the build, then reconvene in the main room for judging. Teams are judged on three main factors: number of towers, height, and uniformity.

This version of the game not only tests the structural integrity of the tower, but also consistency and quality control. This exercise teaches teams to align and collaborate remotely, and produce a consistent product even when far apart.

15. What Would You Do?

What Would You Do? is a simple situational game that challenges participants to react to different circumstances. To play this game, read prompts one by one, and then ask participants to respond with gameplans. You can use the polling or raise hand feature to vote for the best option.

Here are some problem solving scenarios for adults or kids to use in the game:

• Zombies attack and you have to find a place to hide.
• You are at the zoo and the animals escape. Which one do you try to corral back into the pen first?
• After waiting in line for hours, someone cuts in front of you last minute. The person appears to be visually and hearing impaired, and doesn’t notice your protests. An official announces that due to diminishing supply, this individual will be the last in line to be served.
• You are eating a meal with important clients and/or your partner’s parents, and you want to impress. The individuals make you a dish that does not fit within your dietary restrictions, but you do not speak the same language and cannot explain why you do not want to eat.
• An imposter has infiltrated the organization, who looks, speaks, and behaves exactly like you. How do you convince your peers that you are the original?

For similar dilemmas, check out this list of Would You Rather? questions.

16. Desert Island Survival

Desert Island Survival is a game that challenges players to prioritize. The premise is that players have been stranded on an island, and must decide what order to perform survival steps.

Here are the possible actions:

• Set up shelter
• Explore the island
• Try to signal for help
• Make weapons for self-defense
• Build a raft to escape the island
• Start a fire
• Choose a group leader
• Search for other survivors

All group members must agree on the order of the steps. Players should explain the reasoning for the order of each step while ranking the actions.

Another version of the game involves players receiving a list of 15 to 20 items, and selecting five or so to bring to the island. You can also vary the location of the game, substituting remote islands for destinations like outer space or the distant past.

17. Choose Your Own Adventure

Choose Your Own Adventure stories enable readers to determine the outcome of the story by making decisions. Each action has a consequence that takes the tale in a different direction. Participants can try to guess how the story may unfold by talking through the different choices. When completing the activity in a group setting, the majority of the team must agree on an action before moving forward in the story.

There are a few ways to facilitate these activities online:

• Play an online role playing video game
• Watch an interactive movie like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
• Read from a Choose Your Own Adventure book on Zoom
• Click through a Choose Your Own Adventure platform
• Create your own story using a Google Form

Whichever way you choose to do the exercise, you can use the screen share feature in your virtual meeting software so that listeners can more easily follow along.

18. MacGyver

MacGyver is a show where the hero escapes sticky situations by improvising tools out of unlikely materials. For example, in one episode the hero makes a telescope out of a newspaper, magnifying lens, and a watch crystal.

To play MacGyver, you can either list three to five objects participants can use, or challenge players to use items that are within arms reach.

Simply state a desired end result, such as “a way to open a locked door,” or “a getaway vehicle,” and then ask teams to explain what they will build and how they will build it. To make the activity more collaborative, you can give teams five or ten minutes in breakout rooms to strategize and design a prototype.

19. Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a roleplaying game where players pretend to be magical figures and creatures. One player serves as the dungeon master, who guides the game, while the other players pick characters and make decisions to move the story forward. Upon choosing a course of action, players roll a twenty-sided die to determine whether or not the plan succeeds. The game is story-based, the possibilities are nearly limitless, and truly creative problem solving options arise. Also, since gameplay is mostly verbal, Dungeons & Dragons is an easy activity to do over Zoom.

Here are the basic rules for Dungeons & Dragons .

20. Pandemic

Pandemic is a game that pits players against the forces of nature in a race to contain and control disease outbreaks. At the beginning of the game, each player receives a role such as containment specialist or operations expert. Participants must carry out the duties of their roles by choosing appropriate actions. Pandemic is a great game for groups because each team member has a clear part to play, and players must collaborate and work together instead of competing against each other.

To play the game online, you can use a Pandemic game app , or talk through the exercise while one attendee moves and displays pieces on the board.

Note: The subject of this game might hit too close to home for some players, considering recent history. You can find games with similar mechanics that deal with different subject matter, such as Forbidden Island.

Check out more team building board games .

21. Model UN

Model UN is one of the best virtual problem solving activities for students. This exercise casts participants in the role of international diplomats who must negotiate to solve realistic problems. Each player assumes the role of a country ambassador and must form alliances and propose solutions to solve crises.

Here are some sample Model UN scenarios:

• Human rights violation by powerful country
• Food shortage
• Disease epidemic
• Technology privacy violations
• Civil war branching into surrounding countries
• Natural disasters

Depending on the size of the group, participants either take on the part of an entire government of a country, or play a certain role within the government. To carry out the activity on Zoom, players can take turns giving speeches, message other countries privately via the chat, meet in breakout rooms to form alliances or have more intimate discussions, and use the polling feature to vote on propositions.

If politics does not resonate with your group, then you can alter the exercise by applying the same activity structure to a different theme, such as the Justice League, movie characters, business board members, or reality TV stars.

The main purpose of the exercise is to research, talk through problems, and compromise. As long as these elements are present, then the specifics of the setup do not matter.

There are many types of problem solving activities for adults. You can do online problem solving games, which require a different skill set than in-person problem solving. For instance, communication must be much clearer and more abundant when group members are far apart and unable to demonstrate or pick up physical cues.

Though many problem solving games include props and in-person elements, there are many games you can play together online. These exercises work well as educational tools as well as team bonding accelerators. Upon completion, participants are likely to feel a sense of accomplishment and increased confidence. These games are also great practice for real life conflict resolution, creative thinking and team building.

Next check out this list of connection games , this collection of crime-solving games , and this post with conflict resolution games .

We also have a list of the best decision making books and a list of team building problems for work .

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FAQ: Problem solving activities

Here are common answers to questions about group problem solving activities.

What are problem solving games?

Problem solving games are challenges that ask players to think critically and use logic to overcome issues or answer riddles. Examples include sudoku, murder mysteries, and spaghetti towers. These games are also known as “problem solving exercises”, “problem and solution games” and “group problem solving activities.”

What are the best problem solving games for groups?

The best problem solving games for groups include online escape rooms, moral challenges, and improv games.

What are some good problem solving team building activities for students?

Some good problem solving activities for students include crossword puzzles, choose your own adventure stories, and model UN.

How do you play problem solving games online?

The best way to play problem solving games online is to join a video call meeting to talk through the issue. Using the screen sharing and digital whiteboard features helps participants visualize the problem more clearly. Breakout rooms give teams the chance to discuss the issue more intimately.

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com.

Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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10 Engaging Online Games To Test Your Critical Thinking Skills

Last Updated on October 4, 2023 by Editorial Team

To define it in very simple terms, critical thinking refers to the overall analysis of all the facts and figures you have at your disposal and using them in an organized way to make a judgment or a decision.  There are a lot of interactive ways that can help develop your critical thinking abilities. However, what better way to do it than playing games and having fun? 

Conventional learning methods mainly demand a longer attention span which is at times difficult for young individuals. In such cases, using online games to ace the skill can be a wise choice. This post includes a list of ten online critical thinking games to develop critical thinking skills while keeping you focused and occupied in learning new things.  

Online games to improve your critical thinking ability

Various game developers have launched games that require the player to use their deep critical thinking skills in order to play and win. From matching numbers to presenting the player with real-life situations, these online critical thinking games come in myriad forms. 

1. Spent 

The first game on the list is Spent, based on the concept of budgeting and the various challenges one has to face in day-to-day life. While playing the game, the player will face multiple difficult scenarios and has to make crucial decisions that will directly impact their income (in the game). The kind of problems and challenges that you will face while playing the game include:

• Issues related to your health concern
• Getting correctly educated
• Trying your best to provide the basic amenities for the members of your family

This game will get one’s mind racing as it requires making quick and critical decisions that will have an impact on the growth of the decision-making process. This game plays with planning, summarizing, decision-making, and information-synthesizing skills. In addition, they get to learn about poverty, unemployment, the Affordable Care Act, etc.  

2. Air Traffic Controller Game 

As the name might suggest, the air traffic controller is an online simulation game that lets a player direct and guide various aircraft on the ground, on runways, and via the medium of controlled airspace. The main purposes of the game are to manage a popular airport, ensure there are no delays in the landing or the take-off process, and see to it that there are no collisions. 

In short, the player is responsible for maintaining the air traffic of that particular airport. In addition, the game also offers three levels of difficulty. At level one or Gate 1, the player needs to manage one airstrip where the difficulty level is very low. Once they are comfortable with the first one, they can move on to the second and third levels to stimulate their critical thinking skills. 

3. Sudoku 

Sudoku is a familiar and common game. The game is based on the concepts of basic logical thinking and a combinational number placement puzzle where a player needs to fill a 9×9 grid with digits ranging from 1 to 9. But the catch is that they need to fill in the blanks so that all of the columns, rows, and nine 3×3 subblocks present within the 9×9 grid contain all the digits, as mentioned earlier. 

For example, if a player places ‘1’ in the first block of the first row, they cannot put it anywhere in that row and column again. They must use numbers 2-9 to complete that specific row and column. The game (or puzzle) requires one to stimulate their brain in a manner that involves their critical thinking skills and enables them to think logically while taking aid from numerical skills. 

4. Good Game Empire

Similar to various other RPG and strategy games you will find online, Good Game Empire is based on an MMO strategy style, and the setting of the game is in Medieval times. The central theme of this game is that you need to build a thriving empire worldwide.

But, you will start the game with only a castle to your name, and you have to develop and make your empire strategically and fight opposing nations. This game pushes you to think critically and expand your strategic ideals to the best extent to make your empire spread throughout the world. The game will also offer you various choices from which you would need to select the option that works the best for you. 

5. Chess 

Chess is one of the board games played across the globe that requires analytical skills . There are always two players in this game, and the primary objective of the game is to capture the opponent’s king. However, it is not as simple as it sounds. White and black checkered board (64 squares) with different pieces (each piece symbolizes different positions like King, Rook, Bishop, Queen, Pawn, and Knight) arranged on it in specific positions- this is what a player gets on the screen while they choose to play chess. They can move one piece at a time, and each piece has a set pattern of movements that they must follow. 

The same applies to the opponent too. Using specially designed and designated moves, the players are supposed to check their opponents (also known as Checkmate) and capture their king to win the game. It needs the players to practice critical thinking, for one cannot randomly move pieces and win the game. Well-calculated moves and timely yet quick decisions are what they need. Thus, chess highly stimulates the players’ brains, allowing them to think critically.  

6. Minecraft 

The objective of the game is to freely explore the Minecraft world, explore infinite possibilities, and create new setups. Starting from building a block to making an entire city as they see fit, one can do it all in this game. This game allows you to freely exercise your imaginative and creative side of the brain. 

The game is an ideal option for students to practice math concepts and give them the experience of how those concepts are used in our day-to-day lives. Players critically analyze situations and draw conclusions all the while building and planning the entire city. The game not only offers the experience of endless fun but also helps individuals to use and practice their critical thinking abilities.

7. Brainstorm 

Critical thinking is all about making decisions based on analytical observation and this game allows individuals to brainstorm and find answers to challenging questions. In this game, the players need to answer questions that come on the screen by choosing the correct answer from the given options. The game starts from a basic level named “Newborn.” Answering all questions enables the player to move to the next level. For example, this Newborn level has 18 questions. 

A maximum of four players can join and compete with each other to complete small tasks and objectives ahead of every other player. The players would need to push their brains to their limits which means that this game will stimulate their brains and let them exercise critical thinking skills. In addition, this will allow them to improve their decision-making process. 

8. 2048 game

2048 is a sliding puzzle video game where the primary objective is to slide the numbered tiles within the puzzle setting until the players have combined them to form a tile with the number 2048.  Even though it sounds easy, the game requires one to think before moving a single tile as it could determine the outcome. One needs to actively think of the moves ahead of making to ensure a proper flow of movements. This game is ideal for stimulating one’s brain and keeping it on its toes. 

9. Unolingo 

Unolingo is an online crossword puzzle game where you need to fill in a 10×10 puzzle box. The player needs to fill the boxes by placing the words and letters precisely and completing the puzzle. Unlike a regular crossword puzzle, there are no clues as to which letter the player should put in to make a complete word. 

They can ask for a hint but that will add 30 seconds to the elapsed time. Clicking on the “Solve” tab will show the solved puzzle. This game requires the players to think more critically and stimulate their brains further. It is a fun alternative to regular crossword puzzles and will keep a player occupied for longer as they have to think more critically as to what letter to put and what word to make. 

10. Tangram puzzle 

The Tangram puzzle is a fun game that helps one to exercise their brain. There are seven geometrical shapes in the game. Each level comes with a diagram where the players need to position the shapes such that it matches the diagram. There is a provision to rotate the shapes and place them wherever the player sees fit. 

There will be 25 puzzles to solve with these seven shapes.  The faster the player solves the puzzle, the faster they get access to the next puzzle. It requires creative and critical thinking for they have to recognize which shape will fit which part of the puzzle. Also, how to rotate it to match the puzzle needs deep thinking. It pushes the player to think creatively and use their critical thinking skills.

Critical thinking refers to understanding a piece of information, analyzing it, applying it to practical application, combining the information with other prior knowledge to draw conclusions, etc. Critical thinking is essential in all aspects of life, personal or professional.

These online games can help an individual use them in practical scenarios and draw effective conclusions. The games mentioned above help one to think critically and also to keep their brain active by stimulating it to its limit. These enjoyable games will keep a player occupied for longer, allowing them to explore and learn new things freely.

An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having  just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of  Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’, 

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How to build critical thinking skills for better decision-making

It’s simple in theory, but tougher in practice – here are five tips to get you started.

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Have you heard the riddle about two coins that equal thirty cents, but one of them is not a nickel? What about the one where a surgeon says they can’t operate on their own son?

Those brain teasers tap into your critical thinking skills. But your ability to think critically isn’t just helpful for solving those random puzzles – it plays a big role in your career. 

An impressive 81% of employers say critical thinking carries a lot of weight when they’re evaluating job candidates. It ranks as the top competency companies consider when hiring recent graduates (even ahead of communication ). Plus, once you’re hired, several studies show that critical thinking skills are highly correlated with better job performance.

So what exactly are critical thinking skills? And even more importantly, how do you build and improve them? 

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is the ability to evaluate facts and information, remain objective, and make a sound decision about how to move forward.

Does that sound like how you approach every decision or problem? Not so fast. Critical thinking seems simple in theory but is much tougher in practice, which helps explain why 65% of employers say their organization has a need for more critical thinking. 

In reality, critical thinking doesn’t come naturally to a lot of us. In order to do it well, you need to:

• Remain open-minded and inquisitive, rather than relying on assumptions or jumping to conclusions
• Ask questions and dig deep, rather than accepting information at face value
• Keep your own biases and perceptions in check to stay as objective as possible
• Rely on your emotional intelligence to fill in the blanks and gain a more well-rounded understanding of a situation

So, critical thinking isn’t just being intelligent or analytical. In many ways, it requires you to step outside of yourself, let go of your own preconceived notions, and approach a problem or situation with curiosity and fairness.

It’s a challenge, but it’s well worth it. Critical thinking skills will help you connect ideas, make reasonable decisions, and solve complex problems.

7 critical thinking skills to help you dig deeper

Critical thinking is often labeled as a skill itself (you’ll see it bulleted as a desired trait in a variety of job descriptions). But it’s better to think of critical thinking less as a distinct skill and more as a collection or category of skills. 

To think critically, you’ll need to tap into a bunch of your other soft skills. Here are seven of the most important. 

Open-mindedness

It’s important to kick off the critical thinking process with the idea that anything is possible. The more you’re able to set aside your own suspicions, beliefs, and agenda, the better prepared you are to approach the situation with the level of inquisitiveness you need. 

That means not closing yourself off to any possibilities and allowing yourself the space to pull on every thread – yes, even the ones that seem totally implausible.

As Christopher Dwyer, Ph.D. writes in a piece for Psychology Today , “Even if an idea appears foolish, sometimes its consideration can lead to an intelligent, critically considered conclusion.” He goes on to compare the critical thinking process to brainstorming . Sometimes the “bad” ideas are what lay the foundation for the good ones. 

Open-mindedness is challenging because it requires more effort and mental bandwidth than sticking with your own perceptions. Approaching problems or situations with true impartiality often means:

• Practicing self-regulation : Giving yourself a pause between when you feel something and when you actually react or take action.
• Challenging your own biases: Acknowledging your biases and seeking feedback are two powerful ways to get a broader understanding. 

Critical thinking example

In a team meeting, your boss mentioned that your company newsletter signups have been decreasing and she wants to figure out why.

At first, you feel offended and defensive – it feels like she’s blaming you for the dip in subscribers. You recognize and rationalize that emotion before thinking about potential causes. You have a hunch about what’s happening, but you will explore all possibilities and contributions from your team members.

Observation

Observation is, of course, your ability to notice and process the details all around you (even the subtle or seemingly inconsequential ones). Critical thinking demands that you’re flexible and willing to go beyond surface-level information, and solid observation skills help you do that.

Your observations help you pick up on clues from a variety of sources and experiences, all of which help you draw a final conclusion. After all, sometimes it’s the most minuscule realization that leads you to the strongest conclusion.

Over the next week or so, you keep a close eye on your company’s website and newsletter analytics to see if numbers are in fact declining or if your boss’s concerns were just a fluke. 

Critical thinking hinges on objectivity. And, to be objective, you need to base your judgments on the facts – which you collect through research. You’ll lean on your research skills to gather as much information as possible that’s relevant to your problem or situation. 

Keep in mind that this isn’t just about the quantity of information – quality matters too. You want to find data and details from a variety of trusted sources to drill past the surface and build a deeper understanding of what’s happening. 

You dig into your email and website analytics to identify trends in bounce rates, time on page, conversions, and more. You also review recent newsletters and email promotions to understand what customers have received, look through current customer feedback, and connect with your customer support team to learn what they’re hearing in their conversations with customers.

The critical thinking process is sort of like a treasure hunt – you’ll find some nuggets that are fundamental for your final conclusion and some that might be interesting but aren’t pertinent to the problem at hand.

That’s why you need analytical skills. They’re what help you separate the wheat from the chaff, prioritize information, identify trends or themes, and draw conclusions based on the most relevant and influential facts. 

It’s easy to confuse analytical thinking with critical thinking itself, and it’s true there is a lot of overlap between the two. But analytical thinking is just a piece of critical thinking. It focuses strictly on the facts and data, while critical thinking incorporates other factors like emotions, opinions, and experiences. 

As you analyze your research, you notice that one specific webpage has contributed to a significant decline in newsletter signups. While all of the other sources have stayed fairly steady with regard to conversions, that one has sharply decreased.

You decide to move on from your other hypotheses about newsletter quality and dig deeper into the analytics. 

One of the traps of critical thinking is that it’s easy to feel like you’re never done. There’s always more information you could collect and more rabbit holes you could fall down.

But at some point, you need to accept that you’ve done your due diligence and make a decision about how to move forward. That’s where inference comes in. It’s your ability to look at the evidence and facts available to you and draw an informed conclusion based on those. 

When you’re so focused on staying objective and pursuing all possibilities, inference can feel like the antithesis of critical thinking. But ultimately, it’s your inference skills that allow you to move out of the thinking process and onto the action steps. 

You dig deeper into the analytics for the page that hasn’t been converting and notice that the sharp drop-off happened around the same time you switched email providers.

After looking more into the backend, you realize that the signup form on that page isn’t correctly connected to your newsletter platform. It seems like anybody who has signed up on that page hasn’t been fed to your email list. 

Communication

3 ways to improve your communication skills at work

If and when you identify a solution or answer, you can’t keep it close to the vest. You’ll need to use your communication skills to share your findings with the relevant stakeholders – like your boss, team members, or anybody who needs to be involved in the next steps.

Your analysis skills will come in handy here too, as they’ll help you determine what information other people need to know so you can avoid bogging them down with unnecessary details. 

In your next team meeting, you pull up the analytics and show your team the sharp drop-off as well as the missing connection between that page and your email platform. You ask the web team to reinstall and double-check that connection and you also ask a member of the marketing team to draft an apology email to the subscribers who were missed. 

Problem-solving

Critical thinking and problem-solving are two more terms that are frequently confused. After all, when you think critically, you’re often doing so with the objective of solving a problem.

The best way to understand how problem-solving and critical thinking differ is to think of problem-solving as much more narrow. You’re focused on finding a solution.

In contrast, you can use critical thinking for a variety of use cases beyond solving a problem – like answering questions or identifying opportunities for improvement. Even so, within the critical thinking process, you’ll flex your problem-solving skills when it comes time to take action. 

Once the fix is implemented, you monitor the analytics to see if subscribers continue to increase. If not (or if they increase at a slower rate than you anticipated), you’ll roll out some other tests like changing the CTA language or the placement of the subscribe form on the page.

5 ways to improve your critical thinking skills

Beyond the buzzwords: Why interpersonal skills matter at work

Think critically about critical thinking and you’ll quickly realize that it’s not as instinctive as you’d like it to be. Fortunately, your critical thinking skills are learned competencies and not inherent gifts – and that means you can improve them. Here’s how:

• Practice active listening: Active listening helps you process and understand what other people share. That’s crucial as you aim to be open-minded and inquisitive.
• Ask open-ended questions: If your critical thinking process involves collecting feedback and opinions from others, ask open-ended questions (meaning, questions that can’t be answered with “yes” or “no”). Doing so will give you more valuable information and also prevent your own biases from influencing people’s input.
• Scrutinize your sources: Figuring out what to trust and prioritize is crucial for critical thinking. Boosting your media literacy and asking more questions will help you be more discerning about what to factor in. It’s hard to strike a balance between skepticism and open-mindedness, but approaching information with questions (rather than unquestioning trust) will help you draw better conclusions. 
• Play a game: Remember those riddles we mentioned at the beginning? As trivial as they might seem, games and exercises like those can help you boost your critical thinking skills. There are plenty of critical thinking exercises you can do individually or as a team . 
• Give yourself time: Research shows that rushed decisions are often regrettable ones. That’s likely because critical thinking takes time – you can’t do it under the wire. So, for big decisions or hairy problems, give yourself enough time and breathing room to work through the process. It’s hard enough to think critically without a countdown ticking in your brain. 

Critical thinking really is critical

The ability to think critically is important, but it doesn’t come naturally to most of us. It’s just easier to stick with biases, assumptions, and surface-level information. 

But that route often leads you to rash judgments, shaky conclusions, and disappointing decisions. So here’s a conclusion we can draw without any more noodling: Even if it is more demanding on your mental resources, critical thinking is well worth the effort.

Advice, stories, and expertise about work life today.

4 Games That Can Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills

Games can be more than just fun time-wasters. The right game can also stimulate your brain and teach you problem-solving and logic skills. These types of games, whether they be physical board games, online games, or video games, can allow you to think outside the box and strengthen your mind when it comes to thinking several steps ahead. The following is a list of four puzzle games across different media that, with enough practice, can improve your critical thinking skills and sharpen your mind. If you want to figure out which game is best for you try this personal strengths test .

Mine Sweeper

The classic computer game about numbers and bombs, Minesweeper is a great way to teach yourself to analyze a board and think carefully before making your move. The object of the game is to clear the board of deadly mines by deducing where each mine is placed. By left-clicking a square on the board, you will be given numbers that will indicate how close you can find a nearby mine. Right-click a square where you suspect a mine is hidden to flag it; flag all mines to win the game. The game can be played at varying difficulty levels, and once you have mastered the basics, you will make it your personal goal to clear each round as fast as possible. This game will teach you pattern recognition and reasoning, and the better you get at understanding the patterns, the quicker you will be able to solve deduction-based problems.

Mancala is an ancient two-player board game suspected to date back thousands of years. It is typically played with marbles or stones on a board with twelve pits. As dozens of games with this board exist, there is no single officially-trademarked game of mancala, though the goals of a typical game usually tend to be the same: capture your opponent’s pieces. If you do not have access to an official mancala board, you can make your own board with household items like an empty egg carton and bowls. A commonly-played version of mancala requires each pit in the board be filled with four pieces, in which the players take turns gathering pieces. Mancala is a game about strategy, and is great for teaching players to visualize their techniques and think several steps ahead.

Picross, also known as a nonogram , is a single-player logic-based grid puzzle. The game can be played digitally or on paper, and, similar to sudoku, involves filling in a grid with deduction skills. The player is given an empty grid in which a picture must be uncovered by filling in blank squares as instructed by a series of numbers on the left side and the top side of the panel. You are required to reason which squares can be filled based on the numbers given, and if completed successfully, you will have filled in a picture. This game is another example of a logic puzzle that teaches you to analyze the board and make calculated moves based on what information is given to you. Once you understand the basics of how the game works, you will find it difficult to stop playing until you have completed a board, as the puzzle will test your mental strength and will satisfy you by filling in the blanks.

A widely-known strategy board game, chess is one of the quintessential games about teaching how to strategize and plan moves accordingly. Understanding the rules of the game and the basics of how each piece moves is only the first step, as chess can take years to master. However, you will find very few logic puzzles that will challenge your mind in quite the same way. Take your time to strategize and think, and you will be fully immersed. Whether playing against a partner or just examining the board alone to plan your moves, chess is great at building critical thinking skills.

Of course, these four games are fun. However, you will find that not only are they entertaining, they are also intellectually stimulating and can improve your thinking skills. Enjoy!

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Critical thinking definition

Critical thinking, as described by Oxford Languages, is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement.

Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process, which is why it's often used in education and academics.

Some even may view it as a backbone of modern thought.

However, it's a skill, and skills must be trained and encouraged to be used at its full potential.

People turn up to various approaches in improving their critical thinking, like:

• Developing technical and problem-solving skills
• Engaging in more active listening
• Actively questioning their assumptions and beliefs
• Seeking out more diversity of thought
• Opening up their curiosity in an intellectual way etc.

Is critical thinking useful in writing?

Critical thinking can help in planning your paper and making it more concise, but it's not obvious at first. We carefully pinpointed some the questions you should ask yourself when boosting critical thinking in writing:

• What information should be included?
• Which information resources should the author look to?
• What degree of technical knowledge should the report assume its audience has?
• What is the most effective way to show information?
• How should the report be organized?
• How should it be designed?
• What tone and level of language difficulty should the document have?

Usage of critical thinking comes down not only to the outline of your paper, it also begs the question: How can we use critical thinking solving problems in our writing's topic?

Let's say, you have a Powerpoint on how critical thinking can reduce poverty in the United States. You'll primarily have to define critical thinking for the viewers, as well as use a lot of critical thinking questions and synonyms to get them to be familiar with your methods and start the thinking process behind it.

Are there any services that can help me use more critical thinking?

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We are a team specializing in writing essays and other assignments for college students and all other types of customers who need a helping hand in its making. We cover a great range of topics, offer perfect quality work, always deliver on time and aim to leave our customers completely satisfied with what they ordered.

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• Select the topic and the deadline of your essay.
• Provide us with any details, requirements, statements that should be emphasized or particular parts of the essay writing process you struggle with.
• Leave the email address, where your completed order will be sent to.
• Select your prefered payment type, sit back and relax!

With lots of experience on the market, professionally degreed essay writers , online 24/7 customer support and incredibly low prices, you won't find a service offering a better deal than ours.

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Kazakh Board Game Togyzkumalak Gains Popularity Among Youth

By Aibarshyn Akhmetkali in Culture , Editor’s Picks , Sports on 1 June 2024

ASTANA – The old tradition of board games revives with rising popularity among youth to play togyzkumalak (nine pellets) ahead of the fifth World Nomad Games in the Kazakh capital on Sept. 8 – 14.

Togyzkumalak revives in popularity among youth. Photo credit: Aida Dosbergenova/The Astana Times.

The traditional Kazakh board game togyzkumalak is also known as the “chess of the steppes” or the “algebra of the shepherds.” According to Kazakh legends, the game was invented by shepherds. Its name, which literally translates from Kazakh as “nine dung balls,” reflects the game’s origins, when shepherds would dig small pits in the ground and use dried dung balls to play. Now, togyzkumalak is usually played with pellets made of stone, wood, or metal.

The first official rules of togyzkumalak were codified in 1949 by Kazakh writer Mukhtar Auezov and actor Kalibek Kuanyshbayev. These rules are the basis for tournaments to this day.

Similar games are played in Turkic-speaking nations, such as toguz korgool in Kyrgyzstan, mangala in Türkiye , and mere köçdü in Azerbaijan.

In 2020, togyzkumalak, along with other nations’ alternatives such as toguz korgool and mangala/göçürme, was inscribed in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Intangible Cultural Heritage List through a joint submission of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Türkiye.

Rules explained

Astana city’s senior coach Nurzhan Konarbayev explained the rules to The Astana Times.

Each player has nine sections called ‘otau’, 18 otaus in total. The board also has two larger rows on each player’s side called ‘kazan,’ which means cauldron. Photo credit: The Astana Times

“Togyzkumalak is a Kazakh mathematical and logical game with a 4,000-year history. This game is played between two people. In togyzkumalak, each player has nine sections called ‘otau’, 18 otaus in total. The board also has two larger rows on each player’s side called ‘kazan,’ which means cauldron. The game is played with what we call kumalak [pellet]. The number of kumalaks is 81 on one side and the same number on the opposite side, a total of 162 kumalaks. The first one to collect 82 kumalaks in his cauldron wins the game,” said Konarbayev.

The player who draws the first move is called the beginner. He takes all but one of the pellets out of any hole in his or her row and moves them from left to right, dropping one into each subsequent hole so that the last pellet lands on the side of the rival. 

“He takes every kumalak except for one. Then he places one in each otau in a counter-clockwise direction. If the number of kumalaks in the opponent’s otau is even, he eats them, meaning he collects all the kumalaks into his cauldron. If their number is odd, it will not be ‘eaten.’ For example, now the number is even, so everything falls into the beginner’s cauldron,” Konarbayev shows as two young players engage in the game. 

When discussing the differences between togyzkumalak and chess, Konarbayev said that, unlike chess, togyzkumalak requires a lot of counting.

“Chess players say that togyzkumalak is difficult. We have a lot of calculations, and in chess, even if you don’t count, you can still play. Here, you have to count where each pellet should go. It is necessary to control all this, and count your and your opponent’s pellets,” said Konarbayev.

Benefits for children

According to Dariyash Ramberdiyeva, a togyzkumalak coach among youth, the game offers numerous benefits, particularly in enhancing children’s critical thinking and math skills. It provides an engaging way for children to develop these important cognitive abilities.

The game enhances children’s critical thinking and math skills. Photo credit: Aida Dosbergenova/The Astana Times.

“The best feature of togyzkumalak is that it increases children’s thinking ability and alertness while educating them about Kazakh national traditions. Playing this traditional game instills discipline in children. Therefore, I believe I have chosen the right profession. I am confident that I am making a valuable contribution to the upbringing of young children and fostering their understanding of our national heritage,” said Ramberdiyeva.

Togyzkumalak is becoming increasingly popular among children and young people, with many parents choosing it as a national sport for their kids.

“We have a Togyzkumalak club at our school, where children come voluntarily. We have many participants, and I believe it’s because of the support from the children’s families. Whenever parents hear about our togyzkumalak club, they encourage their children to join. This shows that they value our national heritage, and it’s heartening to see this support,” Ramberdiyeva added.

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