Critical Thinking Activities for Kids

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking skills are one of the most important things we can instill in students, and that is perhaps one of the main reasons we become teachers in the first place. At Educational Innovations, we provide tools to help you challenge and inspire your students so they will develop those skills. Hand them an Energy Tube or Energy Ball and ask them what activates the light and sound show. Place an ice cube on each of the Amazing Ice Melting Blocks at room temperature. One ice cube instantly begins to melt and is totally gone in about 90 seconds while the other ice cube shows no evidence of melting. Can your students tell you why? When the Poly Density Bottle is shaken, blue and white beads mix as expected. However, when allowed to settle, the beads separate, white at the top and blue at the bottom. Then, the two separated colored beads slowly come together in the center of the liquid. Let your students discuss theories behind this phenomenon!
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  • Center of Gravity Kit

    Center of Gravity Kit

    Balance it upon a point or slide it down fishing line.
    $8.95 $8.25
  • Balancing Bird Demo

    Balancing Bird Demo

    Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon (21 reviews)
    Balances on anything - your finger, a pencil, or the edge of your desk.
    $3.50–$28.95
  • Small Balancing Bird Demo

    Small Balancing Bird Demo

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    These small, colorful birds balance on anything.
    $1.50–$14.95
  • Nature Print Paper

    Nature Print Paper

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    Light-sensitive paper that exposes in direct sunlight.
    $7.95–$17.95
  • Ultraviolet Detecting Beads

    Ultraviolet Detecting Beads

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    Watch white beads change to bright colors when taken outside!
    $6.95
  • Polarizing Cellophane Tape

    Polarizing Cellophane Tape

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    This tape exhibits brilliant colors when placed between two polarizing filters.
    $1.95–$8.75
  • Polarizing Filters

    Polarizing Filters

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    These high quality plastic polarizing filters are perfect for all kinds of experimentation.
    $3.75–$129.95
  • Polarizing Filter Demo Kit

    Polarizing Filter Demo Kit

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    Conduct experiments and demonstrations using polarized light.
    $5.95–$15.95
  • Mirascope

    Mirascope

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    Project a real image that you can put your finger through.
    $8.95
  • Case Of The Missing Mascot: A Crime Scenario

    Case Of The Missing Mascot: A Crime Scenario

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    Someone has taken the school mascot! Who took it? A rival school?
    $189.95
  • Case Of The Lost Skull: A Crime Scenario

    Case Of The Lost Skull: A Crime Scenario

    Someone has left an animal skull stuffed with cash outside the school!
    $91.95–$189.95
  • Case Of The Kidnapped Cookies: A Crime Scenario

    Case Of The Kidnapped Cookies: A Crime Scenario

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    Discover who has stolen the disks of warm chewy deliciousness.
    $189.95
  • Oil Spill Kit

    Oil Spill Kit

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    Design and carry out a plan to clean up an oil spill.
    $23.95–$49.95
  • Euler's Disk

    Euler's Disk

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    Observe the hypnotic display of light and continually changing sound.
    $39.95
  • Revolution Top

    Revolution Top

    Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon (9 reviews)
    Take it for a spin!
    $9.95
  • Horizontal Hand Boiler Demonstration

    Horizontal Hand Boiler Demonstration

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    Transfer liquid back and forth using the heat of your hand! Amazing!
    $9.95
  • Drinking Bird

    Drinking Bird

    Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon (32 reviews)
    Great centerpiece for class discussion or laboratory exploration. How does it work?
    $5.95–$64.95
  • Handboiler

    Handboiler

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    Great vapor pressure demonstration!
    $5.95–$59.95
  • Wooden Car Kit

    Wooden Car Kit

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    The potential energy of stretched elastic is converted into kinetic energy of motion.
    $8.95
  • Nitinol Memory Wire by the Foot

    Nitinol Memory Wire by the Foot

    Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon (16 reviews)
    Bend it, drop it into hot water and watch it return to its original shape!
    $5.25–$24.95
  • Nitinol Memory Wire Samples (pk of 10)

    Nitinol Memory Wire Samples (pk of 10)

    Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon (7 reviews)
    Bend the wire, drop it in hot water and watch!
    $6.95
  • Rattlebacks

    Rattlebacks

    Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon Review star icon (7 reviews)
    A half-ellipsoid object carved so that it will spin in only one direction.
    $7.95–$34.95
  • Energy Ball

    Energy Ball

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    All you need to safely introduce your students to electric energy.
    $3.95
  • Choositz Decision Balls

    Choositz Decision Balls

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    One ball bounces high while the other hits the floor and stops immediately.
    $7.95
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Critical Thinking Learning Materials and Activities

As teachers, we want our students to be inquisitive. But what does it mean to "think like a scientist?" A key component is critical thinking. Learning materials that help your students to actively consider information, assess the validity of data, and form their own conclusions are an ideal way to bring critical thinking into your classroom.

Whether your students are trying to figure out why the beads float at different levels in our Poly Density Kit or are wondering which scientific principles are at work with our Atmospheric Mat, these critical thinking learning materials are bound to improve their skills and understanding of scientific phenomena. We agree with the scholar who wrote, "The value of science education might not always be in the facts, but in the thinking." Get your students thinking critically with activities from Educational Innovations!