critical thinking games for kids

15 Fantastic Logic and Critical Thinking Games

Games are wonderful additions to any homeschool. In fact, we typically play at least one game a day – sometimes even gameschooling for an entire day!

Not only do games bring joy and lightheartedness to the school day, they can help teach new concepts and practice old ones.

One of the most important reasons I include games in our homeschool frequently is because they are amazing for building logic and critical thinking skills!

This post includes affiliate links.

If you’ve read any of my blog posts about brain training , you’ll know that I place a lot of value on building logical thinking skills in kids. Luckily, games are one of the best ways to do that – and they don’t even require much effort on our part!

While almost every game has logic and critical thinking value, some games are made specifically to give those skills a workout. I’ve included 15 of my favorites here for you!

Logic and Critical Thinking Games

Invasion of the Cow Snatchers – A creative, single player game that uses magnetic playing pieces as you maneuver a flying saucer around obstacles on a farm to beam up all the cattle.

Domino Maze – In this hands-on, single player game, you create fun domino mazes with a critical thinking twist as you set out to build based on challenge cards.

Thinking Putty Puzzle – This is another hands-on, single player game that “stretches” your thinking skills as you complete mazes with Thinking Putty.

Qwirkle – A family favorite, this game is kind of like Scrabble with shapes & colors. Your goal is to rack up as many points as possible as you work to complete symbol combinations.

Battleship – Coordinate graphing and logical thinking are required to sink all your opponent’s ships in this classic game for two players.

Mastermind – Another classic game for two players, Mastermind is truly a top pick for practicing logical thinking skills as you deduce a hidden code.

ZooLogic – This is such a cute single player game. You must figure out how to organize dogs, cats, and mice on puzzle cards so that no fights ensue between the animals.

Guess Who? – This is the perfect game to teach beginning critical thinking skills as you ask pertinent questions to figure out your opponent’s mystery character.

SET – Get ready to work logic skills faster than your opponents as everyone races to put together the next combination of cards based on shape, color, shading, and number.

Clue – A good, old-fashioned game of Clue is perfect for sharpening logic and critical thinking skills since the goal is to use deductive reasoning to solve the mystery before anyone else.

Cat Crimes – In this hands-on, single player logic puzzle, you place cat characters on the board based on clues you are given in order to determine which one is to blame for an oopsie that has occurred.

Codenames – While this game can be played with as few as four people, it’s great for a crowd, too. Spymasters use word clues to help their teams logically consider which cards on the table will locate friendly spy agents instead of foes.

Rover Control – This creative, single player coding game teaches basic programming skills through critical thinking puzzles in which a rover must go through various start to finish challenges.

Rush Hour – A classic, single player game, Rush Hour utilizes logical thinking as you work to get an ice cream truck out of a rush hour traffic jam.

Rook – This four player card game is another family favorite that is won by logic and critical thinking between teammates (as well as a little luck.)

Gameschooling

There are so many wonderful games available these days! I’ve written about favorites for other subjects plenty of times. Feel free to click on any of the images below to see a different list of games.

P.S. Games make great gifts for any holiday or birthday. They also make great family gifts or for people who are hospital or homebound. Games are one the most frequent things we give when a gift is in order!

One Comment

I loved this list! It’s great to see so many fun options for encouraging logical thinking in kids. I can’t wait to try out a few of these games with my family!

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Parent Resources for Learning > Critical Thinking > Critical Thinking Activities for Kids: 5 Quick & Fun Challenges

Critical Thinking Activities for Kids: 5 Quick & Fun Challenges

by Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos | Aug 11, 2023 | Critical Thinking

Here’s a riddle: I’m something preschoolers, kindergarteners, and elementary students can do. I help kids develop self-control, working memory, flexible thinking, and other essential skills. I’m also really, really fun and don’t take long. What am I?

The answer is critical thinking activities for kids! You probably guessed that based on the title of this page. But kids aren’t born with that ability (try reading the riddle to a 4-year-old and see what happens!). They have to practice to develop it.

Luckily, there are a lot of fun ways to help them, and they don’t take long. Thinking about trying a few critical thinking activities with your kids? We’re here to help.

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)
• Strong critical thinking abilities have been linked to better grades, higher workplace performance, and less credit card debt
• Good critical thinking activities often involve following rules, breaking tasks into sequences, asking questions, and understanding multiple perspectives
• Games are a GREAT way to develop critical thinking with kids!

Why Is Critical Thinking Important?

Critical thinking is the ability to make decisions and analyze information. For kids, it includes:

• Recalling short sequences of information and simple instructions
• Ignoring distractions to focus on a task
• Thinking computationally and coding
• Grasping the differences between sources of information
• Reasoning using logic
• Making connections between things

Kids need critical thinking because it helps them understand the world and make good choices, especially as they get older.

At age 2, they can get by following simple rules like “sit in your chair at the dinner table.” But by age 5 or 6, they’ll be solving problems, following complex rules in kindergarten and elementary school, and making decisions based on varying and sometimes conflicting information. (“My friend told me it’s OK to use these scissors. My teacher told us we should always ask her first unless she gives them to us. At home I can use scissors without asking because I’m always careful with them. I’m at school. What do I do?”)

Critical thinking only becomes more important from there. It’s one of the most highly valued skills in the workplace, and people with strong critical thinking skills tend to experience fewer negative life events in adulthood.

In short, it matters a lot!

5 Quick, Easy Critical Thinking Activities for Kids

Teaching critical thinking to kids is a blast, and it doesn’t take long. Here are five of our favorite activities to help kids get better at it.

1. Simon Says

This classic childhood game is great for developing critical thinking for kids from preschool through elementary school. We love it because you can break it out almost anywhere, anytime—all you need is a little space!

What You Need

• Enough space for kids to move around and follow your directions
• Explain to the kids that you’ll be giving them directions by saying, “Simon says…” and that the goal of the game is to remember the directions, do them in the right order, and not do them if you don’t say “Simon says…” first
• Give the kids a simple direction, like “Simon says, ‘Stick out your tongue’”
• As the game progresses, add longer and more complicated strings of directions, like “Simon says, ‘Stick out your tongue, then stand on one foot, then clap your hands one time’”
• Help the kids work on paying attention by mixing in some directions without “Simon Says,” like “Jump up and down!” and seeing if they remember the rules!

This game uses working memory (to remember the instructions) and self-control (not to jump if you didn’t say “Simon Says!”), among other skills.

2. Robot Commander

If you have a little more time to prepare, you can try this more imaginative version of Simon Says from codeSpark , our award-winning app that develops critical thinking for kids ages 5–9 through fun, coding-based games. Your kids will have a blast while learning some of the building blocks of computational thinking!

• This printable
• Space for kids to move around and follow commands
• 3 or more players
• Print out the Robot Commander printable
• Designate one player as the Commander and the others as Robots
• Show the Commander and Robots the actions on the printable and explain what they mean
• Have the Commander draw out a short sequence of actions, then the Robots act them out
• Add new commands using the blank shapes on the printable
• Have the commander “program” longer and longer sequences, then switch roles so everyone gets a chance to try!

For even more fun, have the “robots” dress up in costumes!

3. Grid Game

The grid game has a simple goal: Follow instructions to get through a grid and reach a goal. It gives kids a chance to work on sequencing (breaking a task into a sequence of shorter actions, then following it), working memory, ignoring the impulse to rush straight for the goal, and following rules—all while moving their bodies and having fun! 

• Large space on the floor, sidewalk, or ground
• Masking tape, chalk, or string to make a grid
• Item to place in the grid as a goal
• Use the tape, chalk, or string to create a 4×4, 5×5, or 6×6 grid in your play space—the larger the grid, the more difficult the game becomes
• Place the goal item somewhere in the grid
• Have your child stand in the lower-left grid space, then follow your directions to reach the goal item. To cross a small grid, your instructions might sound like this: “Take one step forward. Take two steps to your right. Take one step forward.”
• When they reach the goal, celebrate!

To stretch the game out even more, switch roles and ask your kid to come up with a set of directions for you to follow! It may not seem like it, but this kind of sequencing is a basic computational thinking skill that will one day help them learn to code!

4. Mail Delivery

Critical thinking isn’t just about following directions—it can also be imaginative and fun! This activity develops working memory while stretching kids’ Creativity (another of the 5 C’s) through pretend play.

• Handwritten letters or notes to make pretend mail (you can use ones you have on hand, write some out, or just use blank paper)
• 5–10 toy “friends” (dolls, action figures, stuffed animals, etc.)
• Bag, basket, or toy vehicle for putting letters in (optional)
• Ask your child to gather their “friends” and place them around the room in different “homes”
• Assign each of the letters to a “friend”
• Have your child deliver the “mail” (using the bag, basket, or toy vehicle if you have one)

More Ways to Play

This activity is fun all on its own (we’ve seen some kids play it for hours), but there are lots of ways to stretch it to include more critical thinking abilities and Core Skills (another of the 5 C’s) like counting, reading, and writing. You can try:

• Numbering the “friends” and delivering their mail in numerical order
• Delivering the mail in order from largest “friend” to smallest
• Asking older kids to draw a map of the pretend neighborhood with addresses and street names, then put each letter in an envelope, address it, and deliver it to the right house
• Placing the “friends” all over the house and timing how long deliveries take, then experimenting to see what the fastest route is!

5. Make a Story Box

This is another great activity for blending Creativity (storytelling), Critical Thinking (sequencing and working memory), and Core Skills (story structure). It can be so satisfying to watch a kid’s imagination take flight!

• A box, bowl, or basket
• 5–6 child-safe toys or household items
• Place 5–6 items in the box
• Invite your child to make up a story using all of the items in the box

Tip: Kids ages 5 and under can make up the story as they go (“Umm…then the monkey jumps on the dump truck and drives it!”), but starting at age 6 you can challenge them to plan out their whole story before they start to tell it.

• Invite kids to collaborate on the story by taking turns planning what happens next
• Use familiar dolls, toys, or stuffed animals to provide characters for the story
• For a twist, let the kids pick some favorite toys, then surprise them by including things they don’t usually play with, like a bandage, toothbrush, or hat
• Ask the kids if you can have a turn—they’ll learn a lot from seeing how you construct a story!

More Critical Thinking Activities from Begin

Because critical thinking is such an essential skill set, at Begin we build it into many of our award-winning, play-based learning products. It might look like sequencing-based coding games in codeSpark , memory activities in HOMER , or 1-on-1 support through KidPass Tutors , but no matter where you find it, it’ll help your kids learn while having a blast.

To see how our products come together to give your child their best start to achieving their fullest potential, check out our Early Learner Bundle !

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

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Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos

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Games That Help Kids Think Critically

When gamers pick up a controller, they're frequently placed in the role of the hero or the protagonist that always wins. But that doesn't always challenge them to think critically or examine all sides of a situation rationally. In fact, what can help some incredible games and apps stand out from other titles is that they don't simply ask kids for RIGHT or WRONG answers. Instead, they encourage them to experiment and consider the shades of gray in problems. Players interested in testing their emotional responses may want to check out our list of the Best Empathy Games, Apps, and Websites as well.

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The Last Campfire

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Mass transit simulator is simple, marvelous, hard to master.

Mystery Math Town

Great math practice with fun story, entertaining characters.

Savings Spree

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Co-op puzzler is violence-free and promotes teamwork.

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Office-themed puzzler rewards creative and logical thinking.

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Maggie's Earth Adventures

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Fun co-op sim is appropriate for all ages, skill levels.

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The Path of Motus

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Untitled Goose Game

Don't let your goose get cooked in feathered fun puzzler.

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Games for Building Critical-Thinking Skills

Students love opportunities to sink their teeth into problems that don't have clear answers, or to tackle tough challenges that test their deduction skills and knowledge. It's often out of this challenging murkiness that new perspectives and ideas emerge. Treat your students to these terrific, fun critical thinking games and watch how they develop thinking skills and more complex understandings of the world. On this list are puzzle games that help students solve problems and think ahead, story-based games that help students understand and unpack local and global issues, and strategy games that get students to manage time and resources.

Minecraft: Education Edition

Stellar collaboration tools, controls make Minecraft classroom-ready

Bottom Line : An excellent tool to engage students in learning, collaboration, and critical thinking is now more accessible than ever to teachers.

Kahoot! DragonBox Learn Chess

Gentle chess puzzle game ideal for young newbies

Bottom Line : For kids who are new to chess but want to learn how to play, this fun intro to the game provides a well-done tutorial combined with a light overarching storyline.

Crayon Physics Deluxe

Influential physics game is still a draw

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Contraption Maker

Solve problems, puzzles, brain teasers while creating wacky machines

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Classic logic puzzler gets a beautiful new look

Bottom Line : Promote powerful thinking skills, resilience, and decision-making through purely fun gameplay that will keep students begging for more.

Spiraling sandbox of adventure and creation gets kids to dig deep

Bottom Line : An irresistible and seemingly limitless incubator for 21st century skills that, with a little guidance, can chart new courses for learning.

WordWhile: Casual Literary Fun

Clever fill-in-the-blank game playfully promotes literature

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Little Alchemy 2

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Addicting gameplay jazzes up geography

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Slick ethics game teaches students to make tough decisions

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Scribblenauts Remix

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Tyto Online

Ambitious science role-playing game has bright future

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Beats Empire

Music producing game balances fun with critical thinking and planning

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Refinement of strategy game formula supports historical exploration

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An avant-garde journey of group dynamics sparks discussion

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Provocative, first-person look at poverty builds empathy

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Dynamic interactive helps classrooms explore topics of bias, diversity

Bottom Line : A fascinating way to address how communities become segregated due to individual bias.

The Republia Times

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Bottom Line : What this game lacks in pizzazz it makes up for in smarts, and it's certain to get students thinking and talking about bias and media politics.

This War of Mine

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14 Best Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

Problem-solving is a vital skill for children, enabling them to confidently tackle life's challenges. It enhances their academic performance while fostering adaptability and resilience.

In this blog, we'll share the best problem-solving activities for kids to help you teach them effective problem-solving skills. Let's get started!

Easy & Fun Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

Easy problem-solving activities for kids can be a great way to make learning enjoyable and boost their confidence. Here are some of the most enjoyable critical thinking and problem-solving activities for kids.

1. MentalUP Learning Games

This is the ultimate app, offering hundreds of problem-solving activities for pre-K kids, middle and high school kids, and even adults! MentalUP provides its users with an engaging learning environment where they can test and expand their core cognitive skills.

Scientifically designed by academicians, educators, and game developers, the app offers daily personalized brain training and exercise plans for individuals. These plans are filled with effective games, activities, and exercises tailored to their developmental needs.

Moreover, it comes with rich and detailed performance tracking features and modules, enabling users to access comprehensive information about their progress or their children's learning journey.

Take your child's critical thinking and problem-solving skills to the next level with MentalUP ! 👏

Packed with hundreds of problem-solving games for kids of all ages , MentalUP provides the ideal support for your child to enhance their concentration , visual intelligence , memory , critical thinking , and more, all while having fun. 🚀

Start using the app today and join over 10 million users who trust MentalUP for academic success and personal development ! 👪

2. Jigsaw Puzzles

Suitable for kids of all ages, Jigsaw Puzzles are one of the most functional problem-solving activities for kids. It can also enhance spatial reasoning, visual perception, memory , and concentration skills.

Jigsaw puzzles can be completed individually or in groups, and they are available in various levels of difficulty. When selecting a puzzle , be sure to choose the appropriate size and number of pieces based on your child’s age and ability.

3. Treasure Map

This is one of the best problem-solving activities for kids in groups. It can foster kids' creativity, imagination, collaboration, and navigation skills. Treasure maps can be done indoors or outdoors, and they can involve clues, riddles, or challenges.

To create a treasure map, create a map of your location and then hide a treasure somewhere. Next, provide your kids with the map along with some hints to help them locate the treasure. For added excitement, consider introducing obstacles or surprises along the way.

4. Tic-Tac-Toe

Tic-Tac-Toe is one of the best puzzle problem-solving activities for kids. It helps children improve their problem-solving skills by developing logic, strategy, and foresight. It also teaches them about patterns, symmetry, and geometry .

You'll need a 3x3 grid and two players, one using X and the other O. Take turns placing your mark in an empty square on the grid. The goal is to get three of your marks in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The first player to do so wins.

I Spy is a popular problem-solving activity that enhances observation, communication, vocabulary, and deduction skills, making it one of the best interactive problem-solving activities for kids.

To play I Spy, you need to choose an object that you can see and say, “I spy with my little eye something that…” followed by a clue about the object’s color, shape, size etc. Then you must let your child guess the object by asking yes or no questions. You can use this alternative as one of the best rainy day activities for kids .

Favorite Interactive Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

Interactive problem-solving activities for kids can enhance teamwork and communication skills, preparing children for success in both academic and real-life scenarios. Here are some of the best interactive and quick team-building activities for kids' problem-solving.

6. Monopoly Junior

If you're searching for board games that can be transformed into one of the most fun maths problem-solving activities for kids, you should check Monopoly Junior. It's a simplified version of the Monopoly, specifically designed for young children.

This fun board game can improve problem-solving skills by teaching participants how to manage money, make decisions, and plan ahead. It can also develop mathematical, economic, critical thinking, and social skills.

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7. Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt can enhance problem-solving skills by encouraging participants to think creatively, logically, and strategically. It can be an excellent choice if you're searching for problem-solving outdoor activities for kids.

Suitable for kids of all ages, the game requires players to find or collect specific items or complete certain tasks from a list, typically within a specified time limit. You can enjoy playing it with your kids during trips or in your garden.

8. Human Knot

If you're searching for problem-solving games or activities for middle school kids, be sure to explore this game. It not only promotes problem-solving but also encourages communication, cooperation, leadership, and trust among the players.

Human Knot is a team-building activity that requires the participants to form a circle, grab two opposite hands of other participants, and then untangle themselves without letting go of the hands. It can be played with 5 to 12 players.

9. Obstacle Courses

Participating in an obstacle course isn't just an excellent exercise for kids; it's also one of the best real-world problem-solving activities for kids. It can enhance their physical fitness , coordination , confidence, and resilience.

An obstacle course is a series of physical challenges that kids must overcome, typically within a timed context. You can customize it to your liking by incorporating obstacles that involve running, climbing, crawling, or balancing. Additionally, it is suitable for children of all ages.

10. Hedbanz

Hedbanz is a guessing game in which players wear a card on their headband displaying an animal, food, or object. Players must ask yes or no questions to determine what they are before the timer runs out. It is suitable for kids aged 7 and up and can be played with 2 to 6 players.

As one of the most entertaining problem-solving social skills activities for kids, this game improves problem-solving skills by stimulating participants' critical thinking, memory, and deduction abilities. It can also enhance vocabulary, language, and communication skills.

Top Creative Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

As we have assessed the most enjoyable and interactive problem-solving activities for kids, let's delve into activities that will encourage children to think outside the box and develop their imagination.

11. Move an Object

Moving an object is one of the most creative problem-solving activities for kids, capable of enhancing their creativity, flexibility, and motor skills. It is suitable for children aged 5 and up and can be played individually or in groups.

All you need to do is to ask your child to move the object from one place to another but with some restrictions on how to move it. For example, you might say, “You can only use your left hand”, or “You have to move it without touching it”.

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12. The Alphabet Game

This is one of the best cooperative problem-solving activities for kids that improve their problem-solving skills by stimulating their vocabulary, memory, and creativity . It also enhances their spelling and writing skills.

To play this game, you will need a piece of paper, a pencil, and a timer. First, choose a category and write it down. Then, set the timer for one minute and try to write down as many words as you can that belong to that category and start with each letter of the alphabet.

13. Balloon Rocket Experiment

This is one of the most entertaining real-life problem-solving activities for kids that helps them improve their problem-solving skills by introducing the basic principles of physics and engineering. It also sparks their curiosity and interest in science.

For this experiment, you'll need a balloon, a straw, string, tape, and two objects of the same height. Tie the string between the objects, thread it through the straw, and tape the balloon to the straw's middle. Inflate the balloon, release it, and watch it fly like a rocket!

14. Building Towers

This is one of the most fun problem-solving activities for kids aged 3 and up. Building towers can also enhance fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination , planning, and engineering skills.

You can use any stackable materials like building blocks or LEGO bricks and challenge your child to build the tallest or most stable tower possible. Enhance the activity by adding constraints or variations to make it more challenging and fun.

How to Teach Kids Problem-Solving Skills: 5 Effective Strategies

From team problem-solving activities for kids to creative ones, we have explored a variety of activities for enhancing children's thinking and problem-solving skills. However, there are still a variety of ways to teach children about problem-solving.

Here are five effective ways to keep your children's minds active and help them use their problem-solving skills effectively.

1. Encourage Critical Thinking

Critical thinking helps children develop the ability to assess situations, consider various options, and make informed choices. To encourage this skill, pose open-ended questions that require them to think deeply and provide opportunities for them to solve problems with minimal guidance.

2. Educational Games

Using educational games from the best problem solving apps is a fun and effective way to teach problem-solving skills. These games present challenges that require players to use their problem-solving abilities, fostering critical thinking, logic, and decision-making in a relaxed, interactive environment.

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3. Promote Creativity and Innovation

Creativity and innovation are vital for problem-solving. Encourage children to think outside the box, come up with new ideas, and explore unconventional solutions to problems. Provide them with opportunities to engage in creative activities like art, writing, or building projects.

4. Model Problem Solving

Children often learn by observing and imitating adults. To teach problem-solving skills effectively, demonstrate how to approach and solve problems in various situations. Share your thought process, talk about your decision-making, and show them how to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable steps.

5. Teach the Problem-Solving Process

Problem-solving is a systematic process. Teach children the steps involved in problem-solving, such as identifying the problem, brainstorming solutions, evaluating those solutions, selecting the best one, and implementing it.

The Importance of Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are essential abilities that children need to develop from an early age. Here are compelling reasons why nurturing these skills through fun activities is essential:

• Encourages creativity and innovation.
• Enhances decision-making abilities.
• Build resilience in facing challenges.
• Fosters a love for learning.
• Promotes teamwork and collaboration.
• Improves adaptability to new situations.
• Boosts self-confidence and independence.
• Prepares them for real-world problem-solving.
• Develop analytical thinking skills.
• Makes learning enjoyable and engaging.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you still have questions about problem-solving skills in kids, here are the most commonly asked questions about the topic, along with their answers.

What are the 5 problem-solving skills?

The five problem-solving skills include critical thinking, creativity, decision-making, communication, and collaboration.

What are some examples of problem-solving skills in kids?

Examples of problem-solving skills in kids include finding alternative solutions to a conflict with a friend, inventing a new game using available resources, and figuring out how to complete a challenging puzzle.

What is problem-solving learning?

Problem-solving learning is an educational approach that focuses on developing students' abilities to analyze, strategize, and solve complex problems through active and experiential methods.

At what age do children begin problem-solving?

Children typically begin to develop problem-solving skills during early childhood, around the ages of 3 to 4, and continue to refine them throughout their developmental stages.

What are the potential challenges of teaching problem-solving to kids?

Potential challenges of teaching problem-solving to kids may include keeping their engagement and interest, adapting instruction to their developmental stage, and addressing individual learning differences.

What are the most common mistakes children make when solving problems?

Common mistakes children make when solving problems include impulsivity, limited perspective-taking, overlooking details, and struggling with frustration or giving up too quickly.

Whether you support your kids on their learning journey with puzzles or social problem-solving activities for kids, it's best to ensure that the context of the game is tailored to their needs and interests.

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Fun Logic Activities for Kids

Do you use logic games to grow critical thinking in your classroom? Not only are logic games great for expanding thinking and reasoning skills, but they are lots of fun! Adding some logic games and activities to your lessons is the perfect way to up student engagement and challenge your advanced learners. Looking for ways to get started? Come along as we discuss some of my favorite fun logic activities for kids!

Why Use Logic Activities?

What exactly is logic and why do we need to teach it? Teaching logic in the primary classroom is essential for long-term success. Logic prepares students for real life by showing students how to use reasoning and deduction to study a problem objectively and then make a rational conclusion.

Logic is used every day in real-life scenarios and is very important for young students to practice! Making room for logic activities in your classroom will help prepare your students for difficult situations, hard life decisions, and tricky problem-solving in the future. As teachers, we need to make room for logic in our lessons to help best equip our students for what’s to come!

Ways To Use Logic Activities

There are so many great ways to teach logic in the primary grades. I am a big fan of using a variety of activities to maintain high levels of interest in our lessons. Some of the things I like to incorporate when teaching logic and critical thinking in my classroom include:

• Puzzles (like Sudoku, Matrixes & Magic Squares)
• Board Games
• Sequencing Games
• Analogy Activities
• Comparing & Contrasting Activities
• Sorting & Classification Games
• Center Activities

By providing a mix of these activities to your students, you can ensure that engagement will stay high! You want to aim to provide a challenge to your students while still keeping the material on a manageable level. In other words, you want to ignite critical thinking skills but not choose activities that are so difficult that your students can’t solve them. Want a closer look at the activities we use? Here are a few of my all-time faves!

Logic Puzzles

When it comes to teaching logic and critical thinking, I love puzzles! Puzzles are appealing to a variety of ages and are a great way to target critical thinking skills. One of my favorite puzzle types will always be Sudoku. It is easily adaptable for a variety of topics, quick to explain to children, and fun for everyone!

Matrix puzzles and Magic Squares are other fun options that can be used in both print and digital options. Students will work to develop skills in logical thinking, problem solving, making inferences, drawing conclusions, recognizing similarities and differences, and comparing and contrasting. Logic puzzles help to reinforce reading by using picture and context clues as well as math skills including ordinal positions, greater than and less than, time, and size comparisons.

To keep things interesting all year long, I use logic puzzles and activities in my classroom that fit specific themes. We work through each of the themes throughout the year like fall, winter, spring, and summer to continue targeting logic and critical thinking skills. I have found that thematic teaching makes all the difference when it comes to maintaining high levels of student engagement!

If you’d like to try logic puzzles in your classroom, be sure to grab my Free Logic Puzzles Sampler pack which includes 3 matrix logic puzzles, 1 Soduko logic puzzle, and 1 Magic Square logic puzzle. This is a great way to test out logic puzzles in your classroom and see what they are all about!

Logic Board Games

Another great, classroom-friendly option for targeting logic and reasoning skills includes board games. There are so many great board games out there that are perfect for classroom center time, early finisher activities, and fun Friday! Some of my go-to’s include:

Battleship : Battleship is a classic game that all my primary students have LOVED over the years. Battleship promotes critical thinking as children make guesses as to where their opponent’s ships are hiding. Children will use deductive reasoning to make their next move! I like to offer this game as an option for early finishers in my classroom.

Set : Set is a great game for targeting logic and critical thinking skills. This game challenges players to race as they find as many “sets” of cards as they can. The cards feature different shapes, colors, and number groupings to create a challenge. This card is perfect for center time!

Mastermind : Mastermind is a great option for working on deductive reasoning skills in a fun way. To play, one student will take the role of “Codemaker”. The Codemaker sets a secret code, then the Codebreaker tries to match the code using logic and deduction skills. After each move, the Codemaker gives clues to the Codebreaker. The children’s version of this game is great for early elementary students or try the original version if you want to further challenge your kids!

Connect 4 : Everyone loves to play Connect 4! I love this game for the classroom because it’s super simple, and quick to play and the students love it. This is the perfect early finisher game since it doesn’t take too long to play from start to finish.

Any of these games are the perfect addition to your stash of logic activities and great to pull out at a moment’s notice. Whether you make them available for special occasions, like a fun Friday, or use them regularly for fast finishers, these are great quick and easy options to further logic and reasoning skills!

Logic Activities Center

Another great option for integrating logic activities into your daily lessons is to have a year-round logic center in your classroom. You can easily swap out the activities available in this center week to week and help your students target critical thinking skills on a regular basis. In your logic center, you could include a variety of activities like puzzles and board games.

I also like to incorporate center games and logic activities that focus on critical thinking skills like comparing and contrasting.

A great topic for this is common nouns. We use a fun activity that allows students to work on comparing and category sorting for common nouns. This “Which One Doesn’t Belong” activity will not only help students develop their logical thinking skills, but it will also expand vocabulary, making it a win-win for me! I use these task cards and worksheets all year long in the logic activities center.

In addition to board games, puzzles, and classification activities, I like to make sure I rotate some other options like analogy games. Analogies are a fun way to get kids thinking, analyzing, and making comparisons in a new way. As an added benefit, these games also promote vocabulary development! I like to use analogy activities that incorporate a slide show to serve as an introduction and then place some fun task cards in our logic center for students to practice with.

Get Started with Logic Activities

There are so many fun options to try when comes to logic activities! In my opinion, the key is variety! Students like to be challenged with new games, puzzles, and activities so don’t be afraid to switch things up on a regular basis and keep those kids thinking!

All of these logic activities are the perfect addition to your primary classroom. Whether you use them as a whole class activity, in centers, as morning work, or as an early finisher activity – you can’t go wrong adding logic activities to your classroom routine.

And if you’re looking to add some more variety, be sure to check out all the logic activities in my shop. Once you set up your own logic center, these resources are the perfect way to keep your activities fresh and fun for your students! Have fun diving into critical thinking activities with your kiddos!

And. . . don’t forget to grab the Free Puzzle Sampler Pack!

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