Critical Thinking Exercises: Fun Brain Teasers and Logic Mind-Puzzles
A collection of fun mind-logic puzzles and classroom critical thinking exercises for teachers and students! Critical thinking is the purposeful, logical reasoning, and analysis of facts to form a judgment or draw a conclusion. Have fun challenging your critical thinking skills and your students?
"The procedure is actually quite simple. First you arrange items into different groups. Of course one pile may be sufficient depending on how much there is do. If you need to go somewhere else due to a lack of facilities, then this is the next step; otherwise, you are pretty well set. It is important not to overdo things. That is, it is better to do too few things at once than too many. In the short run, this may not seem important but complications can easily arise. A mistake can be expensive as well. At first, the whole procedure will seem complicated. Soon, however, it will become just another facet of life. It is difficult to foresee any end to the necessity for this task in the future, but then, one can never tell. After the procedure is completed, one arranges the materials into different groups again. Then they can be put into their appropriate places. (Source: Bransford, J.D., and Johnson, M.K. (1973). Consideration of some problems in comprehension. In Visual information processing, W.G. Chase (Ed.). New York: Academic Press.)
Here are 10 ciphers, codes, encrypted messages, and riddles to engage in critical thinking exercises:
What is this passage about?
What other facilities would you have to use, if your facilities are not working?
How would the mistake cost you money?
- Good Old-fashioned Challenging Puzzles is a selection of mathematical brain-teasers from his book Amusements in. Mathematics, first published in 1917
- 536 logic puzzles
- Matchstick Puzzles
- Matchstick Problems A) Circle B) Square C) Triangle D) Pentagon ?) Hexagon
- Tricks, Games, and Puzzles with Matches
- The Learning Tree Matchstick Puzzles
"The procedure is actually quite simple. First you arrange items into different groups. Of course one pile may be sufficient depending on how much there is do. If you need to go somewhere else due to a lack of facilities, then this is the next step; otherwise, you are pretty well set. It is important not to overdo things. That is, it is better to do too few things at once than too many. In the short run, this may not seem important but complications can easily arise. A mistake can be expensive as well. At first, the whole procedure will seem complicated. Soon, however, it will become just another facet of life. It is difficult to foresee any end to the necessity for this task in the future, but then, one can never tell. After the procedure is completed, one arranges the materials into different groups again. Then they can be put into their appropriate places. (Source: Bransford, J.D., and Johnson, M.K. (1973). Consideration of some problems in comprehension. In Visual information processing, W.G. Chase (Ed.). New York: Academic Press.)
Here are 10 ciphers, codes, encrypted messages, and riddles to engage in critical thinking exercises:
1. Caesar Cipher:
Encrypt the following message using a Caesar cipher with a shift of 3: "HELLO WORLD."
2. Morse Code:
Decode the following Morse code message: "--. --- --- -.. / - .... . / -.-- --- ..- / .- -. -.. / .. ... / -.-. --- -.. ."
3. Binary Code:
Convert the following binary code into text: "01001000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111 00100000 01010111 01101111 01110010 01101100 01100100 00101110"
4. Cryptogram:
Solve the following cryptogram puzzle: "Gsv jfrxp yildm ulc qfnkh levi gsv ozab wlt."
5. Anagram:
Rearrange the letters in the word "LISTEN" to form a new word.
6. Palindrome:
Find a word that reads the same forwards and backwards.
7. Rebus Puzzle:
Decode the following rebus puzzle: "I M gOOD with NUM8ER5."
8. Sudoku:
Solve the following Sudoku puzzle:
5 3 . | . 7 . | . . .
6 . . | 1 9 5 | . . .
. 9 8 | . . . | . 6 .
------+-------+------
8 . . | . 6 . | . . 3
4 . . | 8 . 3 | . . 1
7 . . | . 2 . | . . 6
------+-------+------
. 6 . | . . . | 2 8 .
. . . | 4 1 9 | . . 5
. . . | . 8 . | . 7 9
9. Logic Puzzle:
Solve the following logic puzzle:
Five friends - Alex, Ben, Claire, David, and Emily - are sitting in a row. Use the following clues to determine their seating order:
- Alex is sitting on one end, and Claire is sitting next to Ben.
- David is sitting next to Emily, who is not sitting on an end.
- Ben is not sitting next to David.
- Claire is sitting to the right of Emily.
10. Visual Puzzle:
Solve the following visual puzzle by identifying the odd one out:
A) Circle
B) Square
C) Triangle
D) Pentagon
E) Hexagon
Enjoy these critical thinking exercises and have fun solving the puzzles!
Certainly! Here are 10 more ciphers, codes, encrypted messages, and riddles for critical thinking exercises:
1. Reverse Cipher:
Decrypt the following message: "dlroW olleH"
2. Pig Latin:
Translate the word "Garden" into Pig Latin.
3. Braille:
Decode the following Braille message: ⠠⠎⠑⠗⠊⠇⠊⠉⠑
4. Cryptogram:
Solve the following cryptogram puzzle: "Wkh qhaw zloo eh wklv vruw?"
5. Palindrome:
Find a sentence that reads the same forwards and backwards.
6. Rebus Puzzle:
Decode the following rebus puzzle: "1 + 1 = ?"
7. Sudoku:
Solve the following Sudoku puzzle:
. . . | 6 . . | 9 . .
. 3 . | . 2 . | . . 8
. . 9 | 4 . . | 7 . .
------+-------+------
. . . | . . . | 4 . .
. . . | 5 . 9 | . . .
. . 8 | . . . | . . .
------+-------+------
7 . 5 | . . . | 3 . .
. . . | . 1 . | . 6 .
. . 3 | . . 6 | . . .
8. Logic Puzzle:
Solve the following logic puzzle:
Five students - Alice, Bob, Claire, David, and Emily - each have a favorite subject: Math, Science, English, History, and Art. Use the following clues to determine their favorite subjects:
- David's favorite subject is Science, and it is not History.
- Alice's favorite subject is Math, and it is not Art.
- Claire's favorite subject is English.
- Bob's favorite subject is not Science.
- Emily's favorite subject is not Math or History.
9. Visual Puzzle:
Solve the following visual puzzle by identifying the missing piece:
A) Circle
B) Square
C) Triangle
D) Pentagon
?) Hexagon
10. Riddle:
I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body but I come alive with wind. What am I?
Enjoy these additional critical thinking exercises and have fun solving the puzzles!
What other facilities would you have to use, if your facilities are not working?
How would the mistake cost you money?
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350 Brain teasing puzzles to improve intelligence and reasoning
[PDF]Critical Thinking Workbook
The activity pages in the Critical Thinking ... Work on some skills using metaphor and choosing words carefully with this fun, challenging exercise. ... Should he: A) Mind his own business B) Report the incident to the school principal C) ... Figure out the word or phrase for each of these rebus puzzles and write it underneath.
[PDF]81 Fresh & Fun Critical-Thinking Activities - The Mathematics Shed
81 Fresh & Fun. Critical-Thinking. Activities. Engaging Activities and Reproducibles to. Develop Kids' .... thinking activities are arranged in a hierarchy, beginning with the skills of ..... mine scape. 3. born. England. Year's Day. 4. work test block. 5. around away off. 6. ..... Because some stellar things are hidden in this puzzle.
[PDF]50 Activities for Developing Critical Thinking Skills - SPERS
Reproduced from 50 Activities for Developing Critical Thinking ...... Do you agree with author James Fixx, who asserts, “In solving puzzles, a self-assured.
[PDF]Developing Critical Thinking Skills in the ABE Classroom - NH Adult Ed
Perhaps the most effective way to develop critical thinking skills is to make them ..... Make a jigsawpuzzle. .... thinking activities and student worksheets in a PDF!
[PDF]Puzzle-Based Learning: An Introduction to Critical Thinking and ...
of courses, including Puzzle Based Learning, ad- ... providing a framework to explore critical thinking, as well as being fun and engaging. In addition to our home ...
[PDF]Edward the Bono - Six thingking hats
What is Parallel Thinking? ▫ Traditional Thinking vs. Parallel Thinking. ▫ What is Lateral Thinking? ▫ Introduction to Six Thinking Hats method. ▫ How to apply ...
[PDF]Edward de Bono's 6 Thinking Hats ®
The notion of six thinking hats comes from Edward De Bono ... The principle behind the 'Six Thinking Hats' is parallel thinking which ensures that all the.
[PDF]SIX THINKING HATS
... Thinking Hats®. The Six Thinking Hats tool is a powerful technique used ... www.odi.org.uk/Rapid/Publications/Documents/KM_toolkit_web.pdf. EC-FAO Food ...
[PDF]Six thinking hats.pdf
Personal Skills & Development » Creativity Skills and Techniques » Creativity Techniques » Six Thinking Hats. Six Thinking Hats. Edward de Bono's Six ...
[PDF]Six Thinking Hats - The Management Centre
Six Thinking Hats (6TH) was developed by internationally respected consultant Edward ... The technique is based on the idea that there are six imaginary hats.
[PDF]Six Thinking Hats - cfpimm
thinking methods. 2. Delivery six thinking hats (SHT) method (theory + practice). 3. Try to use the SHT in real situation. 4. Summarize your experience for the.
[PDF]Six Thinking Hats - Foundations Consulting
Six Thinking Hats. Pink Hat – information available and needed. Red Hat – intuition, feelings and hunches. Yellow Hat – benefits and value. Black Hat ...
Common Core Critical Thinking Reading Passage
Critical thinking is a way of deciding, making an inference, and or drawing conclusions whether a claim is true, partially true, or false. Critical thinking is a process that leads to skills that can be learned, mastered and used. The Common Core emphasizes the development of critical thinking as a tool by which one can come to reasoned conclusions based on a reasoned “Socratic Method” process. This critical thinking process incorporates background knowledge, opinion, fact, passion and creativity, but guides it with discipline, practicality, pragmatics, and common sense. Critical thinking is an important component of many fields such as math, education, politics, business, science and the arts.
Common Core Critical Thinking Question STEMS!
How do we apply, learn or judge values and morals?
Why are personality traits perceived as positive or negative?
How does the author use figurative language to help the reader infer the nature of each sister?
How would you rank the amoral traits of the antagonist?
How would you rank the moral traits of the protagonist?
How are the elements of plot used by the author to teach the reader a moral lesson?
Toads and Diamonds
1, THERE was once upon a time a widow who had two daughters.
The eldest was so much like her in the face and humor that whoever looked upon the daughter saw the mother. They
were both so disagreeable and so proud that there was no living
with them.
2. The youngest, who was the very picture of her father for
courtesy and sweetness of temper was withal one of the most
beautiful girls ever seen. As people naturally love their own
likeness, this mother even doted on her eldest daughter and at
the same time had a horrible aversion for the youngest— she
made her eat in the kitchen and work continually.
Among other things, this poor child was forced twice a day to
draw water above a mile and a-half off the house, and bring
home a pitcher full of it. One day, as she was at this fountain,
there came to her a poor woman, who begged of her to let her
drink.
3. “Oh! ay, with all my heart, Goody,” said this pretty little girl;
and rinsing immediately the pitcher, she took up some water
from the clearest place of the fountain, and gave it to her, holding
up the pitcher all the while, that she might drink the easier.
The good woman, having drunk, said to her:
4. “You are so very pretty, my dear, so good and so mannerly,
that I cannot help giving you a gift.” For this was a fairy, who
had taken the form of a poor country woman, to see how far
the civility and good manners of this pretty girl would go. “I
will give you for a gift,” continued the Fairy, “that, at every
word you speak, there shall come out of your mouth either a
flower or a jewel.”
5. When this pretty girl came home her mother scolded her for
staying so long at the fountain. “I beg your pardon, mamma,” said the poor girl, “for not making more haste.” And in speaking these words there came out of her mouth two roses, two pearls, and two diamonds.
6. “What is it I see there?” said the mother, quite astonished. “I
think I see pearls and diamonds come out of the girl’s mouth!
How happens this, child?” This was the first time she had ever called her child.
7. The poor creature told her frankly all the matter, not without
dropping out infinite numbers of diamonds. “In good faith,” cried the mother, “I must send my child thither. Come hither, Fanny; look what comes out of thy sister’s mouth when she speaks. Wouldst not thou be glad, my dear, to have the same gift given thee? Thou hast nothing else to do but go and draw water out of the fountain, and when a certain poor woman asks you to let her drink, to give it to her very civilly.”
8. “It would be a very fine sight indeed,” said this ill-bred minx,
“to see me go draw water.” “You shall go, hussy!” said the mother; “and this minute.” So away she went, but grumbling all the way, taking with her the best silver tankard in the house.
9. She was no sooner at the fountain than she saw coming out of the wood a lady most gloriously dressed, who came up to her, and asked to drink. This was, you must know, the very fairy who appeared to her sister, but now had taken the air and dress of a princess, to see how far this girl’s rudeness would go.
10. “Am I come hither,” said the proud, saucy one, “to serve you
with water, pray? I suppose the silver tankard was brought purely for your ladyship, was it? However, you may drink out of it, if you have a fancy.”
11. “You are not over and above mannerly,” answered the Fairy,
without putting herself in a passion. “Well, then, since you have so little breeding, and are so disobliging, I give you for a gift that at every word you speak there shall come out of your mouth a snake or a toad.” So soon as her mother saw her coming she cried out:
“Well, daughter?”
12. “Well, mother?” answered the pert hussy, throwing out of her mouth two vipers and two toads. “Oh! mercy,” cried the mother; “what is it I see? Oh! it is that wretch her sister who has occasioned all this; but she shall pay for it”; and immediately she ran to beat her. The poor child fled away from her, and went to hide herself in the forest, not far from thence.
13. The King’s son, then on his return from hunting, met her, and seeing her so very pretty, asked her what she did there alone and why she cried. “Alas! sir, my mamma has turned me out of doors.”
The King’s son, who saw five or six pearls and as many diamonds
come out of her mouth, desired her to tell him how that happened. She thereupon told him the whole story; and so the King’s son fell in love with her, and, considering himself that such a gift was worth more than any marriage portion, conducted her to the palace of the King his father, and there married her.
14. As for the sister, she made herself so much hated that her own mother turned her out; and the miserable wretch, having wandered about a good while without finding anybody to take her in, went to a corner of the wood, and there diedd.
Perhaps the most effective way to develop critical thinking skills is to make them ..... Make a jigsawpuzzle. .... thinking activities and student worksheets in a PDF!
[PDF]Puzzle-Based Learning: An Introduction to Critical Thinking and ...
of courses, including Puzzle Based Learning, ad- ... providing a framework to explore critical thinking, as well as being fun and engaging. In addition to our home ...
[PDF]Edward the Bono - Six thingking hats
What is Parallel Thinking? ▫ Traditional Thinking vs. Parallel Thinking. ▫ What is Lateral Thinking? ▫ Introduction to Six Thinking Hats method. ▫ How to apply ...
[PDF]Edward de Bono's 6 Thinking Hats ®
The notion of six thinking hats comes from Edward De Bono ... The principle behind the 'Six Thinking Hats' is parallel thinking which ensures that all the.
[PDF]SIX THINKING HATS
... Thinking Hats®. The Six Thinking Hats tool is a powerful technique used ... www.odi.org.uk/Rapid/Publications/Documents/KM_toolkit_web.pdf. EC-FAO Food ...
[PDF]Six thinking hats.pdf
Personal Skills & Development » Creativity Skills and Techniques » Creativity Techniques » Six Thinking Hats. Six Thinking Hats. Edward de Bono's Six ...
[PDF]Six Thinking Hats - The Management Centre
Six Thinking Hats (6TH) was developed by internationally respected consultant Edward ... The technique is based on the idea that there are six imaginary hats.
[PDF]Six Thinking Hats - cfpimm
thinking methods. 2. Delivery six thinking hats (SHT) method (theory + practice). 3. Try to use the SHT in real situation. 4. Summarize your experience for the.
[PDF]Six Thinking Hats - Foundations Consulting
Six Thinking Hats. Pink Hat – information available and needed. Red Hat – intuition, feelings and hunches. Yellow Hat – benefits and value. Black Hat ...
Common Core Critical Thinking Reading Passage
Critical thinking is a way of deciding, making an inference, and or drawing conclusions whether a claim is true, partially true, or false. Critical thinking is a process that leads to skills that can be learned, mastered and used. The Common Core emphasizes the development of critical thinking as a tool by which one can come to reasoned conclusions based on a reasoned “Socratic Method” process. This critical thinking process incorporates background knowledge, opinion, fact, passion and creativity, but guides it with discipline, practicality, pragmatics, and common sense. Critical thinking is an important component of many fields such as math, education, politics, business, science and the arts.
Common Core Critical Thinking Question STEMS!
How do we apply, learn or judge values and morals?
Why are personality traits perceived as positive or negative?
How does the author use figurative language to help the reader infer the nature of each sister?
How would you rank the amoral traits of the antagonist?
How would you rank the moral traits of the protagonist?
How are the elements of plot used by the author to teach the reader a moral lesson?
Toads and Diamonds
1, THERE was once upon a time a widow who had two daughters.
The eldest was so much like her in the face and humor that whoever looked upon the daughter saw the mother. They
were both so disagreeable and so proud that there was no living
with them.
2. The youngest, who was the very picture of her father for
courtesy and sweetness of temper was withal one of the most
beautiful girls ever seen. As people naturally love their own
likeness, this mother even doted on her eldest daughter and at
the same time had a horrible aversion for the youngest— she
made her eat in the kitchen and work continually.
Among other things, this poor child was forced twice a day to
draw water above a mile and a-half off the house, and bring
home a pitcher full of it. One day, as she was at this fountain,
there came to her a poor woman, who begged of her to let her
drink.
3. “Oh! ay, with all my heart, Goody,” said this pretty little girl;
and rinsing immediately the pitcher, she took up some water
from the clearest place of the fountain, and gave it to her, holding
up the pitcher all the while, that she might drink the easier.
The good woman, having drunk, said to her:
4. “You are so very pretty, my dear, so good and so mannerly,
that I cannot help giving you a gift.” For this was a fairy, who
had taken the form of a poor country woman, to see how far
the civility and good manners of this pretty girl would go. “I
will give you for a gift,” continued the Fairy, “that, at every
word you speak, there shall come out of your mouth either a
flower or a jewel.”
5. When this pretty girl came home her mother scolded her for
staying so long at the fountain. “I beg your pardon, mamma,” said the poor girl, “for not making more haste.” And in speaking these words there came out of her mouth two roses, two pearls, and two diamonds.
6. “What is it I see there?” said the mother, quite astonished. “I
think I see pearls and diamonds come out of the girl’s mouth!
How happens this, child?” This was the first time she had ever called her child.
7. The poor creature told her frankly all the matter, not without
dropping out infinite numbers of diamonds. “In good faith,” cried the mother, “I must send my child thither. Come hither, Fanny; look what comes out of thy sister’s mouth when she speaks. Wouldst not thou be glad, my dear, to have the same gift given thee? Thou hast nothing else to do but go and draw water out of the fountain, and when a certain poor woman asks you to let her drink, to give it to her very civilly.”
8. “It would be a very fine sight indeed,” said this ill-bred minx,
“to see me go draw water.” “You shall go, hussy!” said the mother; “and this minute.” So away she went, but grumbling all the way, taking with her the best silver tankard in the house.
9. She was no sooner at the fountain than she saw coming out of the wood a lady most gloriously dressed, who came up to her, and asked to drink. This was, you must know, the very fairy who appeared to her sister, but now had taken the air and dress of a princess, to see how far this girl’s rudeness would go.
10. “Am I come hither,” said the proud, saucy one, “to serve you
with water, pray? I suppose the silver tankard was brought purely for your ladyship, was it? However, you may drink out of it, if you have a fancy.”
11. “You are not over and above mannerly,” answered the Fairy,
without putting herself in a passion. “Well, then, since you have so little breeding, and are so disobliging, I give you for a gift that at every word you speak there shall come out of your mouth a snake or a toad.” So soon as her mother saw her coming she cried out:
“Well, daughter?”
12. “Well, mother?” answered the pert hussy, throwing out of her mouth two vipers and two toads. “Oh! mercy,” cried the mother; “what is it I see? Oh! it is that wretch her sister who has occasioned all this; but she shall pay for it”; and immediately she ran to beat her. The poor child fled away from her, and went to hide herself in the forest, not far from thence.
13. The King’s son, then on his return from hunting, met her, and seeing her so very pretty, asked her what she did there alone and why she cried. “Alas! sir, my mamma has turned me out of doors.”
The King’s son, who saw five or six pearls and as many diamonds
come out of her mouth, desired her to tell him how that happened. She thereupon told him the whole story; and so the King’s son fell in love with her, and, considering himself that such a gift was worth more than any marriage portion, conducted her to the palace of the King his father, and there married her.
14. As for the sister, she made herself so much hated that her own mother turned her out; and the miserable wretch, having wandered about a good while without finding anybody to take her in, went to a corner of the wood, and there diedd.
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