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5 Critical Thinking Skills Every Kid Needs To Learn (And How To Teach Them)

Teach them to thoughtfully question the world around them.

Little kids love to ask questions. “Why is the sky blue?” “Where does the sun go at night?” Their innate curiosity helps them learn more about the world, and it’s key to their development. As they grow older, it’s important to encourage them to keep asking questions and to teach them the right kinds of questions to ask. We call these “critical thinking skills,” and they help kids become thoughtful adults who are able to make informed decisions as they grow older.

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking allows us to examine a subject and develop an informed opinion about it. First, we need to be able to simply understand the information, then we build on that by analyzing, comparing, evaluating, reflecting, and more. Critical thinking is about asking questions, then looking closely at the answers to form conclusions that are backed by provable facts, not just “gut feelings” and opinion.

Critical thinkers tend to question everything, and that can drive teachers and parents a little crazy. The temptation to reply, “Because I said so!” is strong, but when you can, try to provide the reasons behind your answers. We want to raise children who take an active role in the world around them and who nurture curiosity throughout their entire lives.

Key Critical Thinking Skills

So, what are critical thinking skills? There’s no official list, but many people use Bloom’s Taxonomy to help lay out the skills kids should develop as they grow up.

Source: Vanderbilt University

Bloom’s Taxonomy is laid out as a pyramid, with foundational skills at the bottom providing a base for more advanced skills higher up. The lowest phase, “Remember,” doesn’t require much critical thinking. These are the skills kids use when they memorize math facts or world capitals or practice their spelling words. Critical thinking doesn’t begin to creep in until the next steps.

Understanding requires more than memorization. It’s the difference between a child reciting by rote “one times four is four, two times four is eight, three times four is twelve,” versus recognizing that multiplication is the same as adding a number to itself a certain number of times. Schools focus more these days on understanding concepts than they used to; pure memorization has its place, but when a student understands the concept behind something, they can then move on to the next phase.

Application opens up whole worlds to students. Once you realize you can use a concept you’ve already mastered and apply it to other examples, you’ve expanded your learning exponentially. It’s easy to see this in math or science, but it works in all subjects. Kids may memorize sight words to speed up their reading mastery, but it’s learning to apply phonics and other reading skills that allows them to tackle any new word that comes their way.

Analysis is the real leap into advanced critical thinking for most kids. When we analyze something, we don’t take it at face value. Analysis requires us to find facts that stand up to inquiry, even if we don’t like what those facts might mean. We put aside personal feelings or beliefs and explore, examine, research, compare and contrast, draw correlations, organize, experiment, and so much more. We learn to identify primary sources for information, and check into the validity of those sources. Analysis is a skill successful adults must use every day, so it’s something we must help kids learn as early as possible.

Almost at the top of Bloom’s pyramid, evaluation skills let us synthesize all the information we’ve learned, understood, applied, and analyzed, and to use it to support our opinions and decisions. Now we can reflect on the data we’ve gathered and use it to make choices, cast votes, or offer informed opinions. We can evaluate the statements of others too, using these same skills. True evaluation requires us to put aside our own biases and accept that there may be other valid points of view, even if we don’t necessarily agree with them.

In the final phase, we use every one of those previous skills to create something new. This could be a proposal, an essay, a theory, a plan—anything a person assembles that’s unique.

Note: Bloom’s original taxonomy included “synthesis” as opposed to “create,” and it was located between “apply” and “evaluate.” When you synthesize, you put various parts of different ideas together to form a new whole. In 2001, a group of cognitive psychologists removed that term from the taxonomy , replacing it with “create,” but it’s part of the same concept.

How To Teach Critical Thinking

Using critical thinking in your own life is vital, but passing it along to the next generation is just as important. Be sure to focus on analyzing and evaluating, two multifaceted sets of skills that take lots and lots of practice. Start with these 10 Tips for Teaching Kids To Be Awesome Critical Thinkers . Then try these critical thinking activities and games. Finally, try to incorporate some of these 100+ Critical Thinking Questions for Students into your lessons. They’ll help your students develop the skills they need to navigate a world full of conflicting facts and provocative opinions.

One of These Things Is Not Like the Other

This classic Sesame Street activity is terrific for introducing the ideas of classifying, sorting, and finding relationships. All you need are several different objects (or pictures of objects). Lay them out in front of students, and ask them to decide which one doesn’t belong to the group. Let them be creative: The answer they come up with might not be the one you envisioned, and that’s OK!

The Answer Is …

Post an “answer” and ask kids to come up with the question. For instance, if you’re reading the book Charlotte’s Web , the answer might be “Templeton.” Students could say, “Who helped save Wilbur even though he didn’t really like him?” or “What’s the name of the rat that lived in the barn?” Backwards thinking encourages creativity and requires a good understanding of the subject matter.

Forced Analogies

Practice making connections and seeing relationships with this fun game. Kids write four random words in the corners of a Frayer Model and one more in the middle. The challenge? To link the center word to one of the others by making an analogy. The more far out the analogies, the better!

Learn more: Forced Analogies at The Owl Teacher

Primary Sources

Tired of hearing “I found it on Wikipedia!” when you ask kids where they got their answer? It’s time to take a closer look at primary sources. Show students how to follow a fact back to its original source, whether online or in print. We’ve got 10 terrific American history–based primary source activities to try here.

Science Experiments

Hands-on science experiments and STEM challenges are a surefire way to engage students, and they involve all sorts of critical thinking skills. We’ve got hundreds of experiment ideas for all ages on our STEM pages , starting with 50 Stem Activities To Help Kids Think Outside the Box .

Not the Answer

Multiple-choice questions can be a great way to work on critical thinking. Turn the questions into discussions, asking kids to eliminate wrong answers one by one. This gives them practice analyzing and evaluating, allowing them to make considered choices.

Learn more: Teaching in the Fast Lane

Correlation Tic-Tac-Toe

Here’s a fun way to work on correlation, which is a part of analysis. Show kids a 3 x 3 grid with nine pictures, and ask them to find a way to link three in a row together to get tic-tac-toe. For instance, in the pictures above, you might link together the cracked ground, the landslide, and the tsunami as things that might happen after an earthquake. Take things a step further and discuss the fact that there are other ways those things might have happened (a landslide can be caused by heavy rain, for instance), so correlation doesn’t necessarily prove causation.

Learn more: Critical Thinking Tic-Tac-Toe at The Owl Teacher

Inventions That Changed the World

Explore the chain of cause and effect with this fun thought exercise. Start it off by asking one student to name an invention they believe changed the world. Each student then follows by explaining an effect that invention had on the world and their own lives. Challenge each student to come up with something different.

Learn more: Teaching With a Mountain View

Critical Thinking Games

There are so many board games that help kids learn to question, analyze, examine, make judgments, and more. In fact, pretty much any game that doesn’t leave things entirely up to chance (Sorry, Candy Land) requires players to use critical thinking skills. See one teacher’s favorites at the link below.

Learn more: Miss DeCarbo

This is one of those classic critical thinking activities that really prepares kids for the real world. Assign a topic (or let them choose one). Then give kids time to do some research to find good sources that support their point of view. Finally, let the debate begin! Check out 100 Middle School Debate Topics , 100 High School Debate Topics , and 60 Funny Debate Topics for Kids of All Ages .

How do you teach critical thinking skills in your classroom? Come share your ideas and ask for advice in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, check out 38 simple ways to integrate social-emotional learning throughout the day ..

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100+ Critical Thinking Questions for Students To Ask About Anything

Critical thinkers question everything. Continue Reading

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10 of the Best Children’s Books That Promote Critical Thinking

Mikkaka Overstreet

Mikkaka Overstreet is from Louisville, Kentucky by way of Saginaw “Sagnasty”, Michigan. She has been an educator since 2006 and earned her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction in 2015. By day she is a mild-mannered literacy specialist. By night she sleeps. In between, she daydreams, writes fiction, and reads books. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and cats.

View All posts by Mikkaka Overstreet

Unfortunately, there are people and groups more interested in an industrious than a thoughtful population. The general public doesn’t agree on the purpose of public education . Neither, it seems, do education stakeholders. During recent remarks, North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt declared 2022 “the year of the workforce.”

Truitt explained, “We have got to redefine what the purpose of K–12 education is. Some would say it’s to produce critical thinkers, but my team and I believe that the purpose of a public K–12 education is to prepare students for the postsecondary plans of their choice so that they can be a functioning member of the workforce.”

While that statement makes my skin crawl, it’s more than unsettling: it’s contradictory. Employers regularly cite problem-solving and critical thinking skills as ideal qualities they seek in employees. According to a study from the Association of American Colleges and Universities , 95% of employers view critical thinking specifically as “very important” or “somewhat important.” Thus, preparing kids to think critically is preparing them for the workforce — and beyond.

Undoubtedly, our society needs more critical thinkers . We have lots of problems, both old and new, that will require innovative solutions. The following books will help encourage the next generation of big thinkers.

10 Children’s Books That Promote Critical Thinking

The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López

The incomparable Jacqueline Woodson has done it again. In this newly released children’s book, readers journey into the vivid imaginations of the central characters. Woodson tells the story of children stuck inside because of bad weather. Rather than succumb to boredom, the children use their imaginations to escape the confines of their apartment. Surely, this will inspire children to dream big.

What Do You Do With An Idea? by Kobi Yamada and Mae Besom

This inspiring picture book centers on a child with an idea. We get to follow the child as they nurture the idea and watch it grow. Undoubtedly, this simple story will resonate with anyone who has ever been afraid to share their big dreams with the world.

Shadow by Suzy Lee

This gorgeous wordless picture book is a guaranteed hit. The young protagonist uses her imagination and her shadow to create a fantasy world. Mirrored illustrations show both the true objects and the magical world the girl has built.

Going Places by Peter H. Reynolds and Paul A. Reynolds

I’m a big fan of Peter H. Reynolds’s work. He has a whimsical style and encourages creativity and self-love in his several excellent picture books. In this story, written with his twin brother, Reynolds introduces us to another uniquely wonderful protagonist. Maya enters a go-cart competition and must create a winning vehicle out of one of the identical kits given to all contestants. Of course, Maya doesn’t think inside the box she’s given. This is another fun story with a great lesson.

Mistakes Are How I Learn by Kiara Wilson

As we all know, mistakes are a part of the learning process. In this encouraging book, Wilson reminds kids to give themselves grace and space to make mistakes. Similar to The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes , this book is a good reminder for little perfectionists.

Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

This picture book takes the well-known duck or rabbit puzzle and tells a story. Obviously, readers will feel compelled to see both sides of this argument. This is a humorous introduction to considering varying viewpoints.

Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young

In this Caldecott Honor winner, seven blind mice try to determine the identity of an unfamiliar object. In Young’s take on the classic Indian tale, each mouse only gathers partial information. Of course, it takes the wisdom of the seventh mouse to put the pieces together and solve the puzzle.

What To Do With A Box by Jane Yolen and Chris Sheban

You can probably guess what’s going to happen in this book, right? Clearly, there’s a metaphor here. Enjoy all the things a child can imagine with outside-of-the-box thinking in this rhythmic tale.

They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel

This book brilliantly executes a creative concept. Using strange and gorgeous illustrations, Wenzel depicts how differently individuals can perceive the same object. Consequently, readers are pushed to consider multiple viewpoints and how our perceptions color what we see.

Solutions for Cold Feet and Other Little Problems by Carey Sookocheff

Follow one little girl and her dog through the challenges of a normal day in this fun story. The girl asks lots of questions and persists when she encounters problems. This tale will inspire kiddos to see problem-solving as a positive and necessary part of life.

Hopefully, you’ve found something on this list that inspires you to think and dream. If you’d like more content like this, check out 7 Board Books for Woke Babies and 10 Science Books for Curious Kiddos . Read, think, and dream BIG!

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Think About It: Critical Thinking

Use these tips to encourage your child's critical thinking skills..

Critical thinking has become a buzzword in education. In the past, the emphasis in classrooms has been on imparting information and content — the times tables or the capitals of the United States, for example. In recent years, however, there's been a shift toward teaching critical thinking , a skill that elevates thinking beyond memorization into the realm of analysis and logic.

Put another way, critical thinking is about knowing how to think, not what to think. Teachers use a number of techniques to help students learn critical thinking, starting as early as kindergarten and ramping up especially in 2nd grade and beyond. Below are a few of the methods educators employ; you can try them at home to help your child become a critical thinker.

• Critical thinking: Ask open-ended questions. Asking questions that don't have one right answer encourages children to respond creatively without being afraid of giving the wrong answer.
• Critical thinking: Categorize and classify. Classification plays an important role in critical thinking because it requires identification and sorting according to a rule, or set of rules, that kids must discover, understand, and apply. If you play classification games at home, be sure to follow up the activity with questions about the similarities and differences between the groups. You can sort everything from dirty laundry to Legos to produce to doll clothes to promote critical thinking.
• Critical thinking: Work in groups. In a group setting, students are exposed to the thought processes of their peers. Thus, they can begin to understand how others think and that there are multiple ways of approaching problems — not just one correct way.
• Critical thinking: Make decisions. Help your child consider pros and cons, but don't be afraid to let her make a wrong choice. Then evaluate the decision later. Ask your child, "How do you feel about your decision? What would you do differently next time?"
• Critical thinking: Find patterns. Whatever you're doing, whether it's going to the park or watching television, encourage your child to look for patterns or make connections for critcal thinking practice. For example, relate a favorite television show to a real-life situation. Or, while driving in the car, have your child identify different shapes in roads signs and in the windows and roofs of passing houses. 

It might be tempting to pass off the critical thinking buzz as just another fad in education. However, most teachers disagree. It's still important for your child to know his multiplication tables, but it's just as vital for him to know how and when to use them.

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Logic Puzzles for Kids: fun ways to teach critical thinking in 1st and 2nd grade

Susan Jones January 4, 2022 6 Comments

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These logic puzzles are so much fun for kids to practice their critical thinking skills. In this post, I share 5 different types of logic/critical thinking activities that are great for young students to practice! Before I dive in, I wanted to let you know you can watch or listen to all this information in video format below:

Research has shown that critical thinking skills do not develop naturally. Humans need to be put in situations where they can practice these skills in order to get better at them, just like any other subject we teach in school!

The difference is with most subjects, we teach the skills in concrete linear ways (addition, for example). This makes it important to also teach our students how to think outside the box and pose questions in a different way to practice their critical thinking skills. In this blog post, I am going to share some of my favorite logic and critical thinking puzzles that your students can use to solve problems thoughtfully in all areas of learning!

Odd One Out!

Odd One Out! is a fun puzzle game where students have to look at a set of 4 pictures and decide which one doesn’t belong. After they determine the odd one out, they must explain why it doesn’t fit . As you can see in the example below, all four items are body parts, however, three go on your face. Therefore, the foot is the “odd one out.”

Your students will have to give their answer and their explanation when solving the puzzle!

This activity is great for developing vocabulary, characterizing uses, and comparing and contrasting various parts of the different items. You can group pictures together based on their shape, or items that all start with the same letter, or a group of items that all rhyme, to practice a bunch of different skills using this same type of logic puzzle!

Combinations and Pattern Completions:

In these types of logic puzzles, students will combine shapes or complete patterns in their head. For example, in the puzzle below, students have to use spatial reasoning to determine what shape will be made when they add the line with the triangle. All three options show triangles with lines, but only the middle triangle makes sense based on the size and direction of the line. 

Spatial reasoning has so many real-world applications and it’s great for all of us, young and old, to practice developing that skill!

Similarly, in the complete the pattern puzzle below, students will look at the pattern on the top of the page and have to figure out which option comes next based on what they see. Pattern puzzles are great because students need to use their logic and evidence of what has already come before to make predictions about what comes next!

There are a lot of different critical thinking skills used for solving analogies. Students must figure out the meaning of the words, the uses of the objects, how the words in the first comparison are related, and how the first relationship relates to the second comparison in the analogy! Below is an analogy that I would use with my students:

The most important part when solving these analogies with your class is having them explain how they got their answer. In the example above, it might be easy for a student to say “rain”, but you really want them to verbalize why they knew that. That way, they will have to explain all the relationships and definitions in the analogy and explain the thought-process behind their answer. 

Anyone who has played sudoku knows that the more you practice, the better you get at it. That is why it is so important to keep practicing these logic puzzles with your students!

Sudoku puzzles are great for your students because they need to make quick decisions when determining which number or object goes where. They also need to be able to quickly recognize their mistakes along the way and fix them in order to progress with the puzzle.

Below are two kid-friendly sudoku puzzles you can use in your classroom using numbers or objects:

The above is a “classic” sudoku puzzle with numbers, but you can also use objects like shown below! Students will need to understand the basics of this type of game which is that each image or number can only appear once in each row, column, and block.

Classic Logic Puzzle

Last but not least, I love using a classic logic puzzle. Now listen… these were my nemesis! My brain would get so boggled thinking about how to solve these when I was a kid (and realistically, still now).  Here is an example of a kid-friendly puzzle so you know what I am talking about:

As you can see in the problem above, students can see the age of one child. Then, they have to use logic and reasoning based on the clues to determine the ages of the rest of the children in the puzzle.

Problems like this can be challenging because students need to organize their thoughts and develop a strategy first before they can solve the problem. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, these are skills that don’t come naturally, so we need to make sure that our students are able to consistently practice these logic puzzles in order to develop their skills. We also need to model how we would solve some of these problems so our students can see the strategies in action. We can’t expect them to just solve them on their own!

All the puzzles and examples above are part of a new unit I created to help students develop their critical thinking and logic skills. I made 40 puzzles for each of the 5 categories above, so this unit has 200 critical thinking and logic puzzles to use in your classroom. What’s great is each puzzle can be displayed to work through in a whole group setting and they are also available in black and white printable versions so students could paste them in a journal and solve on their own!

FREEBIE ALERT : if you follow the link below and preview the product, you can download 10 free puzzle slides from the unit!

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Reader Interactions

February 7, 2022 at 5:28 am

I am so excited to introduce these logic games to my class!! Thank you so much Susan

March 28, 2022 at 4:27 am

June 22, 2022 at 2:01 am

I can not wait to start my new class. These will be part of their morning work tubs.

January 6, 2023 at 11:52 pm

I would like the Logic Puzzles please.

January 25, 2023 at 7:31 pm

These logic puzzles will be great warm ups! Fantastic!!

March 10, 2023 at 2:59 pm

I love these! Such great activities to boost young minds.

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Hello friends.

Welcome to Susan Jones Teaching. When it comes to the primary grades, learning *All Things* in the K-2 world has been my passion for many years! I just finished my M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and love sharing all the latest and greatest strategies I learn with you through this blog and my YouTube channel! I hope you'll enjoy learning along with me :)

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In this EdWeek blog, an experiment in knowledge-gathering, Ferlazzo will address readers’ questions on classroom management, ELL instruction, lesson planning, and other issues facing teachers. Send your questions to [email protected]. Read more from this blog.

Eight Instructional Strategies for Promoting Critical Thinking

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(This is the first post in a three-part series.)

The new question-of-the-week is:

What is critical thinking and how can we integrate it into the classroom?

This three-part series will explore what critical thinking is, if it can be specifically taught and, if so, how can teachers do so in their classrooms.

Today’s guests are Dara Laws Savage, Patrick Brown, Meg Riordan, Ph.D., and Dr. PJ Caposey. Dara, Patrick, and Meg were also guests on my 10-minute BAM! Radio Show . You can also find a list of, and links to, previous shows here.

You might also be interested in The Best Resources On Teaching & Learning Critical Thinking In The Classroom .

Current Events

Dara Laws Savage is an English teacher at the Early College High School at Delaware State University, where she serves as a teacher and instructional coach and lead mentor. Dara has been teaching for 25 years (career preparation, English, photography, yearbook, newspaper, and graphic design) and has presented nationally on project-based learning and technology integration:

There is so much going on right now and there is an overload of information for us to process. Did you ever stop to think how our students are processing current events? They see news feeds, hear news reports, and scan photos and posts, but are they truly thinking about what they are hearing and seeing?

I tell my students that my job is not to give them answers but to teach them how to think about what they read and hear. So what is critical thinking and how can we integrate it into the classroom? There are just as many definitions of critical thinking as there are people trying to define it. However, the Critical Think Consortium focuses on the tools to create a thinking-based classroom rather than a definition: “Shape the climate to support thinking, create opportunities for thinking, build capacity to think, provide guidance to inform thinking.” Using these four criteria and pairing them with current events, teachers easily create learning spaces that thrive on thinking and keep students engaged.

One successful technique I use is the FIRE Write. Students are given a quote, a paragraph, an excerpt, or a photo from the headlines. Students are asked to F ocus and respond to the selection for three minutes. Next, students are asked to I dentify a phrase or section of the photo and write for two minutes. Third, students are asked to R eframe their response around a specific word, phrase, or section within their previous selection. Finally, students E xchange their thoughts with a classmate. Within the exchange, students also talk about how the selection connects to what we are covering in class.

There was a controversial Pepsi ad in 2017 involving Kylie Jenner and a protest with a police presence. The imagery in the photo was strikingly similar to a photo that went viral with a young lady standing opposite a police line. Using that image from a current event engaged my students and gave them the opportunity to critically think about events of the time.

Here are the two photos and a student response:

F - Focus on both photos and respond for three minutes

In the first picture, you see a strong and courageous black female, bravely standing in front of two officers in protest. She is risking her life to do so. Iesha Evans is simply proving to the world she does NOT mean less because she is black … and yet officers are there to stop her. She did not step down. In the picture below, you see Kendall Jenner handing a police officer a Pepsi. Maybe this wouldn’t be a big deal, except this was Pepsi’s weak, pathetic, and outrageous excuse of a commercial that belittles the whole movement of people fighting for their lives.

I - Identify a word or phrase, underline it, then write about it for two minutes

A white, privileged female in place of a fighting black woman was asking for trouble. A struggle we are continuously fighting every day, and they make a mockery of it. “I know what will work! Here Mr. Police Officer! Drink some Pepsi!” As if. Pepsi made a fool of themselves, and now their already dwindling fan base continues to ever shrink smaller.

R - Reframe your thoughts by choosing a different word, then write about that for one minute

You don’t know privilege until it’s gone. You don’t know privilege while it’s there—but you can and will be made accountable and aware. Don’t use it for evil. You are not stupid. Use it to do something. Kendall could’ve NOT done the commercial. Kendall could’ve released another commercial standing behind a black woman. Anything!

Exchange - Remember to discuss how this connects to our school song project and our previous discussions?

This connects two ways - 1) We want to convey a strong message. Be powerful. Show who we are. And Pepsi definitely tried. … Which leads to the second connection. 2) Not mess up and offend anyone, as had the one alma mater had been linked to black minstrels. We want to be amazing, but we have to be smart and careful and make sure we include everyone who goes to our school and everyone who may go to our school.

As a final step, students read and annotate the full article and compare it to their initial response.

Using current events and critical-thinking strategies like FIRE writing helps create a learning space where thinking is the goal rather than a score on a multiple-choice assessment. Critical-thinking skills can cross over to any of students’ other courses and into life outside the classroom. After all, we as teachers want to help the whole student be successful, and critical thinking is an important part of navigating life after they leave our classrooms.

‘Before-Explore-Explain’

Patrick Brown is the executive director of STEM and CTE for the Fort Zumwalt school district in Missouri and an experienced educator and author :

Planning for critical thinking focuses on teaching the most crucial science concepts, practices, and logical-thinking skills as well as the best use of instructional time. One way to ensure that lessons maintain a focus on critical thinking is to focus on the instructional sequence used to teach.

Explore-before-explain teaching is all about promoting critical thinking for learners to better prepare students for the reality of their world. What having an explore-before-explain mindset means is that in our planning, we prioritize giving students firsthand experiences with data, allow students to construct evidence-based claims that focus on conceptual understanding, and challenge students to discuss and think about the why behind phenomena.

Just think of the critical thinking that has to occur for students to construct a scientific claim. 1) They need the opportunity to collect data, analyze it, and determine how to make sense of what the data may mean. 2) With data in hand, students can begin thinking about the validity and reliability of their experience and information collected. 3) They can consider what differences, if any, they might have if they completed the investigation again. 4) They can scrutinize outlying data points for they may be an artifact of a true difference that merits further exploration of a misstep in the procedure, measuring device, or measurement. All of these intellectual activities help them form more robust understanding and are evidence of their critical thinking.

In explore-before-explain teaching, all of these hard critical-thinking tasks come before teacher explanations of content. Whether we use discovery experiences, problem-based learning, and or inquiry-based activities, strategies that are geared toward helping students construct understanding promote critical thinking because students learn content by doing the practices valued in the field to generate knowledge.

An Issue of Equity

Meg Riordan, Ph.D., is the chief learning officer at The Possible Project, an out-of-school program that collaborates with youth to build entrepreneurial skills and mindsets and provides pathways to careers and long-term economic prosperity. She has been in the field of education for over 25 years as a middle and high school teacher, school coach, college professor, regional director of N.Y.C. Outward Bound Schools, and director of external research with EL Education:

Although critical thinking often defies straightforward definition, most in the education field agree it consists of several components: reasoning, problem-solving, and decisionmaking, plus analysis and evaluation of information, such that multiple sides of an issue can be explored. It also includes dispositions and “the willingness to apply critical-thinking principles, rather than fall back on existing unexamined beliefs, or simply believe what you’re told by authority figures.”

Despite variation in definitions, critical thinking is nonetheless promoted as an essential outcome of students’ learning—we want to see students and adults demonstrate it across all fields, professions, and in their personal lives. Yet there is simultaneously a rationing of opportunities in schools for students of color, students from under-resourced communities, and other historically marginalized groups to deeply learn and practice critical thinking.

For example, many of our most underserved students often spend class time filling out worksheets, promoting high compliance but low engagement, inquiry, critical thinking, or creation of new ideas. At a time in our world when college and careers are critical for participation in society and the global, knowledge-based economy, far too many students struggle within classrooms and schools that reinforce low-expectations and inequity.

If educators aim to prepare all students for an ever-evolving marketplace and develop skills that will be valued no matter what tomorrow’s jobs are, then we must move critical thinking to the forefront of classroom experiences. And educators must design learning to cultivate it.

So, what does that really look like?

Unpack and define critical thinking

To understand critical thinking, educators need to first unpack and define its components. What exactly are we looking for when we speak about reasoning or exploring multiple perspectives on an issue? How does problem-solving show up in English, math, science, art, or other disciplines—and how is it assessed? At Two Rivers, an EL Education school, the faculty identified five constructs of critical thinking, defined each, and created rubrics to generate a shared picture of quality for teachers and students. The rubrics were then adapted across grade levels to indicate students’ learning progressions.

At Avenues World School, critical thinking is one of the Avenues World Elements and is an enduring outcome embedded in students’ early experiences through 12th grade. For instance, a kindergarten student may be expected to “identify cause and effect in familiar contexts,” while an 8th grader should demonstrate the ability to “seek out sufficient evidence before accepting a claim as true,” “identify bias in claims and evidence,” and “reconsider strongly held points of view in light of new evidence.”

When faculty and students embrace a common vision of what critical thinking looks and sounds like and how it is assessed, educators can then explicitly design learning experiences that call for students to employ critical-thinking skills. This kind of work must occur across all schools and programs, especially those serving large numbers of students of color. As Linda Darling-Hammond asserts , “Schools that serve large numbers of students of color are least likely to offer the kind of curriculum needed to ... help students attain the [critical-thinking] skills needed in a knowledge work economy. ”

So, what can it look like to create those kinds of learning experiences?

Designing experiences for critical thinking

After defining a shared understanding of “what” critical thinking is and “how” it shows up across multiple disciplines and grade levels, it is essential to create learning experiences that impel students to cultivate, practice, and apply these skills. There are several levers that offer pathways for teachers to promote critical thinking in lessons:

1.Choose Compelling Topics: Keep it relevant

A key Common Core State Standard asks for students to “write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.” That might not sound exciting or culturally relevant. But a learning experience designed for a 12th grade humanities class engaged learners in a compelling topic— policing in America —to analyze and evaluate multiple texts (including primary sources) and share the reasoning for their perspectives through discussion and writing. Students grappled with ideas and their beliefs and employed deep critical-thinking skills to develop arguments for their claims. Embedding critical-thinking skills in curriculum that students care about and connect with can ignite powerful learning experiences.

2. Make Local Connections: Keep it real

At The Possible Project , an out-of-school-time program designed to promote entrepreneurial skills and mindsets, students in a recent summer online program (modified from in-person due to COVID-19) explored the impact of COVID-19 on their communities and local BIPOC-owned businesses. They learned interviewing skills through a partnership with Everyday Boston , conducted virtual interviews with entrepreneurs, evaluated information from their interviews and local data, and examined their previously held beliefs. They created blog posts and videos to reflect on their learning and consider how their mindsets had changed as a result of the experience. In this way, we can design powerful community-based learning and invite students into productive struggle with multiple perspectives.

3. Create Authentic Projects: Keep it rigorous

At Big Picture Learning schools, students engage in internship-based learning experiences as a central part of their schooling. Their school-based adviser and internship-based mentor support them in developing real-world projects that promote deeper learning and critical-thinking skills. Such authentic experiences teach “young people to be thinkers, to be curious, to get from curiosity to creation … and it helps students design a learning experience that answers their questions, [providing an] opportunity to communicate it to a larger audience—a major indicator of postsecondary success.” Even in a remote environment, we can design projects that ask more of students than rote memorization and that spark critical thinking.

Our call to action is this: As educators, we need to make opportunities for critical thinking available not only to the affluent or those fortunate enough to be placed in advanced courses. The tools are available, let’s use them. Let’s interrogate our current curriculum and design learning experiences that engage all students in real, relevant, and rigorous experiences that require critical thinking and prepare them for promising postsecondary pathways.

Critical Thinking & Student Engagement

Dr. PJ Caposey is an award-winning educator, keynote speaker, consultant, and author of seven books who currently serves as the superintendent of schools for the award-winning Meridian CUSD 223 in northwest Illinois. You can find PJ on most social-media platforms as MCUSDSupe:

When I start my keynote on student engagement, I invite two people up on stage and give them each five paper balls to shoot at a garbage can also conveniently placed on stage. Contestant One shoots their shot, and the audience gives approval. Four out of 5 is a heckuva score. Then just before Contestant Two shoots, I blindfold them and start moving the garbage can back and forth. I usually try to ensure that they can at least make one of their shots. Nobody is successful in this unfair environment.

I thank them and send them back to their seats and then explain that this little activity was akin to student engagement. While we all know we want student engagement, we are shooting at different targets. More importantly, for teachers, it is near impossible for them to hit a target that is moving and that they cannot see.

Within the world of education and particularly as educational leaders, we have failed to simplify what student engagement looks like, and it is impossible to define or articulate what student engagement looks like if we cannot clearly articulate what critical thinking is and looks like in a classroom. Because, simply, without critical thought, there is no engagement.

The good news here is that critical thought has been defined and placed into taxonomies for decades already. This is not something new and not something that needs to be redefined. I am a Bloom’s person, but there is nothing wrong with DOK or some of the other taxonomies, either. To be precise, I am a huge fan of Daggett’s Rigor and Relevance Framework. I have used that as a core element of my practice for years, and it has shaped who I am as an instructional leader.

So, in order to explain critical thought, a teacher or a leader must familiarize themselves with these tried and true taxonomies. Easy, right? Yes, sort of. The issue is not understanding what critical thought is; it is the ability to integrate it into the classrooms. In order to do so, there are a four key steps every educator must take.

• Integrating critical thought/rigor into a lesson does not happen by chance, it happens by design. Planning for critical thought and engagement is much different from planning for a traditional lesson. In order to plan for kids to think critically, you have to provide a base of knowledge and excellent prompts to allow them to explore their own thinking in order to analyze, evaluate, or synthesize information.
• SIDE NOTE – Bloom’s verbs are a great way to start when writing objectives, but true planning will take you deeper than this.

QUESTIONING

• If the questions and prompts given in a classroom have correct answers or if the teacher ends up answering their own questions, the lesson will lack critical thought and rigor.
• Script five questions forcing higher-order thought prior to every lesson. Experienced teachers may not feel they need this, but it helps to create an effective habit.
• If lessons are rigorous and assessments are not, students will do well on their assessments, and that may not be an accurate representation of the knowledge and skills they have mastered. If lessons are easy and assessments are rigorous, the exact opposite will happen. When deciding to increase critical thought, it must happen in all three phases of the game: planning, instruction, and assessment.

TALK TIME / CONTROL

• To increase rigor, the teacher must DO LESS. This feels counterintuitive but is accurate. Rigorous lessons involving tons of critical thought must allow for students to work on their own, collaborate with peers, and connect their ideas. This cannot happen in a silent room except for the teacher talking. In order to increase rigor, decrease talk time and become comfortable with less control. Asking questions and giving prompts that lead to no true correct answer also means less control. This is a tough ask for some teachers. Explained differently, if you assign one assignment and get 30 very similar products, you have most likely assigned a low-rigor recipe. If you assign one assignment and get multiple varied products, then the students have had a chance to think deeply, and you have successfully integrated critical thought into your classroom.

Thanks to Dara, Patrick, Meg, and PJ for their contributions!

Please feel free to leave a comment with your reactions to the topic or directly to anything that has been said in this post.

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Real World Problem Solving in Second Grade Mathematics

Introduction.

Edgewood Magnet School in New Haven, Connecticut is an arts magnet school, integrating the arts across the curriculum. Students in this environment are encouraged to use the strategies of observation, interpretation, and analysis to increase their thinking skills in every subject. With that mission, both teachers and students use unique and exciting approaches to “the basics” and work together to ensure that all learners are included.

For most second graders, the beginning of the year is a time for refreshing knowledge and skills from first grade. The summer away from direct instruction and opportunities for practice and guidance sometimes means a loss of solid understanding of learned concepts in mathematics. This three- to four-week unit is designed to review and build new understanding of one-step word problem solving using addition and subtraction as students develop skills and strategies they will use all year. The students, through a series of mathematical scenarios, will use the problem types identified in Table 1 of the Common Core Mathematics Glossary which covers addition and subtraction. 1

The Common Core concentrates on a clear set of math skills and concepts. Students learn concepts in an organized way during the school year as well as across grades. The standards encourage students to solve real-world problems. 2

The Common Core calls for greater focus in mathematics. Rather than racing to cover many topics in a mile-wide, inch-deep curriculum, the standards ask math teachers to significantly narrow and deepen the way time and energy are spent in the classroom. This means focusing sharply on the major work of each grade, which for grades Kindergarten through second grade includes concepts, skills, and problem solving related to addition and subtraction.

The New Haven Public School district uses the Math in Focus Singapore Approach, a Common Core-based curriculum for students from Kindergarten to Fifth Grade. The student books and workbooks follow an instructional pathway that includes learning concepts and skills through visual lessons and teacher instruction for understanding the how and why; consolidating concepts and skills through practice, activities and math journals for deep math understanding, hands-on work in pairs and in small groups; and, applying concepts and skills through extensive problem solving practice and challenges to build real world problem solvers. 3

This approach embeds problem solving throughout each lesson and encourages frequent practice in both computation and problem solving. The word problems appear throughout each chapter and progress from 1-step to 2-step to multi-step. Each chapter concludes with a challenging problem or set of problems that require students to solve some non-routine questions. To solve these problems, the students need to draw on their deep prior knowledge as well as recently acquired concepts and skills, combining problem solving strategies with critical thinking skills, including classifying, comparing, sequencing, identifying parts and whole, identifying patterns and relationships, induction and deduction and spatial visualization.

The second grade text begins with numbers to 1000. Students begin by expressing numbers in standard form (231), expanded form (200 + 30 + 1), and word form (two hundred thirty-one). This is accompanied by concrete representations via base ten blocks, and, for two digit numbers and a few three digit numbers, representation by trains of rods, of lengths 1, 10 and 100. This initial chapter also includes sequencing numbers and comparing using greater than and less than terminology, and then moving right into addition and subtraction of two- and three-digits numbers. Here the take-away should be, if you have more hundreds, the tens and ones don’t make any/much difference; and if you have the same number of hundreds, but more tens, then the ones don’t make any/much difference. Most of my students (if not all) struggle from the start! They do not seem to have a solid foundation of understanding numbers to 100 or the concept of place value in general. This unit is designed to get ahead of the frustration that the students feel when pushed too quickly before they have a firm understanding of principles of place value and the properties of operations.

This unit launches the school year with 1-step addition and subtraction problems of all types using numbers to 10. The goal is to spend time practicing basic computations with numbers that student can work comfortably with before jumping right into the district curriculum. Once there is a level of understanding with these problem sets (numbers to 10), students will move on to solving 1-step problems using teen numbers and then onto numbers to 100. Most of the curriculum problems at the start of the year require addition and subtraction of 3-digit numbers. Some students will move quickly through the problem sets with numbers to 100 and will be ready to work with the regular curriculum.

For the duration of the unit, the focus will be steadily on solving and later constructing a collection of word problems that provide robust and balanced practice. Problems sets will be based on a scenario which will provide the substance of the story. Each scenario will allow us to extract several problems, changing the numbers and ensuring each set of numbers makes a reasonable problem. This idea looks like the following: John has 8 crayons in his box. He shares 3 with Sam. How many crayons does John have left in the box? John has some crayons in his box. He shares 3 with Sam. John has 5 crayons left in his box. How many crayons did John start with? John has 5 crayons. Sam has 2 fewer than John. How many crayons does Sam have? John and Sam are sharing crayons. John has 5 and Sam has 3. How many crayons do the friends have together? The two students participate in several crayon-sharing stories that use the same set of numbers but in slightly different situations. Some situations are more obvious and direct while others take more thinking. It is important to provide opportunities for students to work with and solve the different problem types that can be created from one set of numbers. 4

Background: Problem Types

The taxonomy of addition and subtraction problem types as identified in the Common Core State Standards of Mathematics Glossary is a framework that sorts one-step problems into three broad classes: change , comparison , and part-part-whole . Each of the three classes is then separated further into a total of 14 problem types sorted out as follows: change , in which some quantity is either added to or taken away from another quantity over time; comparison , in which one amount is described as more or less than another amount; and part-part-whole , in which an amount is made up of two parts. 5

Within the group of change problems, there are two subgroups: change-increase , in which a quantity is added to an initial amount and change-decrease , in which a quantity is taken from an initial amount. We might recognize these subgroups more familiarly as “add to” or “take from.” Additionally within each of these subgroups, there are three possible unknown quantities. One scenario to show change-increase : 2 kittens were playing with some yarn. 3 more kittens join them. Now there are 5 kittens playing with the yarn. Using these quantities, the unknown might be the result (2 + 3 = ?), an unknown quantity of change (2 + ? = 5) or an unknown initial amount (? + 3 = 5). In the change-decrease subgroup, there are again three possible unknowns. A scenario for this example: 5 birds are sitting on the branch. 2 fly away. Now there are 3 birds sitting on the branch. Here again the students might solve for the final amount (5 – 2 = ?), the amount of change (5 - ? = 3), or the initial amount (? – 2 = 3). This gives in all six types of change problems.

Similarly comparison problems can also be categorized into two subgroups: comparison-more , in which one quantity is described as more or greater than another, and comparison-less, in which one quantity is described as less or fewer than another. Here again, each of these two subgroups has three possible unknowns, for a total of 6 types. Sam has 6 marbles. James has 8 marbles. James has 2 more marbles than Sam. The unknown quantity may be the lesser amount (? + 2 = 8), an unknown greater amount

(6 + 2 = ?), or the unknown difference (8 – 6 = ?) one quantity that is more and one that is less. Using this same scenario for a set of comparison-less problems, the language need to change from “more than” to “less than.” Here is a way to present this set with the language adjustment: Sam has 6 marbles. James has 8 marbles. Sam has 2 fewer marbles than James.

Part-part-whole problems are a set of two quantities, the parts that, when put together, make up a whole quantity.  This problem type seems very like to change category but in this problem type there is no change over time. The two parts play equivalent roles, which allow for only two possible unknown categories: either a part is unknown or the whole is the unknown. There are 4 large dogs and 3 small dogs. There are 7 dogs in all. One of the parts may be unknown (4 + ? = 7 or ? + 3 = 7) or the unknown may be the size of the whole (4 + 3 = ?). Since the parts are interchangeable, there are only 2 types in this class of problems.

The following chart sort these classes and categories into the framework. Located in Appendix A of this unit is a set of example problems illustrating each of these 14 types.

The Scenarios of the Problems

For second graders, life at school is a large part of their world. Most of my students arrived at Edgewood for their Kindergarten year and stayed through First Grade making the year in second grade essentially their third year at the same school. They are comfortable in the building and know many of the other students. They will become the active players in the math stories that I, and we together, will construct. Activities that occur in the classroom, in the cafeteria, on the playground, and on the bus seem to be recognizable situations that will help with the basic understanding of context.

Additionally, there are opportunities for students to incorporate the topics and learning that occur in the other subjects, such as science, social studies, literacy, art, music and, in our school, dance and drama. One example might be to create set of story problems centered on the life cycle of the butterfly, a unit of study each year in second grade. With the common knowledge the students will be obtaining, this content could become the scenarios for word problems. An example might be: Seven caterpillars climbed up the branch and formed their chrysalises. Later that day, three more caterpillars climbed up the branch and formed their chrysalises. How many chrysalises are hanging from the branch? Similarly, using the characters in a book read together as a class could provide the characters in a new set of problems. Curious George had a bunch of bananas. He ate 4 of them. Now he has 3. How many bananas did Curious George begin with? The use of common or thematic content will not only connect all the thinking and practicing, it will provide tangible and real situations. With an established scenario, students will work with a set of numbers, determining the unknown within each of problems types.

Creating the Problems

A question that is frequently answered with a guess is “What should we do to answer the question to solve the word problem?” The fundamental understanding of what is being asked is not apparent to the students, making the solution inaccessible. Most first graders entering second grade have a basic understanding when the story (problem) is categorized as final unknown or whole unknown , but most other components of the taxonomy are unfamiliar to them or just too difficult to decode. To begin to help them with their thinking, they will use concrete models, such as themselves (2 children are sitting at the reading table, 4 more join them) acting out scenarios. Many basic materials in the classroom – pencils, notebooks, folders, crayons – can be used to create and design scenarios, with each type of problem represented.

Solving the Problems

Following the overall plan of the Singapore Math program, the students will solve problems using the concrete, pictorial and abstract approach. Because this is a standard approach in our district mathematics instruction throughout the year, the students will begin with this set of strategies to solve problem sets.

Word problems are written as stories and scenarios making language a consideration in crafting the problems for the beginning second graders. Word problems are as much about language and reading as they are about math. If the story is not understandable, how can students begin the know what to do with the numbers they’ve been given and the question they’ve been asked? Thus, words and vocabulary need to be appropriate and useful for the variety of reading levels of the incoming students.  The structure of word problems should be understandable and clear, accessible in language as well as numbers. Also, the language, especially the words that express the relationship between the quantities involved, should be discussed to ensure that it is familiar to all students.

This is a clear integration of Language Arts and Mathematics and a method in which students can connect math to the real world, in this case, through the activities they engage in at school. Reading skills and computation skills come together with even the simplest of word problems.

Structure of Problem Collection

The content introduction over the duration of this unit includes a certain sequencing and scaffolding to guide students through the 14 problem types. To begin the unit, students will only be working with numbers to 10. This is an important starting place to ensure that understanding is occurring. Most of my second graders are capable with addition and subtraction to 10, but are not so comfortable with the word problem language. So first, students will be challenged more by the language than the arithmetic. Students will practice figuring out what exactly the problems are asking with problems that they are familiar with before moving on to a new step. Practicing all the problem types will improve and increase strategies and confidence!

With addition and subtraction within 10 mastered, the next phase of the unit moves to numbers to 20. The key is to continue with scenarios that are obvious and repeated as new numbers are introduced. An example of this transition would be these parallel problems:

6 students got on the bus at the first stop. 3 students got on the bus at the second   stop. After the second stop, how many students are on the bus? ( change-increase, final unknown)

Some students got on the bus at the first stop. 3 students got on the bus at the second stop. Now there are 9 students on the bus. How many students got on at the first stop? ( change-increase, initial unknown)

These now become:

11 students got on the bus at the first stop. 7 students got on the bus at the second stop. After the second stop, how many students are on the bus? ( change-increase, final unknown)

Some students got on the bus at the first stop. 7 students got on the bus at the second stop. Now there are 18 students on the bus. How many students got on at   the first stop? ( change-increase, initial unknown)

When working with numbers to 20, it is essential that students understand that the “teen” numbers (11-19) are really 10 and some ones. Students should work with numbers within 20, creating equations using their knowledge and skill of making a ten first. In the case of 7 + 6, making a new ten looks like this:

7 + 6 = 7 + 3 + 3 = 10 + 3 = 13

Because 7 needs a 3 to make ten, and 6 is composed of 3 + 3, this equation shows the progression of making 10 and some more. Practicing this method using two ten frames demonstrates the process concretely. In the example above, students use the ten-frames to show 7 and 6 separately. To make the new 10, students will move 3 from the 6, which now shows 10 and 3 more or 13.

As mentioned earlier, it is obvious that the most accessible problem types for students entering the second grade are the change-increase or change-decrease, result unknown and part-part-whole, whole unknown. The general go-to strategy for solving a word problem seems to be to just take the two numbers you see and add them together, or maybe subtract, but often the students are just unsure. It seems that these are the most practiced problem types, which leaves students without balanced experience with all 14 types and ultimately without some strategies to employ as they problem-solve. Students need to see a broad range of problems to gain a strong understanding of how addition and subtraction are used and how they are related to each other. The notion of example sufficiency means students should be exposed to a wide array of examples to provide well-rounded practice with the concept. 6

Teaching Strategies

The approaches for this curriculum unit vary to reflect the learning styles of all students.

The general format is based on the workshop model. The concepts and skills are taught through a series of mini-lessons focused on the objective with the following methods used throughout:

Experiential Learning: Most young students need to begin with hands-on learning. Using concrete models to work out math stories allows students to see the problem and manipulate the pieces as the story progresses. This type of learning is an important first step.

Differentiated Instruction: Lessons and activities will be targeted to maximize learning. The students will use a variety of approaches, working sometimes individually and sometimes in small groups, determined by the complexity of the work. Some students will move more quickly as they master skills and some will need more opportunities for practice.

Cooperative Learning: The students will be given opportunities to work as cooperative groups to create math stories to present to the class. This strategy will allow students to work collaboratively taking on various roles necessary to complete the work, with a focus on success for all.

Classroom Activities

Activity 1: sequenced problem types – problems to 10.

The introduction (and review) portion of the unit covers all problem types but in a sequenced manner. The objective is for students to read and interpret a word problem with guided instruction followed by independent practice. Because of the many problem types, this part will take several days of review and practice before students are comfortable beginning to write their own sets of problems. Based on student need and pace of understanding, I expect this section to be a four- to six-day set of lessons, more if needed.

The sequence is as follows: part-part-whole ; change-increase and change-decrease ; and finally, compare-greater and compare-fewer . The following introductory sessions are designed as a whole group activity, with students either at their desks or gathered on the rug close to the board or easel. The whole group portion should be 20 minutes at most. At the close of each session, I will give students between 5 and 10 similar problems to solve. More capable students can begin to generate their own problems during the independent work time.

Beginning with the fundamentals provides a good opportunity to get to know students’ skills which is helpful in preparing differentiated work and creating groups,

In this lesson, students will interpret real world problems and with the help of manipulatives and pictures, solve part-part-whole stories using addition and subtraction.

6 girls are playing

3 boys are playing with them.

How many children are playing in all?

Begin the story with the whole unknown as in this example. This type of story is perfect for students to act out right in the classroom. Write the story on the board or chart paper and have students volunteer as actors. Once the students have solved the problem, write the math sentence to show what happened: 6 + 3 = 9 students. Explain that the 2 parts (boys and girls) have made a whole (children). With the students still in acting position, present a new approach to this scenario:

9 students are playing.

6 of them are girls.

How many boys are playing?

With this visual example, students should see right away how many. The important concept to demonstrate is that the parts can be determined when the whole and one part are known, in this case 9 is known as the whole and 6 as one part. Again, write the math sentence to show this calculation: 6 + ? = 9 and include the strategy of starting with the whole to determine the missing part as a subtraction sentence 9 – 6 = 3. Practicing both approaches to the solution will help students connect addition and subtraction and recognize how they are used together.

Since this lesson requires students to read story problems, I will pair fluent readers with those who are less fluent, provide counters for those who want them, and allow partners to work together to solve and problems and share the strategies that they used.

I will use two more examples, like the ones below, to demonstrate, remembering to write the word problem on the board as well as the math sentence. I will also reword the problems to have the part as the unknown.

Hannah has 5 red markers.

She has 3 blue markers

How many markers does Hannah have in all?

7 students are drawing with crayons.

2 students are drawing with colored pencils.

How many students are drawing?

Continuing with this same idea, the next set of problem types includes change-increase and change-decrease . Although part-part-whole is language that students can adopt and use while discussing their work, the change-increase and change decrease language is a bit trickier. The use of the word change is more appropriate for students to demonstrate that some amount has been either added or subtracted from an initial amount.

Introduce the word problem below which is an example of the unknown result in the change-increase category.

Jason had 8 “caught being good” stickers on his chart at the beginning of the day.

During the school day, he earned 2 more stickers.

How many stickers does Jason have on his chart at the end of the day?

Student can solve the problem as written and, using the same scenario, challenge them to create the change-unknown and initial unknown story. One example might be:

Jason had some “caught being good” stickers on his chart at the

beginning of the day.

At the end of the day, he has 10 stickers.

How many stickers did Jason have at the beginning of the day?

This is an oral activity, with me writing the adjusted version across the board, placing the math sentence underneath. It is important to allow students to work on composing the problem so they can begin the see the relationship between the problems and what the problems are asking.

The goal is for students to understand and not just solve. I can informally assess during the discussion of rewriting the text of the word problem, with more formal assessment later in the unit.

The next category to introduce is the change-decrease problem types. Following the same format as before, I will introduce the result unknown, change unknown and then initial unknown.

Crystal collected 7 leaves for her project.

2 leaves blew away in the breeze.

How many leaves does Crystal have left for her project?

Again, the goal is for students to understand and not just solve.

The third broad class, compare, is more difficult for my 2 nd grade students. This requires the text of the word problems to be very straight-forward. Students should not get tangled up when they are learning to take the data from the problem. Remember that using the exact terminology is not the goal, but rather understanding what the problem is asking. Here are three ways I will present a scenario that shows the problem types comparison-more , and three ways to show comparison-less. Students need to be exposed to and have opportunities to practice all types. Of course, not all of these examples should be used at one time. As I write the problems out on chart paper and post them in the classroom, the students can begin to see and do their own comparing and contrasting as one scenario is explained in different ways. The use of the words “more” and “fewer” should be highlighted and explained as the problem set is introduced and worked on. My role here is to let the students begin to notice the subtle differences in the wording and how it changes the thinking. Simpler is better to start with!

Throughout these introductory sessions, the students and I will brainstorm scenarios that can eventually be used in own word problems. Ideas should generate from school activities and materials, guiding students to think of what students can actually use for manipulatives or, as in the first scenario, be able to act out to solve. By keeping a list of ideas on chart paper as reference material, students won’t struggle with vocabulary or appropriate scenarios; they will be on to the task of crafting their problems. This list will prepare the students for the second part of the unit.

Activity 2: Classroom / school scenarios

As stated earlier, words and vocabulary should be accessible to students and not a challenge or hurdle. The goal is to get to the thinking of the stories and plugging in the information that was gathered during the brainstorming session. To begin this portion, review the charts and add more if students have new ideas. It may be helpful for the purposes of composing word problems to have the information in categories, such as these:

Materials We Use

Classes We Attend

Activities at School

Classmate’s Names

I will create groups of two or three students to have them write problems of their own to share with the class.  Since this lesson requires students to read and write story problems, again, fluent readers and writers with those who are less fluent, provide counters for those who want them, and allow partners to work together to solve and problems and share the strategies that they used.

The goal during this period of time is to challenge students to write the same problem but try it another way, choose a different type as they tell the story. The timing for the student groups to work together will be during arrival time as morning work and during the math workshop portion of math instruction time. This will allow students to work as much as 30 minutes per day with their partners to create some math stories.

I will stress that it is important to keep their collection together as much of their work will become part of the workbook they will create at the end of this unit. Folders and math journals can be helpful, or my collecting the work-in-progress daily is another option.

Activity 3: Science Scenarios

The first unit in 2 nd grade science is investigation and research on the life cycle of the butterfly. Students receive caterpillars at the start of the semester and observe and record the changes the caterpillar’s life. The work that the students do during their science lessons can become the information and scenarios they can use for crafting word problems.

Using all different problem types, we will write several together as a class.  This is an additional opportunity to integrate math very specifically into our science research and work. It is important for students to recognize that, although their learning has been compartmentalized into subject areas, it is essentially impossible to separate it all out into categories. So this portion of the unit uses math, science and reading to help students learn about the life cycle of a butterfly (and other animals as well).

Students will create problem sets that use their daily experiences tracking their caterpillars. Each student has 2-3 caterpillars to observe and record information on, which can become the start of word problems. Examples to start: If Table 3 has 8 caterpillars and 2 caterpillars join that group, how many caterpillars are being observed at Table 3? Here are 28 students in the class. Each student need one cup of caterpillar food.  There are 30 cups of caterpillar food. How many more cups of food are there than students?

There are often students who have great interest in other areas of science. This is an area to encourage if students are excited about sharing their knowledge. Some students will be more inclined to use the unit of study going on in class, but throughout the literacy portion of the day, students are exposed to a great deal of non-fiction, or informational text, that could certainly enrich our science word problems.

Throughout the duration of the science unit, students will continue to write word problems of various types to eventually include in our final project, the workbook. These problems can be written during the morning work session, during math workshop, and at the end of science class. By the end of the unit, each student should have two problems to add to the Science chapter of the workbook.

Activity 4: Creation of Workbook / Publishing Celebration

The goal of this portion of the unit is to sort the word problems into “chapters” and create a workbook to share at the Publication Celebration. Chapters will be titled by subject or category, depending on student choice and teacher suggestion. Ideas include Beginning Stories, Classroom Activities, Playground Fun, Science & Math, and Social Studies Connections. Let students be creative with titles!

Students will submit their work which will include at least one word problem for each chapter. They must also submit the solutions to their problems so that they can be included in an answer key. Each chapter will have at least 25 problems, with examples of all types and with varying levels of difficulty. Word problems can either be typed or hand-written for the final workbook, depending on what the students decide as a class. One workbook per student will need to be copied and bound in some manner for the Celebration.

Two weeks before the Publication Celebration, students will create an invitation to give to their family and friends, inviting them to come for a “Celebration of Problem Solving.” Parents and other VIP guests will spend some time working on word problems, moving around the room, visiting many students. The students will share their own specific work with the guests (the word problems they themselves created) and “help” their visitors figure out the answers.

Each student will have a “Comments” sheet for guests to sign and leave comments on their experience working with the student. I will encourage visitors to stop to talk with each student or as many as they can during their visit.

Additionally, this is an opportunity to have some students work as editors and publishers. Creating the workbook will require review and assembly time and these tasks can be delegated and shared by the students who are interested.

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics,

http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards/mathematics.

Fong, Ho Kheong. Math in Focus Singapore Math by Marshall Cavendish . Final ed. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Education, 2015.

Fuson, Karen C. Math Expressions . 2011 ed. Orlando, FL: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt ;, 2011.

Howe, Roger. Three Pillars of First Grade Mathematics and Beyond

Howe, Roger, The Most Important Thing for Your Child to Learn about Arithmetic

Howe, Roger and Harold Reiter, The Five Stages of Place Value

Ma, L. Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics , Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, NJ, 1999.

The Moscow Puzzles: 359 Mathematical Recreations . New York: Dover Publications, 1992.

Polya, George. How to Solve It: A New Aspect of Mathematical Method . New Princeton Science Library ed., 2014.

Appendix A: Problem Set

Change Increase / Result Unknown

7 students are in the classroom. 2 more students join them. How many students are in the classroom now?

Change Increase / Change Unknown

7 students are in the classroom. Some more students join them. Then there were 9 students. How many students join the first 7?

Change Increase / Initial Unknown

Some students are in the classroom. 2 more students joined them. Then there were 9 students. How many students were in the classroom at the beginning?

Change Decrease / Result Unknown

9 students were in the classroom. 2 students went home. How many students are in the classroom now?

Change Decrease / Change Unknown

9 students were in the classroom. Some students went home. Now there are 7 students. How many students went home?

Change Decrease / Initial Unknown

Some students were in the classroom. 2 students went home. Then there were 7 students in the classroom. How many students were in the classroom in the beginning?

Compare More / Difference Unknown

Sam has 10 French fries. Emily has 6 French fries. How many more does Sam have than Emily?

Compare More / Greater Unknown

Sam has 4 more French fries than Emily. Emily has 6 French fries. How many French fries does Sam have?

Compare More / Smaller Unknown

Sam has 4 more French fries than Emily. Sam has 10 French fries. How many French fries does Emily have?

Compare Fewer / Difference Unknown

Sam has 10 French fries. Emily has 6 French fries. How many fewer does Emily have than Sam?

Compare Fewer / Smaller Unknown

Emily has 4 fewer French fries than Sam. Sam has 10 French fries. How many French fries doe Emily have?

Compare Fewer / Greater Unknown

Emily has 4 fewer French fries than Sam. Emily has 6 French fries. How many French fries does Sam have?

Part-Part-Whole / Whole Unknown

Sam has 4 cookies for lunch. He has 2 more for dinner. How many cookies does Sam have?

Sam ate 6 cookies today. He had 4 of them for lunch. How many did he have for dinner?

Appendix B – Implementing Common Core Standards

This unit integrates, quite naturally, literacy and math. Both reading and writing are essential parts of the students’ ability to solve word problems involving both addition and subtraction.

Students will work most specifically toward the Common Core State Standard in Mathematics, 2.OA.A.1 which states that second graders should, by the end of the year, be able to “represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one- step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions. During this unit students will begin solving and crafting word problems with numbers to 10, advance to numbers to 20 and continue on to the 100’s and up to 1000 as they master place value concepts.

This unit also addresses the Language Arts Common Core State Standards of Reading Informational Text, RI.2.1, in which students work on locating key ideas and details by asking and answering such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text. Throughout this unit on word problems, students will be working asking these questions as they determine what information the math story is providing. As they begin to write their own word problems, they will need to consider these questions to craft a meaningful story for the text of their problem.

• Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards/mathematics.
• Common Core State Standards for Mathematics
• Ho Kheong Fong, Math in Focus Singapore Math by Marshall Cavendish , 8.
• Roger Howe, Three Pillars of First Grade Mathematics and Beyond, 2 .
• Roger Howe, Three Pillars of First Grade Mathematics and Beyond, 1 . Common Core State Standards for Mathematics
• Roger Howe, Three Pillars of First Grade Mathematics and Beyond, 2

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25+ Amazing Activities for 2nd Grade (printables + Reels)

Second grade is like a playground for your brain, where every activity is a chance to learn and have a blast. From adding up numbers to discovering cool facts about animals and planets, there’s so much cool stuff waiting for you!

These activities aren’t just for school; they’re like secret missions that make learning super exciting. So, put on your adventure hats and get ready to explore a world where every day is a new discovery!

Table of Contents

Interesting Second Grade Activities for Kids

Positional language activities games.

Engage second graders in fun positional language games to improve their spatial awareness.

Games like “Simon Says,” where they follow commands like “Put your hands above your head” or “Stand behind a chair,” help reinforce concepts like above, below, beside, and behind.

Process Art

Encourage creativity and self-expression in second graders with process art. Unlike traditional crafts, process art focuses on the experience rather than the end product.

Children explore different materials and techniques to create unique artworks, fostering experimentation, and individuality.

Seriation Activities

Develop logical thinking and mathematical skills in second graders through seriation activities. Children arrange objects by size, shape, or color, helping them understand patterns and sequences.

Activities like sorting buttons by size or arranging sticks from shortest to longest provide hands-on learning experiences.

Water Activities

Keep second graders engaged and cool with water activities.

Whether it’s water balloon toss, sponge relay races, or simple experiments like sinking and floating, these activities promote teamwork, sensory exploration, and scientific inquiry.

Sorting Activities

Grow second graders’ cognitive skills with sorting activities. Sorting objects by attributes like color, shape, or size helps children develop classification skills and understand similarities and differences.

From sorting buttons into color groups to organizing a collection of rocks by type, these activities offer opportunities for hands-on learning and critical thinking .

Hands-On Learning Activities

Engage second graders in hands-on learning activities to make concepts come alive.

From science experiments like creating a volcano eruption to math activities using manipulatives like blocks or counters, hands-on activities deepen understanding and retention while fostering curiosity and critical thinking.

Auditory Memory Activities

Sharpen auditory memory skills in second graders with fun and engaging activities.

Games like “Memory Match,” where children listen to and match pairs of sounds or words, or “Sound Scavenger Hunt ,” where they identify and recall sounds in their environment, help improve listening and memory skills.

Brain Break Activities

Keep second graders energized and focused with brain break activities. Quick and fun activities like dancing to a favorite song, doing a few yoga poses, or playing a round of “Simon Says” provide a brief pause from academic tasks.

That allows children to recharge, refocus, and return to learning with renewed energy and concentration.

Goofy Activities

Infuse laughter and silliness into learning with goofy activities. Whether it’s a “Crazy Hat Day,” a “Silly Storytelling” session, or a “Wacky Science Experiment,”.

These activities encourage creativity, spontaneity, and a sense of fun, making learning enjoyable and memorable for second graders.

Activities for Toddlers

Engage second graders in activities suitable for their younger peers to promote empathy, leadership, and social skills.

Second graders can lead simple activities like storytelling, crafting, or outdoor games for toddlers, fostering responsibility, communication, and cooperation while building relationships across age groups.

Team Building Activities

Foster collaboration and communication skills in second graders through team-building activities.

Games like “Human Knot,” where children work together to untangle a knot while holding hands, or “Pass the Hoop,” where they must pass a hula hoop around the circle without breaking the chain, promote teamwork, problem-solving, and trust among classmates.

Get to Know Me Activities

Build a sense of community and connection among second graders with get-to-know-me activities.

Children can create “All About Me” posters, share fun facts about themselves, or participate in icebreaker games like “Two Truths and a Lie” to learn more about their classmates, fostering friendship, empathy, and understanding.

Indoor Gardening Activities

Cultivate a love for nature and environmental stewardship in second graders through indoor gardening activities .

Children can plant seeds, care for indoor plants, or create terrariums, learning about plant life cycles, ecosystems, and responsible gardening practices while nurturing a sense of responsibility, patience, and appreciation for the natural world.

Storytelling Activities

Spark imagination and creativity in second graders with storytelling activities. Kids can take turns creating and sharing stories, act out favorite books or folktales, or participate in storytelling circles.

Where they contribute to a collective story, fostering language development, empathy, and confidence in self-expression.

Mind Mapping Activities

Enhance critical thinking and organization skills in second graders through mind mapping activities.

Children can create visual diagrams or webs to organize ideas, brainstorm solutions to problems, or plan projects and presentations, promoting creative thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication skills.

Hula Hoop Games for Kids

Engage second graders in active play with fun hula hoop games. Children can participate in games like “Hula Hoop Relay,” where teams race to pass a hula hoop down a line without using their hands, or “Hula Hoop Toss,”.

Where they try to toss objects into a hula hoop target. These games promote coordination, teamwork, and physical fitness while keeping children entertained and active.

Pass the Parcel Ideas

Add excitement to classroom celebrations with creative pass-the-parcel ideas. Children can pass a parcel wrapped in layers of paper, with a small prize or activity inside each layer.

Ideas for activities can include silly challenges, trivia questions, or mini art projects, creating anticipation and enjoyment for all participants.

Shape Crafts for Preschoolers

Foster creativity and fine motor skills in second graders with shape crafts. Children can use basic shapes like circles, squares, and triangles to create artwork, collages, or sculptures.

Shape-themed crafts not only reinforce shape recognition skills but also encourage artistic expression and imagination.

Number Recognition Games

Reinforce number recognition skills in second graders with engaging games and activities. Children can participate in games like “Number Hunt,” where they search for hidden numbers around the classroom or outdoor space, or “Number Bingo,”.

Where they match numbers to corresponding objects or pictures. These games promote numerical fluency and confidence in recognizing and identifying numbers.

Visual Memory Games

Improve visual memory and concentration skills in second graders with stimulating memory games.

Children can play games like “Memory Match,” where they flip over cards to find matching pairs, or “What’s Missing,” where they study a group of objects before one is removed, and they must identify the missing item.

These games promote cognitive skills, attention to detail, and memory retention while providing enjoyable and challenging mental exercises.

Inspire creativity and language skills in second graders with a play poem. Children can work together to write a poem about playtime, imagination, or their favorite games and activities.

They can then perform the poem as a group, incorporating movement, gestures, and expression to bring the words to life.

Gross Motor Milestones

Help second graders develop their gross motor skills by focusing on age-appropriate milestones.

Activities like jumping rope, climbing a rope ladder, or playing hopscotch challenge children’s balance, coordination, and strength, supporting their physical development and overall well-being.

Follow the Leader Game

Promote leadership skills and cooperation among second graders with the classic follow-the-leader game.

Kids take turns leading the group in a series of movements or actions, such as skipping, hopping, or dancing. This game encourages creativity, decision-making, and social interaction while fostering teamwork and confidence.

Playing Shop

Foster math, literacy, and social skills in second graders through playing shop. Children can set up a pretend store with items like play food, toys, or classroom supplies, taking turns being shopkeepers and customers.

This activity promotes counting, money skills, communication, and role-playing while providing hands-on learning experiences.

Indoor Exercise for Kids

Keep second graders active and healthy with indoor exercise activities. Kids can participate in exercises like jumping jacks, yoga poses, or dance routines, following along with videos or guided instructions.

Indoor exercise promotes physical fitness, coordination, and mood regulation while providing opportunities for fun and movement, even when the weather keeps them indoors.

In simple terms, these second-grade activities are all about learning and fun! They help kids develop in different ways, like by playing games, being creative with art, and moving their bodies.

Whether they’re counting in a pretend shop, playing follow-the-leader, or doing yoga indoors, these activities are all about having a good time while growing and learning new things. They help kids become smarter, stronger, and more confident.

I’m a former teacher (and mother of Two Childs) with a background in child development. Here to help you with play-based learning activities for kids. ( Check my  Next startup  Cledemy.Com )

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Explore 2nd grade educational resources for Math and ELA. Browse a variety of learning resources, such as games, worksheets, lesson plans, live classes, and more. Learn and master key concepts like addition and subtraction, reading skills, phonics, writing, etc. with ease. Get started today for free!

CONTENT TYPE

• Lesson Plans
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• Add with Pictures within 10 (1)
• Model Addition (7)
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• Add Using Models (8)
• Addition Strategies (178)
• Addition Strategies within 10 (28)
• Count On to Add Strategy (22)
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• Addition Strategies within 20 (82)
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• Doubles and Near Doubles Strategy to Add (25)
• Doubles Facts (10)
• Add Three Whole Numbers (11)
• Addition Strategies within 100 (35)
• Add using multiples of 10 (19)
• Addition Strategies within 1000 (36)
• Add using multiples of 100 (25)
• Addition Facts (114)
• Fluently Add within 10 (22)
• Fluently Add within 20 (92)
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• Addition Without Regrouping (168)
• Add within 100 without Regrouping (72)
• Add 2-digit number to 1-digit (17)
• Add 2-digit number to 2-digit (54)
• Add within 1000 without Regrouping (96)
• Add 10 to 3-digit numbers (15)
• Add 100 to 3-digit numbers (16)
• Add 3-digit number to 1-digit (16)
• Add 3-digit number to 2-digit (20)
• Add two 3-digit numbers (34)
• Addition With Regrouping (98)
• Add within 100 with Regrouping (51)
• Regroup and add 2-digit number to 1-digit (17)
• Regroup and add 2-digit numbers (17)
• Add within 1000 with Regrouping (47)
• Regroup ones and add (13)
• Regroup ones and tens and add (13)
• Regroup tens and add (3)
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• Subtraction Sentences (2)
• Subtraction Sentences within 10 (2)
• Model Subtraction (9)
• Subtract using Models (7)
• Subtraction Strategies (135)
• Subtraction Strategies within 10 (7)
• Count Back Strategy within 10 (7)
• Subtraction Strategies within 20 (72)
• Count Back Strategy within 20 (32)
• Relate Addition and Subtraction within 20 (13)
• Doubles and Near Doubles Strategy to Subtract (4)
• Subtract from 10 Strategy (12)
• Subtraction Strategies within 100 (36)
• Subtract using multiples of 10 (20)
• Subtraction Strategies within 1000 (22)
• Subtract using multiples of 100 (11)
• Subtraction Facts (86)
• Fluently Subtract within 10 (7)
• Fluently Subtract within 20 (82)
• Equal Expressions in Subtraction (10)
• Subtraction Without Regrouping (157)
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• Subtract Multiples of 10 (14)
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• Subtraction With Regrouping (86)
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Number Sense

Compare Numbers using Place Value Charts Game

Learn to solve problems through comparing numbers using place value charts.

Compare Numbers within 100 Game

Add more arrows to your child’s math quiver by helping them compare numbers within 100.

Check the Number Comparisons within 20 Worksheet

A worksheet focused on enhancing skills to compare and differentiate between numbers up to 20.

Compare and Find Missing Numbers within 20 Worksheet

A worksheet designed to boost skills in comparing numbers up to 20 without visual aids.

Find 10 More and 10 Less than a Multiple of Ten Game

Kids must find 10 more and 10 less than a multiple of ten to practice addition.

Identify 10 More and 10 Less Game

Use your addition skills to identify 10 More and 10 Less.

Even Sum in Addition Expressions Within 20 Worksheet

Identify and highlight addition expressions that result in an even sum within the range of 20 in this engaging worksheet!

Even Sum in Addition Expressions Within 50 Worksheet

Identify and mark addition expressions resulting in even sums up to 50 in this worksheet.

Subtraction

Write the Related Facts Game

Shine bright in the math world by learning how to write related facts.

Think Addition with Bar Models Game

Shine bright in the math world by learning how to do think addition with bar models.

Create Number Sentences Worksheet

Boost your ability to create number sentences by printing this playful worksheet.

Relate Addition & Subtraction Sentences Worksheet

Be on your way to become a mathematician by practicing to relate addition & subtraction sentences.

Multiplication

Skip Count to Find the Answer Game

Use your math skills to skip count to find the answer.

Find Equal Groups and Size of Group Game

Practice the superpower of multiplication by learning to find equal groups and the size of group.

Identify the Finger Model Worksheet

This downloadable worksheet is designed to practice identifying the finger model.

Select the Finger Model Worksheet

In this worksheet, learners will have to select the finger model to practice math skills.

How Many Shares are in a Whole Game

Enjoy the marvel of mathematics by determining the number of shares in a whole.

Two Equal Shares Game

Dive deep into the world of geometry by learning about two equal shares.

Color Shapes Divided into Equal Parts Worksheet

Focus on core math skills with this fun worksheet by coloring shapes divided into equal parts.

Identify and Color Equal Parts Worksheet

Put your skills to the test by identifying and coloring equal parts.

Measurement

Measure Length using Another Object Game

Add more arrows to your child’s math quiver by measuring the length using another object.

Make Reasonable Estimates of Lengths Game

Enter the madness of math-multiverse by exploring how to make reasonable estimates of lengths.

Measure Lengths of Objects Worksheet

Focus on core math skills with this fun worksheet by solving to measure the lengths of objects.

Measuring Lengths of Objects Worksheet

Use this printable worksheet to measure lengths of objects to strengthen your math skills.

Relate Activities with A.M. and P.M. Game

Shine bright in the math world by learning how to relate activities with A.M. and P.M.

• Tell Time in A.M. and P.M. Game

Kids must tell the time in A.M. and P.M. to play this game.

AM and PM Worksheet

Assess your math skills by practicing AM and PM in this worksheet.

Everyday Activities and Time Worksheet

Combine math learning with adventure by looking at everyday activities and their time.

Arrange Coins by their Value Game

Unearth the wisdom of mathematics by learning how to arrange coins by their value.

Order the Coins by their Values Game

Begin the exciting journey of becoming a math wizard by learning to order coins by their values.

Compare Amount Worksheet

Assess your math skills by comparing amounts in this worksheet.

Make Enough Money Worksheet

Combine math learning with adventure by solving to make enough money.

Word Problems

Solve Word Problems on Adding Three Numbers Game

Learn to solve word problems on adding three numbers through this game.

Solve 'Count On' Word Problems Game

Take the first step towards building your math castle by solving 'Count On' word problems.

Complete the Model Using Clues Worksheet

Assess your math skills by completing the model using clues in this worksheet.

Write the Equation using Clues Worksheet

Be on your way to become a mathematician by practicing to write the equation using clues.

Explore Words With Diphthongs - oy Game

Polish your language skills by exploring words with diphthongs - oy.

Explore Words With Diphthongs - ou Game

Polish your language skills by exploring words with diphthongs - ou.

Matching Game: Diphthongs Worksheet

Enhance your kid's phonics skills with this engaging matching worksheet focusing on diphthongs!

Spot the Correct Sound Worksheet

Spark an interest in language in your child by spotting the correct sound.

All Resources

Count Forward by 1 Game

Begin the exciting journey of becoming a math wizard by learning how to count forward by 1.

Represent 'Add To' Word Problems Game

Take a deep dive into the world of math with our 'Represent 'Add To' Word Problems' game.

Identify 1 More or 1 Less Worksheet

Reinforce math concepts by practicing to identify 1 more or 1 less.

Find the Sum Using Part-Part-Whole Model Worksheet

Combine math learning with adventure by solving to find the sum using 'Part-Part-Whole' model.

Subtract Tens Game

Take a deep dive into the world of math by subtracting tens.

Complete the Part-Part-Whole Model Worksheet

Learners must complete the 'Part-Part-Whole' model to enhance their math skills.

Identify Squares and Trapezoids Game

Shine bright in the math world by learning how to identify squares and trapezoids.

Verify 2D Shapes Group Labels Worksheet

Enhance your geometry skills in sorting 2D shapes with our engaging math worksheet!

Solve Word Problems on Measurement Worksheet

This downloadable worksheet is designed to help you solve word problems on measurement.

The Minute Hand Game

Take a look at the minute hand with this fun game about time.

Represent Money using Symbols Game

Shine bright in the math world by learning how to represent money using symbols.

Time of Activities of the Day Worksheet

Look at the time of activities of the day by printing this playful worksheet.

Guess the Price Worksheet

Dive into this fun-filled printable worksheet by practicing to guess the price.

Word Problems to Count by Tens Game

Shine bright in the math world by learning how to solve word problems to count by tens.

Choose the Correct Operation— Add or Subtract Worksheet

Make math practice a joyride by choosing the correct operation— Add or Subtract.

Represent 'Put Together' Word Problems Game

Unearth the wisdom of mathematics by learning how to represent 'Put Together' word problems.

Find More & Less Worksheet

Solidify your math skills by practicing to find 'More' & 'Less'.

Write Equations Using Part-Part-Whole Model Worksheet

Learn number sense at the speed of lightning by writing equations using 'Part-Part-Whole' model.

Subtract 10 from a Teen Number Game

Help your child take flight by learning how to subtract 10 from a teen number.

Part-Part-Whole Model Worksheet

In this worksheet, learners will get to practice the 'Part-Part-Whole' model.

Identify Open & Closed Shapes Game

Have your own math-themed party by learning how to identify open & closed shapes.

Sort Different Types of 2D Shapes Worksheet

Boost your child's geometry skills with this worksheet on sorting various 2D shapes.

Word Problems on Measurement Worksheet

Focus on core math skills with this fun worksheet by solving word problems on measurement.

Use Symbols to Represent Money Game

Unearth the wisdom of mathematics by learning how to use symbols to represent money.

Hours or Minutes Worksheet

Make math practice a joyride by solving problems with 'hours' or 'minutes'.

Understanding Coins Worksheet

Reinforce math concepts by practicing to understand coins.

Select the Correct Model Worksheet

Pack your math practice time with fun by selecting the correct model.

Add 1-Digit Numbers Game

Enjoy the marvel of mathematics by exploring how to add 1-digit numbers.

Match by Subtracting from a Teen Number Game

Enjoy the marvel of math-multiverse by exploring how to match by subtracting from a teen number.

Complete More or Less Sentences Worksheet

Pack your math practice time with fun by completing 'more' or 'less' sentences.

Create Equal Groups Game

Make learning multiplication easy by creating equal groups.

Identify Trapezoid, Hexagon, and Pentagon Game

Take a deep dive into the world of math by identifying trapezoids, hexagons, and pentagons.

Write Subtraction Equation using Clues Worksheet

Assess your math skills by writing subtraction equations using clues.

Use Fingers to Multiply Worksheet

Reinforce math concepts by practicing to use fingers to multiply.

Second Grade Curriculum and Educational Resources

In grade 2, for children around 7 to 8 years old, the educational journey advances as they start learning more challenging concepts. This grade introduces more complex math and ELA skills compared to grade 1, such as addition and subtraction with larger numbers and reading comprehension. The curriculum for 2nd graders is designed to strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

• Grade 2 Math Learning : In math, students learn counting (up to 1,000), skip counting (by twos, fives, tens, etc.), comparing and ordering numbers, even and odd numbers, place value concepts (standard form, expanded form, etc.), addition and subtraction (up to 1,000 with and without regrouping), multiplication as repeated addition (arrays and equal groups), partitioning different 2D shapes,  measuring and estimating lengths, data handling concepts (bar graphs, tally charts, picture graphs, etc.), counting money , reading analog clocks , and much more.
• Grade 2 ELA Learning : In ELA, kids learn essential reading and writing skills. Under the reading curriculum, kids explore important phonics concepts, such as diphthongs, consonant blends, trigraphs, sight words, etc. As a part of the writing curriculum, kids learn different writing strategies, such as learning to write high-frequency sight words.

Types of Grade 2 Learning Resources

Let’s take an overview of the different types of second grade learning resources offered by SplashLearn.

Fun Grade 2 Learning Games

The grade 2 curriculum-aligned learning games primarily cover two subjects — Math and ELA .

• 2nd Grade Math Games : This section features over 350 math games focused on topics like number sense, addition, subtraction, multiplication, geometry, measurement, time, money, and word problems.
• 2nd Grade ELA Games : There are around 400 language games expertly designed to help students improve their reading and writing skills.

Engaging Grade 2 Worksheets

SplashLearn offers printable 2nd grade worksheets for math and ELA.

• 2nd Grade Math worksheets : There are over 950 math worksheets expertly designed to offer hands-on practice.
• 2nd Grade ELA worksheets : There are 650+ ELA worksheets fully packed with systematic and effective language exercises for kids.

Grade 2 Lesson Plans

• Math lesson plans for 2nd graders : There are well-curated lesson plans that cover key math topics, like number sense, addition, subtraction, multiplication, geometry , measurement, time , money , and word problems .
• ELA lesson plans for 2nd graders : This section features educational lesson plans designed for reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, etc. 

Grade 2 Live Classes

• You can join interactive Live Classes on SplashLearn designed for Math and reading. These classes are led by experienced and certified teachers. Parents can choose a convenient time slot for their child. 
• Parents who have an active subscription or trial can effortlessly find the "Live Class" page at the top of the dashboard.
• While our grade-specific apps don't currently have the Live class feature, you can easily participate via our website using laptops, desktops, iPads, Macbooks, or Chromebooks.

What Are the Best Tips for Teaching 2nd Graders?

To explore effective teaching methods for 2nd grade, understanding the curriculum and its goals is key. Check out these blogs and articles for guidance:

• 2nd Grade Curriculum: 5 Things Kids Learn in 2nd Grade : Discover what 2nd graders study in Unit conversions, Reading, Writing, Science, Geometry, and Measurements. Plus, find helpful tips for parents of 2nd graders.
• 100 Fun Writing Prompts for 2nd Grade: Journal Prompts : This blog will be great for finding the best writing prompts and creating a love for writing in kids. Give it a read!

What Are the Best 5 Second Grade Learning Resources?

Here are 5 super-fun learning resources for 2nd graders offered by SplashLearn:

• Count on using a Number Line Game
• Describing Equal Groups Worksheet
• Hour Hand and Minute Hand Worksheet
• Math Lesson Plan — Master Subtraction Word Problems

Your one stop solution for all grade learning needs.

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Grades 1-2 Critical Thinking Test - eBook

Grades: 1-2

Critical Thinking, Test Prep & Tests

• Printable - eBook - $0.00

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First and Second Grade Critical Thinking Test PDF Free Online

Assess your child's critical thinking skills with our exclusive Grades 1-2 Critical Thinking Test . This resource offers a variety of activities making it an invaluable diagnostic tool for educators and parents alike. Critical thinking forms the bedrock for success in academics and life. It equips students with the skills to analyze and form well-reasoned evidence-based conclusions. By teaching and developing critical thinking skills, you're exponentially improving a child's chances for success throughout life. "If we teach children everything we know, their knowledge is limited to ours. If we teach children to think, their knowledge is limitless." -Michael Baker

eBook Ordering eBooks are electronic versions of the book pages in PDF format. You can open the PDF eBook from any device or computer that has a PDF reader such as Adobe® Reader®. You can legally keep a copy of this eBook on three different devices. After purchase, you can immediately download your eBook from "My Account" under the "My Downloadable Product" section after you place your order.

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Using Addition and Subtraction: Critical Thinking (Gr. 2)

Scott Foresman, an imprint of Pearson

Featured 2nd grade resources.

Related Resources

• Math Worksheets
• 2nd Grade Math
• Logical reasoning

Grade 2 logical reasoning worksheets: Improve your child's thinking skills

Hello, and welcome to our engaging math resource! Today we will discuss a vital topic for Grade 2 students: logical reasoning. This article will provide many learning opportunities and areas in Mathskills4kids.com , where you'll find the best Grade 2 logical reasoning worksheets online. These worksheets are designed to improve your child's thinking skills and apply them in math and the real world.

Logical reasoning involves using facts, rules, and patterns to solve problems and make decisions . Logical reasoning skills are essential for academic success and everyday life.

Our major objective in this resource is to show you why logical reasoning is important for grade 2 students , how to introduce logical reasoning concepts to your child , fun and engaging activities to practice logical reasoning skills , the benefits of logical reasoning worksheets for grade 2 , tips and tricks to help your child solve logical reasoning problems , etc.

Let's get started!

Why logical reasoning is important for Grade 2 students

Logical reasoning is important for grade 2 students because it helps them develop their thinking skills and prepares them for more advanced math and science topics in the future.

Logical reasoning also helps students improve their reading comprehension, writing skills, and creativity. With logical reasoning skills, students can understand different perspectives, evaluate arguments, and draw conclusions.

Logical reasoning also fosters curiosity, confidence, and independence in learning.

BROWSE THE WEBSITE

Download free worksheets, 2nd grade math topics.

• Counting and numbers
• Comparing and ordering
• Reading and writing numbers
• Shape patterns
• Adding of 1-digit numbers
• Subtracting of 1-digit numbers
• Additing 2-digit numbers
• Subtracting within 2-digits
• Up to 3-digit addition
• Subtracting within 3-digit
• Properties of addition & subtaction
• Mixed operations
• Place-value
• Estimating and rounding

Telling Time

• Data and graphing
• Units of measurement
• Geometric measurement
• Probability

Multiplication

Start practice on Second Grade here

How to introduce logical reasoning concepts to your child.

The best way to introduce logical reasoning concepts to your child is to use everyday examples and situations they can relate to.

For example, you can ask your child questions like:

• What do you think will happen if you leave your ice cream outside on a hot day?
• How do you know that this is a triangle?
• What is the rule for making this pattern ?
• How can you sort these objects into different groups ?
• How can you prove that this statement is true or false?

You can also use games, puzzles, stories, and experiments to introduce logical reasoning concepts to your child. For example, you can play games like tic-tac-toe, chess, sudoku, or riddles with your child.

You can also read stories that involve logic puzzles or mysteries with your child. You can also do simple experiments with your child using household items like water, vinegar, baking soda, or food coloring.

Mathskills4kids fun and engaging activities to practice logical reasoning skills

There are many fun and engaging activities found in Mathskills4kids that you can use to practice logical reasoning skills with your child. Here are some examples:

• Make a treasure map with clues and directions for your child to follow.
• Create a secret code with symbols or letters and have your child decode it.
• Build a model or a structure with blocks or Lego and have your child explain how they did it.
• Make a collage or a picture with shapes and colors and have your child describe it.
• Invent a new game or a toy with rules and instructions for your child to play.

The benefits of Mathskills4kids logical reasoning worksheets for Grade 2: Improve your child's problem-solving and critical thinking abilities

One of the best ways to practice and improve your child’s thinking skills is to use logical reasoning worksheets for grade 2 from Mathskills4kids.com . These Logical reasoning worksheets are designed to challenge and stimulate your child's mind with different problems and questions requiring logic and reasoning. Logical reasoning worksheets for grade 2 can help your child improve their problem-solving and critical thinking abilities by:

• Developing their analytical and deductive skills
• Enhancing their memory and concentration
• Expanding their vocabulary and knowledge
• Increasing their creativity and imagination
• Boosting their confidence and motivation

Tips and tricks to help your child solve logical reasoning problems

Solving logical reasoning problems can be tricky sometimes, but some tips and tricks can help your child solve all the exercises in our Grade 2 logical reasoning worksheets and more.

Here are some of them:

• Encourage your child to read the problem carefully and understand what it is asking.
• Help your child identify the relevant facts, rules, and patterns in the problem.
• Guide your child to use different strategies like drawing diagrams, making tables, using examples, or eliminating options.
• Support your child to check their answers and explain their reasoning.
• Praise your child for their efforts and achievements.

What are some real-life situations where logical reasoning skills are useful?

Logical reasoning skills are useful in real-life situations and school. Here are some examples of how logical reasoning skills can improve your child’s thinking skills in everyday life:

• Planning a trip or an event
• Following directions or instructions
• Making choices or decisions
• Solving conflicts or disputes
• Learning new skills or hobbies

Where to find the best grade 2 logical reasoning resources online

There are many ways to practice logical reasoning with your kids at home or in the classroom. Hence we want to help you discover where to find the best grade 2 logical reasoning resources online to print and use with your Grade 2 students at any time.

These activities are interactive, colorful, and varied, so your kids will always feel excited. They also cover different logical reasoning skills that will readily improve your child’s thinking skills, such as pattern recognition, picture analogy, picture matching, odd one out, and more.

Here are some of the best online Grade 2 logical reasoning worksheets and fun activities that we have found for you:

This website offers a variety of printable logic grid puzzles for kids of different ages and levels. Logic grid puzzles are a type of logic puzzle that require you to use clues and deductive reasoning to fill in a grid with the correct information.

For example, you might have to figure out who likes which color, has which pet, or plays which instrument. These puzzles are great for developing logical thinking, attention to detail, and concentration skills.

This website provides interactive worksheets that you can do online or print out.

The worksheets are based on the topic of animals and their habitats. They involve matching animals to their habitats, finding the odd ones, completing patterns, and more.

These worksheets are perfect for practicing visual discrimination, categorization, and spatial reasoning skills.

These puzzles enhance logical reasoning, analytical thinking, and math skills.

Thank you for sharing the links of MathSkills4Kids.com with your loved ones. Your choice is greatly appreciated.

We hope you enjoyed our Grade 2 logical reasoning worksheets and saw the amazing results in your child's thinking skills .

Thank you for reading, and happy reasoning!

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