I am always looking for quick and fun ways to keep students engaged in learning AND stretch their thinking. As a gifted and talented facilitator, I regularly add critical thinking games and tasks that challenge students to think outside the box and encourage classroom teachers to do the same. I finally compiled all of these activities into one easy-to-use, FREE document to help you integrate critical thinking games into your classroom, too!

FREE Creative and Critical Thinking Games

This FREE Creative and Critical Thinking Games Guide is packed with engaging, no-prep activities that encourage students to think critically and work together!

Why Teachers (and Students!) Love These Creative and Critical Thinking Games

From storytelling challenges to logic puzzles, each game is effective, engaging, and fun. I love these games because they are:

• No prep 
• Tailored for upper elementary, but adaptable for younger or older students
• Perfect for use anytime you have an extra five minutes (morning meetings, after tests, end of the day, or whenever you need to switch things up!)
• Ideal ways to promote creativity, logic, collaboration, and verbal fluency  

More Creative and Critical Thinking Resources

As a former classroom teacher and current Gifted and Talented Facilitator, I am passionate about integrating creative and critical thinking for all learners. While these games are a fun way to incorporate it into your classroom, I also highly encourage the use of resources that allow for this type of thinking throughout the school day. Using logic puzzles, creative writing, and open-ended prompts all serve this purpose. Here are some of my favorites!

Math Mystery Logic Puzzles

Enrich and extend your math lessons with these Math Mystery logic puzzles that are the perfect challenge for 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. The puzzles are skills-based, so they integrate well with almost ANY math lesson!

Critical Thinking Daily Brain Busters

These Critical Thinking Brain Busters help your students increase their logical reasoning in a way that’s so much fun! Each task is designed to promote logic, creativity, and problem-solving. With 180 days of open-ended, fun challenges, this no-prep tool keeps students engaged while fostering deep thinking and discussion. They’re perfect for morning work, enrichment, or early finishers.

Error Analysis Tasks

Elevate your math instruction with the HUGE Error Analysis Bundle, featuring over 250 tasks across 22 essential math concepts like addition, fractions, and volume. This resource is the perfect way to engage your students with activities that promote critical thinking and a love for problem-solving.

Verbal Reasoning Tasks

Build critical thinking and problem-solving skills with these Verbal Reasoning Activities, featuring eight themed sets with activities like wordplay, logical conclusions, and pattern recognition. This resource is perfect for enrichment, morning work, or homework.

Reading Logic Puzzles

Enrich and extend your reading lessons and student reading comprehension with these reading logic puzzles that help students solve a fun reading mystery. They are the perfect way to build critical thinking in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. 

Creative and Critical Thinking Weekly Journal

Think It Through is 45 weeks of activities to engage, enrich, and extend your students’ creative, critical, and reflective thinking. This creative critical thinking weekly journal is a FULL YEAR bundle and perfect for morning work, early finishers, and more! You can set this journal up as a bell ringer activity or an early finisher journal.

Critical Thinking Blog Posts

Looking for even more ways to boost critical thinking? Visit these blog posts for more creative and critical thinking strategies and resources!