JessaMae Posted July 16, 2010 Share Posted July 16, 2010 I would like to start my dds (entering 4th and 5th grades) on some kind of logic. I received a catalog from the Critical Thinking Co, but am completely overwhelmed at the choices. :) Does anyone have a recommendation for a good place to start? My oldest loves puzzles and riddles...my youngest not so much. :001_smile: Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 We often did Logic/Critical Thinking as a 5-10 "brain warm-up" as part of our first-thing-in-the morning together time. We would do 1-2 pages (or 4 pages, if there was 1 puzzle per page, so each boy could do 2 puzzles) aloud together taking turns answering. It would take us 5-10 minutes. We scheduled this about 3x a week when DSs where in elementary grades, about 1-2x a week when they were in middle school. re: Critical Thinking Press We liked *some* of the Critical Thinking Press books -- usually ones with more variety to them -- as many seem like very expensive "one trick ponies" to us (such as Mindbenders). Of the Critical Thinking Press, we liked: - Dr. Funster's Think-A-Minutes (gr. 3-6) - Dr. Funster's Creative Thinking Puzzlers (gr. 3-6) - Think-A-Grams (gr. 7-12) The Red Herring books were okay -- though some of the solutions seemed lame to us, and we often (at least to us!) came up with more clever or more plausible answers. Below are other critical thinking resources we've really enjoyed over the years. BEST of luck in your Logic adventures! Warmest regards, Lori D. grade K-3 workbooks: - Critical Thinking Activities in Pattern, Image, Logic (gr. 1-3) -- by Seymour - Logic Safari (book 1 = gr. 2-3; book 2 = gr. 3-4) - Lollipop Logic (gr. K-2) - Primarily Logic (gr. 2-4) - Connections series (by grade level) puzzle books: - Gifted and Talented series (K-4 gr.) -- by Amerikander, or others - Puzzlemania series (gr. 1-5) -- best of Highlights magazine variety of puzzles - Hidden Picture Puzzle books -- collection of hidden picture puzzles from Highlights software: - Logic Journey of the Zoombinis (by grade level) - Revenge of the Logic Spiders (by grade level) - Crazy Machines series (gr. 3+) - The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions (gr. 3+) - Operation: Neptune (gr. 3-6) - Mission: T.H.I.N.K. (gr. 2-6) games: - Set - Duo - Secret Door - Blokus - Scan (old Parker Brothers game, usually available on ebay) - Clue solo logic activities: - Logix - Scramble Squares - Tangrams - Rush Hour Junior simple puzzle pages: - mazes - word searches - Where's Waldo - search and find type of books gr. 4-6 (prep for logic) logic books: - Dandylion Logic series: 1. Logic Countdown = gr. 3-4 2. Logic Liftoff = gr. 4-5 3. Orbiting with Logic = gr. 5-7 - Logic Safari series (book 2 = gr. 3-4; book 3 = gr. 5-6) - Connections series (by grade level) workbooks: - Mindbenders - Perplexors (like Mendbenders) - Puzzlemania series (gr. 1-5) - Dr. Funster Think-A-Minutes (gr. 3-6) - Dr. Funster's Creative Thinking Puzzlers (gr. 3-6) - Critical Thinking Activities in Pattern, Image, Logic (gr. 4-6) -- by Seymour software: - Logic Journey of the Zoombinis (by grade level) - Revenge of the Logic Spiders (by grade level) - Crazy Contraptions series (gr. 3+) - Operation: Neptune (gr. 3-6) - Mission: T.H.I.N.K. (gr. 2-6) games: - Mastermind - Amazing Labrynth - 221 B. Baker Street - Checkers - Chess - Boggle - Scrabble - Quarto puzzle pages: - mazes - crosswords, word jumbles, anagrams - codes, cryptograms - sudoku puzzles books (solving "whodunnits"): - Encyclopedia Brown series (Sobol) - Roman Mysteries series (Lawrence) - 17th century Japanese boy and samurai mysteries by Dorothy Hoobler - Nancy Drew series (Keene) - Hardy Boys series (Dixon) - minute mystery books by Conrad, Sobol, Weber, and others gr. 7-8 (intro to logic) critical thinking books: - Mindbenders - Perplexors (like Mindbenders) - Word Winks; More Word Winks (like Think-A-Grams) -- pub. by Mindware - Plexors, More Plexers (like Think-A-Grams) -- by Seymour - Critical Thinking Activities in Pattern, Image, Logic (gr. 7-12) -- by Seymour - 10-Minute Critical-Thinking Activities for Englishy (gr. 5-12) -- by Eaton; Walch Pub. - 10-Minute Critical-Thinking Activities for Algebra (gr. 9-12) -- by Martin; Walch Pub. logic books: - Art of Argument (Larson/Hodge) - Fallacy Detective; Thinking Toolbox (Bluedorn) games: - Checkers - Chess - Boggle - Scrabble - Quarto - Tetrus - Risk - other strategy computer/board games puzzle pages: - crosswords, word jumbles, anagrams - codes, cryptograms - sudoku puzzles solving "whodunnits" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JessaMae Posted July 17, 2010 Author Share Posted July 17, 2010 Oh my goodness! Thanks SOSOSO much for all that information! That was so kind of you to take the time to write it all out! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 Oh my goodness! Thanks SOSOSO much for all that information! That was so kind of you to take the time to write it all out! :001_smile: And so you won't feel overwhelmed... For gr. 4/5, we MOST enjoyed the Dandylion Logic books of "Logic Countdown" and "Logic Liftoff". Getting one book of the Mindbenders seris from Critical Thinking Press is a good idea, to learn how the method of logic problem solving. And then maybe one other book with a variety of critical thinking puzzles -- maybe a few Puzzlemania books (your DC are at a good age for those). BEST of luck! Warmly, Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JessaMae Posted July 17, 2010 Author Share Posted July 17, 2010 LOL and I was just sitting here going, "oh no! where do I start!?!" LOL Thanks for your recommendation. I will definitely take your advice and start with the Dandy Lion books. :001_smile: Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 I was just coming to the board to mention a new game I bought Ben (rising fourth). I saw this thread, so I thought I'd mention it here. I know someone mentioned that her daughter, I believe, was bored with this, but Ben has really been enjoying it. There are books too, but a game is just so much more inviting. We play it while he is waiting for his brother to finish piano lessons so he can have his lessons. Logic Links http://www.amazon.com/MindWare-Logic-Links-Puzzle-Box/dp/B000NR4BLY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1279334856&sr=8-1 ************************************ I also think this game is a lot of fun. Chocolate Fix http://www.amazon.com/Think-Fun-1530-ThinkFun-Chocolate/dp/B000Y8EQ8K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1279335161&sr=1-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 Great lists and links! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiobrain Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 Here is another one that should probably start appearing some more places soon. I think that this is a relatively new program. I just ordered a book from them yesterday, and their customer service is fabulous! They have really good sample pages, and for those of us who aren't particularly fond of Critical Thinking books, or much that is out there... I think this might be a good alternative. When I have actually *done* any of these books, I will let you all know. I like to champion the underdog. :D http://www.giftoflogic.com LoriD. what an awesome list! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.