Top Critical Thinking Activities and Games for Students

Critical thinking, like navigating a maze or cooking without a recipe, is a skill that requires practice and trial and error. Many students can memorise answers, reproduce definitions, and perform well in examinations. Yet, when asked why something happens, how to defend an opinion, or how to solve an unfamiliar problem, they hesitate. This is not because students lack intelligence, but because critical thinking is rarely practised. Using critical thinking activities for students and fun critical thinking games helps develop these essential skills in engaging, interactive ways.

In most classrooms, learning is still dominated by fixed answers and predictable patterns. Analytical thinking, however, develops when students are placed in situations that require them to question, analyse, justify, and decide.

Best Critical Thinking Activities for Students

These fun critical thinking activities and games have been classroom-tested to help students learn by doing. Suitable for all age groups and subjects, they make abstract thinking visible and practical. As students engage with these exercises, they naturally practice reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making—while enjoying the process and building skills that stick.

The Five Whys

Initially developed by Taiichi Ohno as part of the Toyota Production System, the Five Whys is designed to move learners beyond surface-level answers. In a classroom, a teacher might start with a simple problem, like “students did poorly on a test,” and then keep asking “why” until the deeper reason emerges, such as unclear study methods or misunderstandings. Think of it like peeling layers off an onion: you keep digging until you reach the core. This helps students naturally notice cause-and-effect relationships and reason through problems instead of stopping at the first obvious answer.

Six Thinking Hats

Imagine looking at a problem through six different lenses—focusing on facts, emotions, risks, benefits, creativity, or processes. This is the essence of Dr. Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats, which encourages students to deliberately explore each perspective. Much like examining a diamond under different lights, each viewpoint reveals something new and valuable. By switching between these angles, students naturally develop more thorough reasoning and make better, well-rounded decisions.

See How These Activities Work in Real Classrooms

Ethical Dilemma Discussions

Sometimes, there isn’t a clear right or wrong choice—like deciding between honesty and loyalty. Ethical dilemma discussions, inspired by Lawrence Kohlberg’s research on moral development, place students in these kinds of situations. It’s like standing at a fork in the road without signs: each path requires careful thought. By explaining and debating their decisions, students naturally strengthen their empathy, moral reasoning, and ability to justify their choices.

Reverse Brainstorming

In reverse brainstorming, students tackle a problem by first exploring how to make it worse—a counterintuitive approach popularised by Alex Osborn. For example, to improve teamwork, they might list ways to completely sabotage collaboration. Once they see the pitfalls clearly, they can turn those ideas into effective solutions. This method works like studying the weak points in a bridge before strengthening it: by understanding failure, students develop creative thinking, learn to anticipate risks, and gain the ability to reframe challenges into opportunities.

Fact vs Fiction Analysis

In an age where information spreads faster than it can be verified, students must learn not to accept every claim at face value. Drawing from UNESCO’s Media and Information Literacy Framework, this activity trains learners to question news articles and social media posts by separating evidence from opinion. Just as a careful shopper reads labels instead of trusting attractive packaging, students learn to look beyond headlines. Over time, this builds the ability to verify sources, recognise bias, and make informed, independent judgments.

Critical Thinking through Philosophical Chairs

Rooted in Socratic pedagogy, Philosophical Chairs encourages students to take a stance on a statement and defend it, while remaining open to changing sides if persuaded. Imagine adjusting your view after seeing a clearer picture: students learn that shifting opinions based on reasoning is a sign of strong thinking. This promotes logical reasoning, articulate expression, and intellectual flexibility.

Expert Testimony Evaluation

When experts disagree, students are challenged to decide whom to trust—and why. In this activity, learners examine multiple expert viewpoints on the same topic and compare the strength of their evidence, methodology, and reasoning. Guided by principles from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework, students learn that credibility is not about authority alone but about justification. Much like comparing specifications, reviews, and warranties before choosing a gadget, they weigh details instead of accepting a single opinion. This process strengthens research literacy, critical evaluation, and independent decision-making.

Worst-Case Scenario Planning

Students imagine potential failures and plan responses, inspired by principles discussed by Daniel Kahneman in decision science and behavioural economics. For example, before starting a school event, students might list everything that could go wrong—missing equipment, absent participants, or technical glitches—and then plan how to handle each. It’s similar to taking an umbrella when rain is forecasted: preparation helps manage uncertainty without overreacting. By anticipating obstacles and thinking through solutions, students strengthen strategic thinking, risk assessment, and realistic decision-making.

Evaluation of Information

Students learn to judge which sources and facts are most relevant to a topic. For instance, when researching a science project, they might compare websites, books, and videos to decide which are accurate and trustworthy. It’s like picking the right tool from a toolbox for a specific job—some are useful, others are not. This activity aligns with higher-order thinking skills in Bloom's Taxonomy, helping students analyse, evaluate, and synthesise information. It is also highlighted by the World Economic Forum as a critical skill for the future, preparing students to filter information, prioritise effectively, and make thoughtful, evidence-based decisions.

SCAMPER Technique

SCAMPER encourages students to improve ideas by Substituting, Combining, Adapting, Modifying, Putting to another use, Eliminating, or Reversing them. For example, when designing a poster, students might swap colors, combine images, or repurpose text for a new message. Think of it like tweaking a recipe one ingredient at a time until it tastes better. By experimenting in small, deliberate steps, students develop creativity, problem-solving, and innovative thinking while learning structured experimentation. Formalised by Bob Eberle and grounded in earlier creative thinking research by Alex Osborn, SCAMPER demonstrates that creativity can be taught systematically. Students learn to deconstruct and reconstruct ideas thoughtfully.

Learn Why Critical Thinking Matters

Developing Critical Thinking for Real-World Success

Practical classroom strategies do more than engage students—they shape how learners approach problems, information, and decisions throughout their lives. When educators consistently integrate research-backed approaches, thinking becomes intentional rather than incidental. As these habits develop, students are better prepared not only for academic success but also for leadership, adaptability, and responsible citizenship in an increasingly complex world.

Ready to boost your students’ critical thinking skills? Try these fun critical thinking activities and games in your classroom or at home, and watch curiosity, problem-solving, and reasoning flourish. If you have questions, experiences to share, or creative twists on these activities, we’d love to hear from you!

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