An emphasis on creative thinking skills in the classroom necessitates providing students with open-ended assignments and encouragement as they search for new answers. Unlike typical textbook questions that have a given right answer, creative questioning and thinking assumes that there may not be one right answer, but many possibilities. Primarily Creativity bubbles over with ideas to spark creative talent in young students. Get creative juices flowing with lessons in eight areas of creativity including: curiosity, fluency, originality, imagination, awareness, flexibility, elaboration, and perseverance. Each section includes an explanation on the skill, questions that foster this type of thinking, a list of tasks, and several attractive, reproducible worksheets. This comprehensive text provides an enjoyable, balanced introduction to creative thinking. For more problem ideas on integrating creativity in your classroom, see Primarily Problem Solving. Grades 1-3

Go beyond the regular curriculum with these units to challenge your more able intermediate grade math students. With their ease of use, clear instruction, and motivating topics, these are the perfect enrichment activities for the regular math curriculum. This book contains four units that are structured so that students can easily develop an understanding of the topics on their own. The four topics are: permutations and combinations, tessellations, line drawings, and graphing. Each unit provides sequential activities that allow students to work through these motivating topics, whether they are working by themselves, in a small group, or in a whole-class setting. The units lend themselves easily to a math center arrangement with each student having an individual folder and checklist to record his or her progress. While they were designed to provide added challenge for students who have mastered the regular curriculum, some of the units can be used as supplements for whole-class instruction. The emphasis in these units is on promoting thinking, developing perseverance, expanding students' view of mathematics, enjoying a challenge, and keeping math students actively involved and enthused about math. This book will help you provide students with opportunities to explore mathematical ideas in ways that promote their intellectual growth and expand their views of mathematics. This is one of a three-book series. The other books cover the following topics: Enrichment Units in Math Book 1-attribute pattern blocks, tangrams, sets and Venn diagrams, and ancient Egyptian numbers; and Enrichment Units in Math Book 3-probability, topology, magic squares, and number characteristics. For other math units to extend the math curriculum and provide opportunities to work independently, see Math Extension UnitsBook 1 and Book 2. Grades 4-6

It is important that schools emphasize a problem-solving approach to mathematics beginning in the early years and continuing through high school. Students should learn to value the process of solving problems, as well as getting the correct solutions. The strategies in this book will help students reason, develop their problem-solving strategies, grow in their ability to communicate mathematically, and develop confidence in their mathematical abilities. Five different problem-solving strategies are carefully taught using teacher-directed interactive introductory lessons. A series of practice problems follow the introductory lessons for each strategy. The strategies include: using a manipulative or acting out a problem, drawing a picture or diagram, extending a repeating pattern, making a table or list, and choosing relevant information. Each strategy is first introduced through several carefully presented problems that include introductory group lessons and instructional notes for the teachers. Additionally, the last section of the book presents a variety of problems that give students the opportunity to apply the problem-solving strategies they have learned. This is the perfect supplement to any primary math program, as well as an excellent resource for a math center. All problems are delightfully illustrated and reproducible. Grades 2-4

It's never too early to start building thinking skills-skills that will spill over into other areas of the curriculum and into real life. Primarily Logic consists of a series of units designed to introduce logical thinking to young students. It is an excellent, easy-to-use starting point for teaching well-established forms of logical thinking. Each skill is introduced with examples, and then worksheets give students an opportunity to practice the skill. Group lessons and worksheets provide practice in: finding relationships, analogies, thinking logically using "all" and "none" statements, syllogisms, and deductive reasoning using logic puzzles. Logical thinking is both enjoyable and challenging for students as they build a sound foundation for further instruction in critical thinking. Suggestions for related activities are included in the Instructions for Teachers section. For easier logic activities for younger students, try Lollipop Logic. Grades 2-4

Looking for a fast, easy way to turn your students into advanced problem solvers? Young students become members of the Detective Club by solving a series of short introductory puzzles. Primary students love working along with the young detectives in the book to solve six different mysteries. While solving the mysteries, students will gather information through decoding the message, sorting information, solving logic puzzles, and using inferential thinking. In order to reach conclusions, students will practice the following skills: organizing clues, combining and analyzing the information presented, using deductive reasoning, and using the process of elimination. Each of the six mysteries includes a teacher's guide with complete instructions for the teacher and answers to the puzzles. All mysteries are presented on attractive reproducible worksheets that include entertaining dialogue and clues needed to solve the mystery. This is a motivating format for teaching thinking while working on reading comprehension. Have your students solve even more mysteries with Mystery Disease, Mystery Science, Crime Scene Detective, and The Great Chocolate Caper. Grades 2-4

The purpose of this book is to help busy classroom teachers provide enrichment for those students who quickly grasp the mathematical concepts being taught and are ready to move on to more challenging material. The units include challenging activities that will require higher-level thinking and will broaden students' problem-solving skills. This book is a great resource for busy classroom teachers who need materials to extend learning opportunities for those students who quickly grasp the concepts covered in their grade level math curriculum. This book includes four units: geometry, fractions, graphing, and problem solving. The units provide hours of activities that will allow students to work independently or in small groups to extend their knowledge and apply their skills. Each unit includes 13 to 14 attractive, reproducible worksheets and an assignment sheet, making this an easy way for instructors to provide challenging, enriching experiences for capable math students. This can also be used for review and remediation with middle school students. For a less advanced version of math extension activities, see Math Extension Units Book 1-place value, problem solving, time and measurement, and money. For more math units geared toward the same goal, see Enrichment Activities for Math Books1, 2, and 3. Grades 4-5

The purpose of this book is to help busy classroom teachers provide enrichment for those students who quickly grasp the mathematical concepts being taught and are ready to move on to more challenging units. The units include challenging activities that will require higher-level thinking and will broaden students' problem-solving skills. This book is a great resource for busy classroom teachers who need materials to extend learning opportunities for those students who quickly grasp the concepts covered in their grade level math curriculum. The book includes four units: place value, time and measurement, problem solving, and money. The units provide hours of activities that will allow students to work independently or in small groups to extend their knowledge and apply their skills. Each unit includes 13 to 14 attractive, reproducible worksheets and an assignment sheet, making this an easy way for instructors to provide challenging, enriching experiences for capable math students. For a more advanced version of math extension activities, see Math Extension Units Book 2-geometry, fractions, graphing, and problem solving. For other math units targeted toward the same goal, see Enrichment Units in Math Books1, 2, and 3. Grades 2-3

Discovering the way people in ancient cultures conducted their lives is fascinating for young people, and learning how these people counted and calculated is a part of understanding these cultures. This book offers a concise, but thorough, introduction to ancient number systems. Students won't just learn to count like the ancient Greeks; they'll learn about the number systems of the Mayans, Babylonians, Egyptians, and Romans, as well as learning Hindu-Arabic cultures and quinary and binary systems. Symbols and rules regarding the use of the symbols in each number system are introduced and demonstrated with examples. Activity pages provide problems for the students to apply their understanding of each system. Can You Count in Greek? is a great resource for math, as well as a supplement for social studies units on ancient civilizations. This valuable resource builds understanding of place value, number theory, and reasoning. It includes everything you need to easily incorporate these units in math or social studies classes. Whether you use all of the units or a select few, your students will gain a better understanding and appreciation of our number system. Grades 5-8