The Basics of Critical Thinking
A clear, engaging workbook that teaches kids how to think logically, evaluate evidence, and spot faulty reasoning.
$25.99
Quantity:
Complete Course
Consumable
In a Curriculum Kit
Nonreligious
2026 Seventh-Grade Curriculum Kit
The Basics of Critical Thinking
The Basics of Critical Thinking teaches one of the most useful skills your child can learn: how to tell the difference between a good argument and a bad one.
Designed for grades 4–9, this colorful 152-page workbook helps students evaluate evidence, distinguish facts from opinions, identify common logical fallacies, analyze arguments, interpret contracts, and work with tools such as Venn diagrams and argument forms. In other words, it teaches kids to think through claims instead of simply accepting them.
The lessons are clear, approachable, and surprisingly practical. Rather than treating critical thinking as an abstract academic subject, the workbook shows students how reasoning applies to everyday life—from advertisements and news stories to online claims and conversations with friends.
What we especially appreciate is that the book doesn't assume students already know how to think critically. It teaches those skills directly, breaking complex ideas into manageable lessons with colorful illustrations, diagrams, and plenty of guided practice.
In a world overflowing with opinions, headlines, influencers, and confidently stated nonsense, the ability to evaluate information has become a life skill. The Basics of Critical Thinking gives students a solid foundation in logical reasoning while helping them become more thoughtful, independent thinkers.
How to Use The Basics of Critical Thinking
- Open the book and jump right in. The lessons are short, visually engaging, and easy to digest. Most students can work independently, moving through concepts one step at a time as they learn how arguments are built, evaluated, and challenged.
- Plan on completing 3–4 pages each week. At that pace, your student will steadily develop critical-thinking skills without feeling overwhelmed. The lessons fit easily into most homeschool schedules while still providing meaningful practice.
- As new concepts come up, look for opportunities to apply them in everyday life. Advertisements, news stories, social media posts, and family discussions all provide opportunities to identify facts and opinions, evaluate evidence, and recognize faulty reasoning.
- Encourage your child to explain his thinking rather than simply provide answers. The goal is to develop the habit of analyzing claims, asking good questions, and supporting conclusions with sound logic.
- As the course progresses, you'll likely notice these skills extending beyond the workbook. Students frequently become more thoughtful readers, more careful decision-makers, and more confident when evaluating the information they encounter every day.
Topics
Answers are located in the back of this book.
Publisher's Information
Publisher: The Critical Thinking Co™
Author: Michael O. Baker
Age Recommendation: 9-14
Grade Recommendation: 4th-9th
Faith-Based: No
Consumable: Yes (can be reproduced in your own home or classroom, but not for any commercial entity or organization)
Lessons/Projects: 134
ISBN: 9781601445070
Format: Softcover
Customers earn Doodle Dollars for reviewing products they've purchased, and some promotions add an entry in a prize drawing. Rewards never depend on the rating given.
- March 10, 2025
My boys enjoy this book
Melissa H.
My 2 boys (12, 11) enjoy this book. It is challenging but fun. This has been a new and different set of critical thinking skills for my boys, and they seem to enjoy it.
- March 8, 2025
The Best
Jill W.
I have tried several critical thinking books and this is the best one so far for my 6th grade daughter.
- October 5, 2024
Frances J.
This is a favorite of my 8th graders! Each lesson has detailed information to explain the concept and clear examples of the exercises. For his learning style, this would probably be best done with a parent but an independent learner wouldn't struggle at all.
- September 19, 2024
My daughter likes this
Bridget B.
My 13 year old dyslexic has a love hate with this book lol!!! When it’s easy she loves it. When it’s not obvious what it’s asking she is frustrated. But that’s the nature of a critical thinking workbook. In the end she does like it
- November 26, 2023
Think, think, think
A. P.
This workbook has been so much fun for not only my boys, but for me as well. It's a simple and easy to understand format and my boys find it interesting.
- July 9, 2022
Loving it!
Rachel H.
This is such a great critical thinking book! We are loving it!
- June 8, 2022
Great addition
STACEY B.
This was added to our LA curriculum
- February 17, 2022
My son loves it!
Kimberly S.
This is by far my son's favorite book in our curriculum! He selects it on his own most days and will finish it long before I expected because he opts to do it nearly daily rather than the 1 day per week I scheduled it for. He is learning important skills and can learn the info and complete the various activities independently. This was one part of our curriculum I wasn't sure he would enjoy, and surprisingly it quickly became his favorite!!!
- December 15, 2021
Critical thinking, but not boring
STACEY B.
My son is in 7th grade and we haven't used this book much, but it a great addition to his curriculum this year. He likes it.
- July 5, 2021
looks like another good curriculum from Critical Thinking Co.
sdmomof6
We haven't started using this yet, but looking through it, it seems to be an entry level logic course. Book is organized well and not to difficult.
