Meaningful extension activities that build critical thinking without extra prep

These 5 Open-Ended Thinking Routines are designed to stretch student thinking, encourage deeper reasoning, and promote flexible problem-solving across any subject area.

Perfect for extension, enrichment, early finishers, gifted learners, and high-potential students, these low-prep, high-ceiling tasks support students in developing transferable thinking skills that apply across curriculum areas.

Volume 1 focuses on opening up thinking, encouraging students to explore perspectives, possibilities, connections, evaluation, and creative extension.

What's Included

✔ 5 Open-Ended Thinking Routines

✔ Student Thinking Space Pages

✔ Extension Challenge Questions

✔ Reflection & Metacognition Tools

✔ Student Self-Assessment

✔ Teacher Notes & Implementation Guidance

✔ Curriculum Alignment (AU, US, UK)

✔ Printable PDF Format

✔ Google Slides™ Digital Version (Editable + Student Ready)

✔ 27 Pages of Open-Ended Thinking Tasks

The 5 Thinking Routines

Students develop flexible thinking through:

• See It Differently (Perspective-Shifting)

• What If...? (Hypothetical Reasoning)

• Make a Connection (Connection-Making)

• Evaluate and Decide (Reasoning & Decision-Making)

• Take It Further (Extending Thinking)

These routines are reusable across subjects, including:

✔ Literacy

✔ Maths

✔ Science

✔ Humanities

✔ Inquiry Learning

✔ Project-Based Learning

✔ Genius Hour

✔ Critical Thinking Lessons

Why Teachers Love These Tasks

✔ Low prep, high impact

✔ Open-ended and differentiated

✔ Works across subjects

✔ Builds reasoning and creativity

✔ Encourages student voice and agency

✔ Perfect for mixed-ability classrooms

✔ Ideal for extension and enrichment

These tasks are intentionally open-ended, allowing students to respond using:

• Writing

• Diagrams

• Sketches

• Lists

• Discussion

• Design ideas

• Creative responses

There is no single correct answer — the focus is on deep thinking and reasoning.

Perfect For

✔ Extension & Enrichment

✔ Gifted & High-Potential Learners

✔ Early Finishers

✔ Critical Thinking Lessons

✔ Inquiry Learning

✔ Genius Hour

✔ Problem-Solving Activities

✔ Flexible Thinking Development

Flexible Ways To Use

Use these routines for:

• Whole-class thinking launches

• Small-group extension

• Independent thinking tasks

• Early finisher challenges

• Inquiry learning

• Discussion starters

• Project-based learning

Tasks can be used individually or sequenced to progressively deepen thinking.

Built on the MindStretch Thinking Framework

Students develop transferable thinking skills:

✔ Open Thinking

✔ Strengthen Thinking

✔ Transfer Thinking

✔ Reflect on Thinking

These routines help students become flexible, confident thinkers — not just task completers.

Grade Levels

Years 3–8

Upper Primary | Lower Secondary

This Resource Is Part of the MindStretch Open-Ended Thinking Series

Start with:

• Flexible Open Thinking Routines

Continue with:

• Volume 1 (This Resource)

• Volume 2 — Transfer & Reasoning

• Volume 3 — Advanced Deep Thinking

Build a progressive critical thinking sequence across your classroom.

You may also like:

• Open-Ended Thinking Routines Bundle

• MindStretch Thinking Task Toolkit (Exclusive to the Thinking Routines Bundle)

• Critical Thinking Activities Series

• Genius Hour Inquiry Program

Bring Thinking to Life

These activities pair perfectly with our Thinking Scenarios & Investigation Files, where students apply their skills in engaging, real-world challenges.

For quick daily practice, explore our Mini Thinking Tasks and Task Cards.

Build a complete thinking classroom with consistent practice + application.