Ready to take student thinking deeper?

Volume 2 in the MindStretch Open-Ended Thinking Routines Series moves beyond idea generation to strengthen reasoning, refine thinking, and transfer understanding across contexts.

These 5 Open-Ended Thinking Routines help students challenge assumptions, justify ideas, compare solutions, redesign systems, and apply thinking to new situations — all with low-prep, high-ceiling tasks.

Perfect for extension, enrichment, high-potential learners, and classrooms seeking deeper cognitive challenge.

What's Included

✔ 5 Open-Ended Thinking Routines

✔ Think • Evaluate • Create Prompts

✔ Extension Challenge Questions

✔ Student Thinking Space Pages

✔ Reflection & Metacognition Tools

✔ Student Self-Assessment

✔ Teacher Notes & Implementation Guidance

✔ Curriculum Alignment (US, AU, UK)

✔ Printable PDF Format

✔ Google Slides™ Digital Version

✔ 27 Pages of Thinking Tasks & Support Materials

The 5 Thinking Routines (Volume 2)

Students strengthen reasoning through:

• Question the Assumption

• Zoom In / Zoom Out

• Compare-Contrast-Transform

• Design a Better Version

• Justify Your Position

These routines help students:

✔ Clarify reasoning

✔ Strengthen arguments

✔ Transfer thinking

✔ Evaluate complexity

✔ Refine ideas

✔ Apply thinking across subjects

Why Teachers Love These Tasks

✔ Low-Prep, High-Impact

✔ Open-Ended & Differentiated

✔ Flexible Across Subjects

✔ Builds Reasoning & Justification

✔ Encourages Student Voice

✔ Supports High-Potential Learners

✔ Perfect for Extension & Enrichment

Students can respond using:

• Writing

• Diagrams

• Sketches

• Lists

• Discussion

• Design ideas

• Argument writing

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

Perfect For

✔ Extension & Enrichment

✔ Gifted & High-Potential Learners

✔ Early Finishers

✔ Critical Thinking Lessons

✔ Inquiry Learning

✔ Project-Based Learning

✔ Debate & Reasoning Activities

✔ Cross-Curricular Thinking

Flexible Ways To Use

Use these routines for:

• Whole-class thinking launches

• Small-group extension

• Independent thinking tasks

• Early finisher challenges

• Inquiry learning

• Discussion prompts

• Critical thinking rotations

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

Built on the MindStretch Thinking Framework

Volume 2 focuses on:

✔ Strengthening Thinking

✔ Transfer & Application

✔ Justification & Evidence

✔ Refining Ideas

✔ Deepening Understanding

Students develop transferable thinking skills across subjects — not just content knowledge.

Grade Levels

Years 3–8

Upper Primary | Lower Secondary

Part of the MindStretch Open-Ended Thinking Series

Start With:

• Flexible Open Thinking Routines

• Volume 1 — Extension & Enrichment

Continue With:

• Volume 2 — Transfer & Reasoning (This Resource)

• Volume 3 — Advanced Deep Thinking

Create a progressive critical thinking sequence across your classroom.

You May Also Like

• Open-Ended Thinking Routines Bundle

• MindStretch Thinking Task Toolkit

• 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.