Ready to push student thinking further?

Volume 3 in the MindStretch Open-Ended Thinking Routines Series introduces advanced deep thinking tasks designed to develop systems thinking, ethical reasoning, multi-perspective thinking, and innovation.

These 5 Open-Ended Thinking Routines challenge students to predict consequences, evaluate complex decisions, design systems, consider multiple perspectives, and imagine future possibilities — all through flexible, reusable thinking routines.

Perfect for extension, enrichment, gifted learners, high-potential students, and classrooms ready for deeper cognitive challenge.

What's Included

✔ 5 Open-Ended Thinking Routines

✔ Think • Evaluate • Create Prompts

✔ Extension Challenge Questions

✔ Student Thinking Space Pages

✔ Reflection & Metacognition Pages

✔ Student Self-Assessment

✔ Teacher Notes & Implementation Guidance

✔ Curriculum Alignment (US, AU, UK)

✔ Print + Digital (Google Slides™)

✔ 27 Pages of Open-Ended Thinking Tasks & Support Materials

The 5 Advanced Thinking Routines

Students develop deep, complex thinking through:

• Predict the Ripple Effect (Systems Thinking & Consequences)

• Solve the Trade-Off (Complex Decision Making)

• Design the System (Systems Thinking & Innovation)

• Evaluate the Impact (Ethical & Multi-Perspective Thinking)

• Transform the Future (Innovation & Future Thinking)

These routines help students:

✔ Think about complex systems

✔ Evaluate consequences and trade-offs

✔ Consider multiple perspectives

✔ Design innovative solutions

✔ Transfer thinking to new contexts

✔ Develop future-focused thinking

Why Teachers Love These Tasks

✔ Low-Prep, High-Impact

✔ Open-Ended & Differentiated

✔ Flexible Across Subjects

✔ Encourages Deep Thinking

✔ Promotes Student Voice

✔ High-Ceiling Thinking Opportunities

✔ Supports Extension & Enrichment

Students may respond using:

• Writing

• Diagrams

• Sketches

• Lists

• Models

• Design Ideas

• Discussions

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

Perfect For

✔ Gifted & High-Potential Learners

✔ Extension & Enrichment

✔ Early Finishers

✔ Inquiry Learning

✔ Project-Based Learning

✔ Critical Thinking Lessons

✔ Debate & Ethical Reasoning

✔ Cross-Curricular Thinking

Flexible ways to use

Use these routines for:

• Whole-class thinking launches

• Small-group extension

• Independent thinking tasks

• Inquiry learning

• Discussion prompts

• Critical thinking rotations

Tasks can be used individually or as a progressive sequence to deepen thinking over time.

Built on the MindStretch Thinking Progression

This resource is part of the MindStretch Thinking Progression:

• Flexible Thinking Routines — Open thinking

• Volume 1 — Foundational reasoning

• Volume 2 — Transfer & reasoning

• Volume 3 — Deep, complex, strategic thinking

Volume 3 helps students move beyond answers and into complex, strategic thinking.

Grade Levels

Years 3-8

Upper Primary | Lower Secondary

Ideal For

✔ Critical Thinking Curriculum

✔ Extension Programs

✔ Inquiry Learning

✔ Gifted Education

✔ High-Potential Learners

✔ Enrichment Programs

✔ Future-Focused Learning

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.