Solve It a Different Way | Critical Thinking Task Cards | Flexible Problem Solving Activities | Grades 3–8

Help students move beyond the first answer and discover that strong thinkers explore multiple possibilities.

Solve It a Different Way is a low-prep critical thinking resource that challenges students to generate, compare, evaluate, and improve multiple solutions to a problem.

Through engaging real-world, classroom, maths, logic, and design challenges, students learn that there is often more than one way to approach a task—and that some solutions may work better than others.

These open-ended thinking task cards encourage flexible thinking, creativity, reasoning, problem solving, and discussion while helping students justify their ideas with evidence and logic.

Perfect for critical thinking lessons, inquiry learning, enrichment activities, discussion prompts, early finishers, morning work, and problem-solving practice across the curriculum.

Students Will Learn To:

✔ Generate multiple solutions to a problem

✔ Think creatively and flexibly

✔ Compare different approaches

✔ Evaluate strengths and limitations

✔ Justify decisions with evidence and reasoning

✔ Refine and improve ideas

✔ Recognise that there is often more than one possible solution

What's Included?

✅ 8 Critical Thinking Task Cards

✅ Teacher Guide

✅ Quick Start Teaching Script

✅ Student Thinking Response Page

✅ Differentiation Suggestions

✅ Student Self-Assessment

✅ Teacher Assessment Rubric

✅ PDF Format

Task Card Topics

• Maths Problem Solving

• Logic Challenges

• Real-World Problem Solving

• Classroom Scenarios

• Sport & Strategy

• Everyday Decision Making

• Creative Thinking Challenges

• Design & Engineering Tasks

Perfect For:

⭐ Critical Thinking Lessons

⭐ Problem Solving Activities

⭐ Inquiry Learning

⭐ Gifted & Talented Extension

⭐ Morning Work

⭐ Fast Finishers

⭐ STEM & Design Challenges

⭐ Discussion Prompts

⭐ Flexible Thinking Practice

⭐ Upper Elementary & Middle School Classrooms

Why Teachers Love It

Unlike traditional worksheets that focus on finding one correct answer, these task cards encourage students to explore possibilities, compare ideas, and explain their reasoning.

Students learn to ask:

• What are some different ways?

• Which solution works best?

• Why?

• How could I improve my idea?

This simple routine builds confidence, creativity, resilience, and deeper thinking across all subject areas.

No Prep. High Engagement. Deep Thinking.

Grades 3–8 | Critical Thinking | Problem Solving | Flexible Thinking | Open-Ended Tasks | Inquiry Learning | Discussion Prompts | STEM Challenges | Early Finishers | MindStretch Mini

Want to take this thinking further?

Apply this routine in rich, real-world contexts with our Thinking Scenarios.

Students move from practising thinking to using thinking in meaningful challenges.

Try:

• Moon Colony Expedition

• Save the Planet Invention

• Traffic Jam Escape

Perfect for deep discussion, problem-solving, and engagement.

READY FOR MORE THINKING?

This resource is just one part of the growing MindStretch Mini Thinking Task Card series.

If your students enjoyed exploring Solve it a different way, they'll love having access to a wider collection of powerful thinking routines designed to build reasoning, creativity, perspective-taking, and problem-solving skills.

The MindStretch Mini Task Card Bundle includes multiple critical thinking routines that can be used across subjects, year levels, and learning areas.

Students will:

✓ Challenge assumptions

✓ Compare perspectives

✓ Transfer ideas across contexts

✓ Explore multiple solutions

✓ Evaluate evidence and reasoning

✓ Develop deeper critical thinking skills

Perfect for:

• Lesson starters

• Early finishers

• Discussion prompts

• Inquiry learning

• Critical thinking centres

• Whole-class thinking routines

Build a classroom culture of curiosity, reasoning, and deeper thinking with the complete MindStretch Mini Task Card Bundle.

More routines. More discussions. More thinking.

One Routine Starts the Thinking. The Bundle Builds the Habit.