Ask children a series of open-ended questions. For example, ask questions like "What if....." or "How could you...." Open-ended questions let children give a variety of answers without being right or wrong. Read a book and ask questions about the book, such as "What could have happened differently," or "Name another way the situation could have been handled." Openly discuss all options and scenarios with children to help them build their critical thinking skills.
Give each child a sheet of paper. Have the children draw two different animals on the sheet of paper. Underneath the animals, have the children write a list of similarities and differences in the two animals. After the children finish, have each child read his list to the class. Alternatively, have each child draw the same two animals so the children can compare their lists. Let the children do this activity in groups and have them discuss the similarities and differences in groups to make one list.
Children can use critical thinking skills to answer questions related to animals. For example, have the children explain the difference between an egg laid by a chicken and an egg laid by a frog. Give the children books about both processes to read. They can work individually or in groups. After they read the books, have them explain the two different processes of an egg laid by a chicken and a frog. Other critical thinking questions about animals include "What do egg-laying animals have in common?" and "What do animals that do not lay eggs have in common?"
Turn a critical thinking activity in a game with plush animals. Divide the children into two teams and give each team the same number of animals. Call out a category like "green animals" or "animals with four legs." The children must work together to pull out all the animals who fit in that category. The first team to do this correctly earns a point. The team who earns five points first wins the activity. For harder categories, try "nocturnal animals" or "animals that change colors." If you do not have plush animals, print several pictures of animals for the children to use.