Critical Thinking: Building Healthy Decision-Making Skills (Lower Elementary) Resource Pack

Critical Thinking Pack for Lower Elementary (Grades K–2)

Downloadable & Printable Future Ready Education Resource

Help your lower elementary students (ages 5–8) build the foundation for smart, healthy decision-making. Part of our Future Ready Education series, this pack is designed for teachers, homeschool families, and parents who want to nurture curiosity, problem-solving, and reflection skills right from the start.

Packed with 20+ engaging activities, picture-book connections, and hands-on lessons, the Critical Thinking Pack – Lower Elementary Edition gives students the tools to:

• Ask “I wonder…” questions that spark curiosity and exploration

• Practice problem-solving by spotting patterns, clues, and evidence

• Slow down and make healthier choices using simple strategies like the Thinking Stoplight

• Understand fairness and kindness in everyday decisions

• Reflect on their thinking to grow resilience and flexibility

What’s Inside the Pack

• Pre-Assessment & Post-Assessment – Measure growth in critical thinking from start to finish.

• 5 Ready-to-Teach Lessons with teacher/parent guides and student activities:

  1. What is Critical Thinking? – Discover how our brains help us ask questions and make sense of the world.

  2. How Does Critical Thinking Help Us? – Explore how thinking carefully leads to creativity and problem-solving.

  3. How Do I Use Patterns & Clues? – Become “detectives” by observing details and finding evidence.

  4. How Do I Make Healthy Choices? – Practice slowing down and using the Thinking Stoplight to make better decisions.

  5. How Do Critical Thinkers Reflect? – Learn to pause, look again, and change our minds with new information.

• Family Discussion Cards – Fun prompts to extend learning at the dinner table, in the car, or during family time.

• Teacher/Parent Reflection Guides – Support adults in guiding and reinforcing critical thinking.

• Fun Extras – Games, picture-based activities, and role-plays that keep students engaged.

With over 20 total activities, students get repeated practice building skills in questioning, decision-making, problem-solving, and reflection.

Why Choose This Pack?

20+ Activities – A wide variety of lessons and games keep young learners engaged.
Flexible – Perfect for classrooms, homeschooling, small groups, or at-home learning.
Print & Go – Minimal prep required; download once and print as needed.
Future Ready – Builds habits of curiosity, fairness, and resilience that last a lifetime.
SEL-Aligned – Supports social-emotional learning by teaching reflection, empathy, and responsible choices.

Give your youngest learners the tools to think before they act.

With this pack, they’ll practice the kind of thinking that leads to better decisions, kinder interactions, and stronger confidence.

Product Details

• Format: Digital Download (PDF) – Printable and reusable

• Grade Level: Lower Elementary (Ages 5-8)

• Length: 90 pages of lessons, activities, and resources

 Empower your students to think critically, act responsibly, and become resilient, thoughtful young adults.

Download now and start building future-ready skills today!