For example, through play kids can learn about the world around them, and develop critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and teamwork skills<\/strong>. <\/p> Play is also fantastic for intrinsic motivation, which will drive students to actually remember<\/em> what it is they\u2019re learning.<\/p> Of course, I can feel your cynicism from here (and I appreciate it! We live in the real world<\/em> after all). Yes, there are loads<\/em> of great teaching approaches that just don\u2019t translate into practice.<\/p> Standardized tests are brutal, and games won\u2019t prepare your students for an exam\u2026 or will they?<\/p> Read on for some practical<\/em> tips on how you can use games to unlock critical thinking in your classroom. <\/p> As always, teaching can be complicated and you know your class best. So please take the ideas that\u2019ll work for you, and feel free to burn the rest!<\/p> Your kids love games, and that\u2019s a fact! So why not try and sneak in a few lessons into their playtime? <\/p> While students are playing your games, they\u2019ll be answering important questions, remembering many types of facts, solving complex puzzles and examining complicated topics. <\/p> If you give them the space, you may also find that your students come up with creative, innovative solutions to the challenges they\u2019re presented with during play.<\/p> Typically, complex games<\/a> can substantially improve students\u2019 memories, developing their ability to remember important facts and concepts. <\/p> The student may also examine several types of references. Consequently, the pupil can learn new facts, compare multiple references and evaluate the accuracy of each fact.<\/p> If a student plays a complex game, the fun activities could increase neurogenesis, and this process can help the brain to create additional neurons. <\/p> Usually, these neurons could improve intelligence, <\/a>critical thinking<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, memory and deductive reasoning. <\/p> The additional neurons may also help the students to understand complicated subjects.The neurons can increase the efficiency of the frontal lobe. <\/p> Several reports have suggested that the frontal lobe could help a person to make many decisions, and before a person makes a choice, the individual may examine multiple options, the results of the choice, several contingencies and the surrounding environment.<\/p> Multiple studies have indicated that many games can increase the level of norepinephrine within the central nervous system. <\/p> Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter that could improve energy, yet norepinephrine may also increase focus. According to many reports<\/a>, norepinephrine can consistently modulate many synapses that are located within the brain.<\/p> If the brain has a high level of norepinephrine, the beneficial neurotransmitter could substantially enhance the efficiency of multiple synapses, and consequently, norepinephrine may improve the learning process, increase intelligence and stimulate creativity.<\/p> \u2018Gamifying\u2019 learning is a powerful motivator that can often result in students taking an interest in their own learning. <\/p> Teachers can always provide rewards to incentivise students – such as giving out treats for \u2018high scores\u2019. However, play makes learning meaningful to students<\/a>, driving them to invest in their own learning because it matters to them.<\/p> Critical thinking can be a hard skill to nail down and teach\u2026 but doesn\u2019t it seem sort of wrong<\/em> to rely on rote learning to teach critical thinking? <\/p> Instead, try working these game concepts into your lessons to kickstart critical thinking in your classroom.<\/p> If you\u2019d like a practical example of how you can combine all of these critical thinking game concepts into one awesome lesson – skim through to the next section.<\/p> Use games that promote teamwork. The collaboration and discussion that arises from group work can lead to innovative solutions, closer bonds, and development of important social skills.<\/p> Think of ways that you can turn simple exercises into group team challenges. Maybe students can correct each other\u2019s work, work together on problems, or tackle a larger project that requires delegation of team skills.<\/p> An even better (and more fun!) way to encourage teamwork is to divide your students into teams, and then pit them against each other in a team competition. This leads us to…<\/p> Competition ups the stakes makes it fun and gets kids involved instantly. There\u2019s no one more focused than a kid who\u2019s desperately trying to beat his friends!<\/p> It\u2019s relatively easy to turn pretty much any lesson into a timed contest. Worksheets can be a race to see who can finish first, or you could structure your lesson to be more like a gameshow – bonus points if you actually include prizes! <\/p> Bingo is another great group game that can be adapted to basically any lesson and adds an element of competition that the whole class can get in on.<\/p> Studies have shown<\/a> that kids are great hands-on learners. So take advantage of this by making your lesson \u2018real\u2019. <\/p> So many math lessons have benefited from using blocks to teach grouping and counting, while English and history lessons can incorporate props from their respective periods to really immerse students.<\/p> Related: Gamify learning math with Kindergarten Math Games<\/a><\/strong> for hands-on learning experience. <\/em><\/p> Another way you can make good use of hands-on learning is through the use of puzzles. <\/p> Printable, foldable puzzles are perfect for engaging kids\u2019 critical thinking skills, as they force students to \u2018think outside the box\u2019 in order to solve them. <\/p> This one could be more of a group-thinking exercise than anything else, but it really does spark critical thinking in a fun way.<\/p> Present your students with an open-ended challenge – the classic one being, \u201cyou\u2019re stuck on a desert island, what do you do?\u201d. <\/p> This lets kids creatively explore interesting scenarios while exercising their critical thinking as they try and determine the best course of action. <\/p> This type of exercise is usually best when you give your students the opportunity to discuss their answers with each other afterwards – exposing them to different ideas and ways of thinking.<\/p> Each of these game concepts can work great on its own, and I\u2019m sure you\u2019re already plotting ways that you can integrate them into your next lesson\u2026 but wait just one moment – there\u2019s a really simple way of bringing them all together into one EPIC lesson.<\/p> The best way to combine all of these concepts into one coherent lesson is to use a classroom escape room game. <\/p> This is an interactive team game where students solve puzzles in order to overcome some greater challenges. <\/p> For example – they may find themselves locked in an Egyptian tomb, or need to solve a murder before it\u2019s too late! (If you\u2019ve been living under a rock and still don\u2019t know what I\u2019m talking about, these guys have a blog post<\/a> that might help you out)<\/p> It\u2019s the next \u2018outside-of-the-box\u2019 teaching tool that teachers are using to jumpstart critical thinking and encourage teamwork and creative problem solving<\/strong><\/a> among their students. <\/p> Don\u2019t worry, you don\u2019t need any fancy tech or paid subscriptions – you can make this one all by yourself. Here is how you\u2019ll do it<\/a>.<\/p> An escape room is a story-driven game, so you\u2019ll need to craft a storyline that will interest the students. <\/p> Don\u2019t worry it doesn\u2019t have to be complicated, and you can always just steal stories from movies and games that your students already know. <\/p> Just make sure to include clear-cut goals, so that your students know exactly what they need to do in order to win the game. <\/p>How Your Students Will Learn Through Play:<\/strong><\/h2>
![\"Importance](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kidpillar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/sandy-millar-nuS2GDpCDoI-unsplash.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>Increasing Memory and Enhancing Deductive Reasoning<\/strong><\/h3>
Stimulating Neurogenesis Within the Brain<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"Critical](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kidpillar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/robina-weermeijer-IHfOpAzzjHM-unsplash.jpg?resize=640%2C360&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>Improving Attentiveness<\/strong><\/h3>
Boosting Intrinsic Motivation<\/strong><\/h3>
Ready? Use These Game Concepts to Teach Critical Thinking In Your Classroom:<\/strong><\/h2>
Add group-work elements:<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"Critical](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kidpillar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/ben-wicks-iDCtsz-INHI-unsplash.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>Introduce competition – let the games begin!<\/strong><\/h3>
Get creative with hands-on learning:<\/strong><\/h3>
Using open-ended challenges:<\/strong><\/h3>
Bringing It All Together – Using Escape Room Games To Teach Critical Thinking:<\/strong><\/h2>
Step 1 – Create an Engaging Story:<\/strong><\/h3>
Step 2 – Grab A Bag of Puzzles:<\/strong><\/h3>