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Critical Thinking Detective

We recently checked out the Critical Thinking Detective: Vocabulary Book 1. Critical Thinking Detective is a whole series of books that helps you learn to think logically to solve dilemmas.

So far, the Critical Thinking Detective series includes:

Beginning
Book 1
Book 2
Math
Vocabulary Book 1
Vocabulary Book 2

Critical Thinking Detective: Vocabulary Book 1

Student Workbook

AnswerKey

12 Cases To Solve

Softcover

Colorful Illustrations

40 Pages

Retails $8.99 on sale for $7.99

Critical Thinking Detective: Vocabulary Book 1 is a 40 page softcover workbook for grades 5-12+ (would be fun and challenging to most adults too). This student workbook contains 12 mystery cases to solve. The student uses vocabulary, and critical thinking skills to logically solve the case. As the student evaluates the details of the case, understands the meanings of words and learns their meanings and synonyms, uses inductive and deductive reasoning, analyzes the information, they are then able to solve the case.

Table of Contents:

How To Solve These Cases
The Antique Double-Dealer
The Stray Accomplice
The Pilfering Today
The Ring Coveter
The Acrid Saboteur
The Contrary Instigator
The Brazen Biker
The Cogent Denigrator
The Disgruntled Defacer
The Unencumbered Employee
The Wandering Wayfarer
The Cunning Customer
Answer Key

So how do you solve the case? Well, first of all you need to CAREFULLY read the description of the case. Read the statements from one or more witnesses, and read the statement from 4 possible suspects who may or may not have committed the crime. Then look up the words given in the clues. These definitions will help you understand what really happened and who did it.

Here are the steps to solve each cases:

Read the clues.
Use a dictionary!
Understand the definition of each word.
Understand the synonyms and antonyms of each word.
Take notes.
Reason it out.
Solve the case.

Following each case, the student is introduced to 18 to 25 new vocabulary words to learn. There is also a worksheet full of fill in the blank sentences to complete to practice using the vocabulary correctly.

Author

Critical Thinking Detective: Vocabulary was written by Diane Hartsig. She is also the author of Vocabulary Riddles – A-Z Catastrophes, Books 1 and 2. She is a wife, the mother of 3 kids, and an elementary school teacher. She is passionate about kids acquiring and learning how to use language.

Our Experience:

We received Critical Thinking Detective: Vocabulary Book 1 in exchange for writing an honest review. The Critical Thinking company is also offering special savings for our readers. I think it is great when companies send products to be reviewed and also send discounts to those who want to try out the product because they read the review and were inspired to try it. So be sure to check out the special offers listed below for a discount code, and get the free Critical Thinking Puzzle too!

I gave this workbook to my 15 year old son to include in his schoolwork. My thoughts on giving it to him was that the mystery cases are short and he might be able to do them without adding a lot of additional work onto his schoolwork. I thought as he accomplished the cases, it would build more confidence for writing.

After reading the case, he tried to reason it out, but was not quite sure who did it. So I had him go ahead and work through vocabulary words and complete the sentences before trying to solve the crime. However, after working through the first handful of words, perhaps 10 or so, he was ready to quit before he had even accomplished the first case. He wanted to quit because he found the words unfamiliar and didn’t like looking them up to find what sentence they fit into.

These are hard words! I don’t even know most of them myself. They are not commonly used. Here are just a few examples:

congent
flummox
espy
sedulous
vacuous
superfluous
credulous
madras
tantamount
puce
tenable
senescent
foist
spurious

However, after a few days of setting the workbook aside (and I don’t blame him), he put his mind to it and persevered. To complete the task, he only needed the workbook, a pencil, and access a dictionary (he used an online dictionary on the internet). It’s portable, so he doesn’t have to sit in one place. He can take it with him and fill in the gaps in his time. He enjoys being outside and working on it if the weather is nice. Having the freedom to choose where and how to learn is one of the beautiful benefits of homeschooling. Just being outside seemed to help motivate him to work on it.

After he looked up the meaning of the new word, and learned it’s definition and other words that have the same meaning, then he would compare words and fill the words into the correct sentences. Each word can only be used once. Taking time to do the vocabulary words gave his brain time to ponder the details of the case. Finally, he was confident in various word meanings to reasonably solve the case.

After completing the first case, he was more confident in working through the rest of the workbook.

After completing the first few cases, he was well on his way to improving his use of vocabulary and logic.

He is motivated to finish and I have no doubt he will finish the workbook and raise his knowledge and skill level to be way smarter than me!

The Critical Thinking Co.™

Created in 1958 by John Brown, The Critical Thinking Co.™ helps students master skills needed to achieve high standards for education. They have extensive knowledge in math, logic, reading and writing, science, and social studies. They guarantee better grades and higher test scores when you practice your critical thinking skills with their books and software.

The Homeschool Review Crew is currently reviewing several products from The Critical Thinking Co.™

Critical Thinking Detective: Vocabulary

Understanding Pre-Algebra

Dare To Compare: Math Level 1

Critical Thinking Detective Book 1

Vocabulary Riddles Book 1

Something Fishy at Lake Iwannafisha

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