Skip to content
Building Thinking Skills Book 2
More Views:
Building Thinking Skills Book 2
These thinking skills books are among our favorites because of their tremendous scope. They develop four basic analytical skills (similarities/differences, sequences, classification, and analogies) through figural and verbal problems.
In addition, there are problems dealing with deductive reasoning, map skills, Venn diagrams, mental manipulation of two-dimensional objects, and much more.
Studies have shown that students using these books have significantly raised their national test scores in both content and cognitive tests! What's more, these books are never dull!
Building Thinking Skills Book 2 covers describing shapes, figural similarities and differences, figural sequences, figural classifications, figural analogies, describing things, verbal similarities and differences, verbal sequences, verbal classifications, and verbal analogies.
Answers are located in the back of this book.
Publisher's Information
Authors: Sandra Parks, Howard Black
Pages: 408
Activities: 1,374
Black & White: Yes
Binding: Paperback
Copyright: 2006
ISBN: 978-1-60144-150-8
Publisher: The Critical Thinking Co
Printed In: USA
Consumable: Yes
Reproducible: Yes, for one home or classroom.
Faith-Based: No
Awards and Endorsements:
The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval
Mom's Choice Awards Gold Medal for Excellence
Parent Tested, Parent Approved Winner's Seal
Mensa Recommended Materials for the Gifted
iParenting Media Award
Parent Tested, Parent Approved (PTPA) Seal of Approval
Cathy Duffy 101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum
Dr. Toy 10 Best Software
Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence Award
Learning® Magazine Teacher's Choice Award
iParenting Media Excellent Products
Cathy Duffy Top 100 Award
Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products
Learning® Magazine Recommended Resource for Successful Teaching
The Well-Trained Mind Recommended Resource for Logic and Critical Thinking
2014 Practical Homeschooling Reader Awards™ - 3rd Place, Logic Category
Practical Homeschooling Magazine 2nd Place Reader Award
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine 1st Place 2012 Excellence in Education Award
review by Heather O'Steen
”It has a broad range of ability levels so I would say anywhere from about third grade to seventh grade is a good range. The pages are very simple and straightforward – if your kids love to do things like crossword puzzles then this book will be a hit! The answers are all included in the back which is a huge help because sometimes even I can’t figure it out. They really do make you think critically! ”
Read the ReviewThis isn't her favorite book, but the skills it works on are very important. There are a variety of skills and activities to practice critical thinking skills so while it may not be her favorite part of the day, it's super important and Mama values it!
This is our second time working through the Building Thinking Skills - Level 2 workbook. (One of our older kiddos worked through it 4 years ago (2020)) The book has been updated significantly from the edition we used previously. The latest edition is printed in color! Additionally, several formatting updates make the book more appealing (unless your kiddo does better with simple black & white). For our kiddo this made the workbook more intriguing. We are choosing to use this book over two years, so our current 4th grader is doing 2 pages 3 days a week, and will complete the remaining pages next school year. We do not assign pages chronically, but choose to "popcorn" through the book to provide variety. There are still some days where we have a little power struggle getting this done. In general our kiddos seem to prefer the Evan Moor Critical Thinking books, but this book does provide many opportunities, for learning to think critically.
You might also be interested in knowing that all the pages are perforated allowing for easy removal. This provides options such as removing the answer key. Or alternatively you could remove pages for your student to complete instead of keeping them in the oversized workbook, if the huge size proves overwhelming for your learner.
I have a love hate relationship for this book. I love the information it covers and that there is so much and the variety it contains. It is a BIG book. After going through level 1 in a year, we decided to use this book over the course of 2. My daughter doesn't love it and it is sometimes a chore to get her to work on it.
We love this workbook for critical thinking skills and logic. Some pages need to be explained but it's mostly independent work. My kiddos loves the shape pages.
This is a BIG book. Definitely lots of thinking skill activities. Not the most exciting...but there are definitely lots of thinking exercises.