Creative Problem Solving REVIEW

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. 

What great timing to be able to review the Creative Problem Solving Level 1 (Grades PreK-2) - ebook from The Critical Thinking Co.™  Summer is pretty much here and I have learned that it is important to have at least SOME brain work over the summer or we are at a huge disadvantage when fall classes start.  I love their critical thinking resources for students and this one has been no exception. I received a link for an electronic download of this 212-page e-book.  I printed ours out and bound it into a book so that is was easier for Little Bug to work with.

Interesting solution - but it's her imagination!

This is a fun brain challenging book that is perfect for summer activities.  Once Little Bug started working on the problems, she just couldn't put it down!  I love this statement from their book, "Creative problem solving requires more than just knowledge and thinking.  Creative problem solving is the process of independently creating a solution."  There are 11 topic areas that all contain creative thinking, problem solving activities.  The 11 topics are as follows:

1. The Magic Pencil (draw your solution)
2. The Creature Factory (draw a creature that would survive the situation and then explain why you think it would)
3. Superheroes and Super Powers (choose a super power to help)
4. Alien Designer (create a design to meet the need)
5. The Inventor (find a solution to the problem)
6. The Crisis Specialist (decide the order of steps to help in the emergency)
7. The Best Tool (choose the best tool to help)
8. The Enigma (Enigma - "A person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand." - use your imagination to discover the enigmas)
9. The Mind Ride (close your eyes and imagine you are a character in a story)
10. 2-D and 3-D Figures and Shading (learning about and drawing them)
11. Play With Mechanisms (creating a mechanism)

Sample from The Inventor topic

So far she has been working in the Magic Pencil and Creature Factory areas.  She absolutely LOVES the Magic Pencil problems.  She is asked to use her creative thinking to draw a way to fix the situation presented to her.  I was amazed at how fast she came up with solutions!  She was a real hoot in this area.  I didn't agree with some of her solutions because I didn't feel that they were very realistic, but I DID NOT correct her on any of them.  I want her to feel free to use her imagination and if it works for her, it's good enough for me.  There's plenty of time and place at another time for corrections.  The purpose of these exercises is to allow her creative juices to flow and allow brainstorming to its fullest.

Perhaps one of my favorites - just put the worm in a bag!  LOL

I would have just put a structure over him to protect him
but Little Bug decided he needed a getaway car! LOL

The added plus for us is that she is also getting to work on her artistic skills and handwriting since she is drawing pictures and having to answer quick questions about her solutions in some of the activities.

She has all summer long to "have fun" with this book.  She has so much more to explore in the other topics.  They all challenge your thinking skills and beg for creative answers.  The last two topics (no. 10 and 11) are tagged as "Super Challenge."  They will definitely be more parent intensive for the younger ones, but look so fun.  We haven't tried any out yet but I'm sure we will before the summer ends.

Sample from The Enigma

Sample from 2D and 3 Figures and Shading

Sample from Play with Mechanisms

When she comes to me every morning and asks if she can work on her "puzzles" and her "magic pencil"  I know we have a hit.  I love that she enjoys these challenges and has such fun coming up with solutions.  The Creative Problem Solving Level 1 (Grades PreK-2) - ebook is a definite hit in our book and we give it two thumbs up.  What a great resource to get for part of your summer fun activities.  You can connect with The Critical Thinking Co.™ on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, and YOUTUBE.

Also, be sure to check out what my fellow Crew members have to say about this company and some other resources that they reviewed by clicking on the graphic link below.  If you have children in other age groups or are in need of something else you just might find it in one of the other reviews.  Have fun!