Information-packed crossword puzzles! From Connecticut to California and New Mexico to New Jersey, each of the country’s 50 states is the focus of a unique crossword puzzle. Using an encyclopedia to discover solutions, students learn valuable information about each state. Examples: - The name Arizona comes from this Indian word. - Nebraska’s state flower. - The name of Frank Lloyd Wright’s estate near Spring Green, Wisconsin.

Historic crossword puzzles!From George Washington (Name his plantation home.) to Ronald Reagan (Name his birthplace.), each of the 44 U.S. presidents is the focus of a unique crossword puzzle. Using an encyclopedia to discover solutions, students learn valuable information about some of our country's most important historical figures. 48-page book.

Seeking out more information. From “Rocks and Minerals” to “Butterflies” and “Planets,” this book presents over 100 “science” topics for students to research. Each category presents a word search puzzle from which students choose a specific research topic. (“Mollusks: Sea Slug. Oyster. Squid. Octopus…”) A series of statements follow, encouraging students to find specific information. (“Describe its appearance.” “Its young are born _____.”)To put what they have learned to use, guidelines for the structure of a report are included.

Seeking out more information. From “Bodies of Water” to “Historical Events,” this book presents over 100 “social studies” topics for students to research. Each category presents a word search puzzle from which students choose a specific research topic. (“Transportation: Spirit of St. Louis. Hindenberg. Titanic. Orient Express…”) A series of statements follow, encouraging students to find specific information. (“It was built in the year ___ by ____.”)To put what they have learned to use, guidelines for the structure of a report are included.

Seeking out more information. From “Wild Felines” to “Prehistoric Creatures,” this book presents over 100 “animal” topics for students to research. Each category presents a word search puzzle from which students choose a specific research topic. (“Reptiles: Crocodile. Box Turtle. Iguana. Gecko….”) A series of statements follow, encouraging students to find specific information. (“Its enemies are ___.” “It protects itself by ___.”)To put what they have learned to use, guidelines for the structure of a report are included.

Boost language skills to new heights with this step-by-step, practice-packed book! The sequential, easy-to-do activities will guide your students through important concepts, one-by-one, while the illustrations are sure to keep interest soaring. Part of the Skill Booster Series, this flexible book is superb as an introduction or review. Its specific focus allows repeated practice and is a terrific way to help students prepare for standardized tests. In addition, it can be incorporated into both skill-based and whole-language programs. You will find this book an effective teaching tool for many age and ability levels.

Improve attention span! The 23 visual activities in this popular unit are designed to increase students’ concentration and attention to details. One exercise, for example, includes two versions of a picture – each depicting two boys fishing on a riverbank. Students are challenged to find 10 differences between the drawings. The game-like exercises found here range from hidden objects and memory graphics to word pyramids and categorizations. Children are sure to have loads of fun while stimulating their thinking skills.

Improve attention span! The 25 highly visual activities in this popular unit are designed to increase students’ concentration and attention to details. One exercise, for example, pictures a very messy bedroom. Students are directed to find hidden objects within the illustration. The puzzle-style exercises found here range from hidden word messages and mazes to word scrambles and hidden object graphics. Children are sure to have loads of fun while stimulating their thinking skills.

Structured practice in visual discrimination and perception! The 25 lessons in this unit take children a step beyond simply differentiating between “like” and “different” objects by requiring them to specify HOW two objects are similar and different. This extra step helps children begin to recognize and put into words the characteristics they observe.Visual clues are used for students to compare.Example: An image of a calendar and a drawing of a clock are shown. “How are these alike? How are they different?”

Experts agree that when “thinking power” is improved, reading, comprehension, problem-solving, and writing abilities will follow suit.The 26, highly visual lessons in this unit utilize a variety of activities to teach logic. (Read the clues and write down what Buster does on each day of the week listed. “Buster has a soccer game on Thursday. He has swim lessons 3 days before soccer…..”)Of course, reason is also covered. (“Mom asked Jill to stir the soup so it would not burn. What does Jill need to get?)The inclusion of creative illustrations greatly assists the learning process. The easy-to-use activities are sure to improve critical thinking skills.

Teach the thinking process! Experts agree that when “thinking power” is improved, reading, comprehension, problem-solving, and writing abilities will follow suit. The 25, highly visual lessons in this unit utilize art, calendars, advertisements, signs, and more from which students draw solutions. (A playground is pictured. “Draw a red line to show one way to go from the swings to the pond.”) Finding facts are also covered. (A May calendar is shown. “What is the number of the first Monday?”)The inclusion of creative illustrations greatly assists the learning process. The easy-to-use activities are sure to improve critical thinking skills.

Teach the thinking process! Experts agree that when “thinking power” is improved, reading, comprehension, problem-solving, and writing abilities will follow suit. The 28, highly visual lessons in this unit utilize word searches, puzzles, and color coding to teach students to identify inferences. (“I have black and white fur. I live in the forest. Sometimes I smell bad. What am I?).Following directions are also covered. (Write the names of each creature pictured. “Fred is the biggest. Ned is bigger than Jed. One is named Ted. Jed is not the smallest.”)The inclusion of creative illustrations greatly assists the learning process. The easy-to-use activities are sure to improve critical thinking skills.

Teach the thinking process! Experts agree that when “thinking power” is improved, reading, comprehension, problem-solving, and writing abilities will follow suit. The 26, highly visual lessons in this unit utilize word, image, and shape associations to make students aware of the similarities and differences between objects and word meanings. “See how the pictures are different. How many differences can you find?”) Analogies are also covered. (“Bite is to Dog as Sting is to ___: Bee, Hurt, Bear.”)The inclusion of creative illustrations greatly assists the learning process. The easy-to-use activities are sure to improve critical thinking skills.

Exercise thinking skills and build vocabulary! In each of the 24 lessons in this unit, student must first answer a series of random letter-placement clues. If their “logic” is correct, the letters spell a word. Students are then challenged to write an original sentence using the word. The vocabulary featured is at an easy level so that the focus is on thinking more than on word knowledge. Creative illustrations and coloring activities add to the fun of learning.

Test logical thinking! Solving the oodles of picture problems and word logic puzzles in this book will keep students’ minds active and promote logical thinking. Children must learn to organize the clues presented so they can reach the logical solutions. In all, there are 25 exercises that progressively increase in difficulty.

Teach problem solving! The 24 lessons in this unit are designed to help students turn abstract problems into graphic, semi-concrete formats. This ability is an important step in the development of effective problem-solving techniques. Example: "Planted four rows of flowers. Six plants in each row." How many flowers? Draw a picture to show how to solve each problem.By creating a visual representation of the components of a problem, students can more easily perform necessary operations. They can also see the logic – or absence of logic – in their solutions. The sequential activities featured here will most certainly help young learners develop critical thinking skills.

“Evaluation” is the most abstract and complex level of critical thinking. To evaluate or make judgments, students must accept a given criteria as the standard before being able to come to an accurate conclusion.The 25 lessons in this unit provide practice with personal values, accuracy of facts, recognizing bias, and using reference sources.Example: “You want to go to a summer camp. What makes a good one?”The sequential activities featured here are sure to develop critical thinking skills.

“Synthesis” is the ability to combine parts of a whole in new and different ways. It requires students to think flexibly, determine alternatives, and find new ways to accomplish a given task. A more advanced level of abstract thinking is needed for synthesis. The 25 lessons in this unit encourage students to go beyond the obvious to more original thoughts. Example: An illustration of a bulb connected to a battery is presented. “Electricity is stored in a battery.” Look at the accompanying pictures of batteries, wires, and light bulbs. “Which bulbs do you think will light up?”The sequential activities featured here are sure to develop critical thinking skills.