ThinkBlocks facts for kids

ThinkBlocks are special educational tools. They are like building blocks, but they help you think better! Derek Cabrera invented them. He first used them to teach his university students about systems thinking.

ThinkBlocks help you understand ideas. They are based on the DSRP theory of thinking. This theory says that four main patterns help us think. These patterns are Distinctions, Systems, Relationships, and Perspectives. Learning to use these patterns can make your thinking skills much stronger.

You can write ideas on the blocks with dry-erase markers. Then, you connect them to other ideas. Some blocks fit inside others (multi-nesting). Some have special connectors (barbell). Others are clear (looking glass).

ThinkBlocks were first white, magnetic, and shaped like 12-sided dice (dodecahedra). They came in three sizes and had one shiny side. In 2012, new clear, cube-shaped blocks were made. ThinkBlocks won an award from the National Parenting Center in 2008.

How ThinkBlocks Help You Learn

ThinkBlocks can be used in many ways. Younger kids can play with them like regular blocks. They can connect them and put smaller blocks inside bigger ones.

These blocks are also used with the Patterns of Thinking method. They are called "tactile manipulatives." This means you can touch and move them to understand ideas.

Derek Cabrera, who created ThinkBlocks, was inspired by Jean Piaget. Piaget believed that children learn best by "constructing" their own knowledge. ThinkBlocks help you do this. When you use them, you actively build and model your own ideas.

Tactile Tools for Thinking

ThinkBlocks are part of a group of tools called tactile manipulatives. These tools are often used in math, especially for younger students. They are also popular in Montessori schools.

ThinkBlocks were designed for all ages and subjects. This makes them useful for more than just math. In 2010, a science magazine called Scientific American Mind wrote about how ThinkBlocks connect thinking skills with hands-on tools.

Where ThinkBlocks Are Used

ThinkBlocks are used in many schools. They are found in preschools, elementary schools, high schools, and colleges. For example, schools in Ithaca, NY, and Fairfax, VA, use them.

Teachers have found ThinkBlocks helpful for all students. They are especially good for students who have learning challenges. Beyond schools, leaders, inventors, and scientists also use ThinkBlocks. They help people organize their thoughts and solve problems.