Unusual Word Problems and the Development of Critical Thinking in Early School Students

Nowadays, it is increasingly difficult for people to make their way in a rapidly changing world. Critical thinkers are able to function well in such a changing environment and their education should begin in early childhood. This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the development of critical thinking of third grade elementary school students. Unusual word problems with missing or contradictory data, an ambiguous solution, or with unrealistic content (meaningless in real life) served as a tool for developing this type of thinking. These problems provoked the students to think, to critically analyze both the content and data of word problems. This, in turn, helped the students become more reflective, notice missing or contradictory data, ambiguity of a solution or lack of realism, fill in missing data, correct contradictory information and make unrealistic data realistic, as well as seek all possibilities for a solution. Thus, their critical thinking skills developed.