What is Higher Order Thinking?

Higher order thinking is when you use your brain to figure out tricky problems or make smart decisions instead of just remembering facts.

Imagine you have a box full of different colored blocks. When you're learning about colors, you might just say "this is red" or "that is blue." That’s like basic thinking, it's simple and straightforward. But when you start to ask questions like, “What happens if I stack the red block on top of the blue one?” or “Can I make a tower that won’t fall over?”, that’s higher order thinking, you’re using your brain to solve problems and think creatively.

Sometimes higher order thinking is like being a detective. Imagine you find a note that says, "The cat stole the cookie." You might start asking questions: “Who is the cat?” “Where was the cookie?” “Why did the cat take it?” These are all higher order questions, they help you dig deeper and understand more than just what’s on the note.

It's also like being a chef. If you know that flour and sugar make cookies, that’s basic thinking. But if you start to ask “What happens if I add chocolate chips?” or “Can I use honey instead of sugar?”, then you're thinking like a chef, using higher order thinking to experiment and create something new.

So, next time you solve a puzzle, make up a story, or try something different, remember: that’s higher order thinking in action!