Critical Thinking Questions for Meaningful Conversations

As a writer, I try to avoid clichés, but there is one that I think will always ring true: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah, we know. Teachers teach students to fish and give them building blocks for education. But what if there’s an even better way to do it? What does it look like to teach students not only how to “fish” in education, but how to think effectively? Not in an imposing-my-will-on-you kind of way, but in a setting-you-up-for-success kind of way.

It may seem like critical thinking can’t be taught—students either have it or they don’t. Maybe you can’t give your students a single critical thinking fish. But you can practice with them, show them what tools they have, and set them up for a lifetime of critical thinking. 

Introduction to Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is more than just a buzzword in education; it’s actually a core cognitive function. When students have strong critical thinking abilities, they can apply reason and question assumptions, helping them be better at problem solving, evaluating information, and discerning biases. People who think critically can make informed decisions and solve complex problems. 

Across ages, professions, and grade levels, critical thinking is an important skill for any situation. Strong critical thinkers can analyze, evaluate, draw conclusions, and challenge assumptions — all of which are necessary for an enriching life regardless of where a student’s journey takes them. 

But teaching critical thinking isn’t as straightforward as teaching subjects like math or science. Where can a teacher even begin to build this critical life skill into their curriculum? Don’t you worry. Together, let’s go through some of our top sample questions, practical frameworks, and strategies for application, so you have students who are strong thinkers and not mindless followers. 

Why Is Critical Thinking Important?

Critical thinking is a crucial ability in a world flooded with information, much of which is false. Think of it like a toolkit. Students who can think critically have the tools to logically assess what’s presented to them. These tools include:

• The Logical Fallacy Spotter: Logical fallacies are mistakes in reasoning, stemming from characteristics such as inconsistency, relevance, insufficiency, or presumptions. Biases are similarly flaws in an argument because of our skewed perspectives or presumptions. With this tool, students can spot these faults and have the perspective to see past them.

• The Viewpoint Seeker: Seeking out multiple viewpoints allows students to have richer learning experiences, discover new ideas, and expand their understanding of the world. Critical thinkers embrace multiple viewpoints, not run from them, even if those viewpoints are different from their own. 

• The Problem Solver: Critical thinkers use evidence-based logic. They look past the logical fallacies, overcome biases, and seek out multiple views. When combined, these tools create thinkers who can creatively problem solve and persist under pressure. 

These skills aren’t only needed for the big test or the stressful essay with a short deadline. Critical thinking is perhaps the most important skill for parents, leaders, followers, learners, and more. When students are equipped with critical thinking, they’re equipped to face the ups and downs of personal and professional life.  

Developing Critical Thinking Skills

Practice might not make perfect, but it will definitely make you a whole lot better. Like many things, critical thinking skills can only improve with practice. In the classroom, give students challenges that will push them and force them to dive a little deeper or think in a new way. Start off the day with a fun little puzzle or brain teaser to get students’ minds warmed up (check out Braingle for some free online ones). These kinds of activities are low-stakes and low-pressure, but still get kids to engage in critical thinking in a fun way. 

There also doesn’t have to be a dedicated “critical thinking time” in the schedule. It can be a part of every subject. Simple habits like open-ended questions or debates help students step back, look at their own assumptions, see their blind spots, and gain a new perspective. Even questions as simple as “What’s another way you could do that?” or “Can you explain your thinking to me?” will get students thinking more intentionally. Encouraging metacognition (“How did I reach that conclusion?”) and exploring assumptions (“What would change if…?”) push students to really get thinking about their own thinking. 

Some questions can even be disguised as interview prep or professional development. Reflective writing is a great time for students to think a little more deeply about these questions and feel safe sharing their thoughts freely. Try questions like: “Tell me about a time you solved a difficult problem,” or “What is a weakness you have and how are you trying to overcome it?” 

Truthfully, though, not all students are in a place where they need to think about those professional skills (yet) so also engage with the silly. Silly questions with goofy answers don’t exclude critical thinking. If a student asks you, “Who would win in a fight: a unicorn or the Lochness Monster?” don’t be afraid to Uno reverse card them and ask what they think. Engaging with their minds this way will help their curiosity and creativity flourish. 

Frameworks for Effective Questioning

Effective critical thinking questions don’t just happen by slapping a few questions on the whiteboard and having students write about them. Here are three of our favorite frameworks to incorporate strong critical thinking questions into your classroom:

Socratic Questioning:
Socratic questioning focuses on logically examining and validating ideas. When used in the classroom, this framework promotes independence, higher-level thinking, and ownership of ideas. 

To apply this in the classroom, the teacher will act completely clueless on a topic in order to get students to engage in dialogue. For example, a teacher might ask, “What do plants need to grow?” Students might give some straightforward answers, such as air, sun, dirt, and water. But the magic of Socratic questioning comes with the follow-up. First, seek clarification: “What do you mean by water? Sun?” Second, ask them for evidence: “What proof do you have?” Third, help them gain perspective: “What might others think about these needs?”

Six Thinking Hats:
Edward de Bono was a physician and thinker who coined terms like “lateral thinking.” His book Six Thinking Hats is a staple tool in improving thinking and decision-making. 

Each “hat” represents a different perspective: factual, optimist, judge, emotion, creative, and conductor. Students will examine a topic, a question, or a challenge multiple times with each different hat. For example, if discussing the use of artificial intelligence in each school, a student “wearing” the white hat (factual) might ask questions like: What data is there on how AI affects learning? What else do we need for it to be successful in schools? A student with the red hat (emotion) might ask: How does using AI for homework make me feel? Would I feel comfortable if an AI graded my assignments? 

As students examine topics from the perspective of these different hats, they will be required to look at the problem in new ways. They will have to really dig deep into the one facet of the issue they are assigned. As students learn how to examine an issue from these different perspectives, they will become stronger decision makers and confident critical thinkers.

Ethics Bowl / Dialectical Dialogue:
In an ethics bowl, students will be challenged to examine an issue as a team, present its pros and cons, and discuss their findings with other groups. Rather than a debate, an ethics bowl should be focused on understanding the perspective of others and finding commonalities. 

The dialectical method is another practice from the Greek philosopher Socrates. This style of conversation emphasizes open and honest dialogue between partners. To work effectively, it requires students to be committed to understanding each other’s perspectives, engaging sincerely, and admitting to flaws in their argument.

Applying these frameworks to the classroom is a great way to use moral dilemmas and structured discussion to evaluate complex issues. Students can discuss issues like cheating, rule-breaking, government structure, or issues facing their local community. 

Examples of Critical Thinking Questions

The more that the students can do the talking, the better. Encourage kids to use critical thinking and grow their confidence by trying out some of these questions in your own classroom. 

For Kids (Ages 5–12)

The key for young learners is to encourage imagination and logic. Embrace the silly, goofy, and weird, all for the sake of letting them explore their own budding ideas.

Try out questions like:

• What would happen if animals could talk?
• Why do you think rules are important?
• What would you invent to make life easier?
• How might a bird see the world differently from a human?

For Teens & Students

Teens and older students want to feel like they are making a valuable contribution to the conversation. Use questions that encourage creativity but have a more practical application. These kinds of questions are perfect to include on assignments or in reflections.

Include questions such as:

• What evidence supports your point of view?
• What are the pros and cons of your solution?
• How do you decide who to trust?
• How would your life be different if you grew up in another country?
• If you could give advice to yourself in 30 years, what would it be?

For Teams & Group Settings

Critical thinking thrives through collaboration. When students can say their thoughts out loud, it helps them truly process their thinking and identify strengths or weaknesses. Try out critical thinking questions in small or large groups, ensuring that students understand that it’s a safe space where all ideas should be shared.

Use questions like these to build collaboration and community:

• What assumptions are we making here?
• What are the long-term consequences of this plan?
• Your team must create a set of top-five rules for living peacefully in a small community. What are they?
• Should students have to wear school uniforms?
• What makes us a strong team? What can we do differently?

How to Craft Your Own Critical Thinking Questions

Critical thinkers don’t just give good answers, but they also ask good questions. Asking effective questions is a key step to helping students understand different sources, challenge ideas, and identify solid reasoning.

Begin by helping students understand what an open-ended question is: anything that requires more than a “yes” or “no” and invites thoughtful, varied, and detailed responses. Help students develop their own open-ended questions by focusing on “why” and “how” questions. 

Whether in math or science, language arts or history, students can use these open-ended questions to better understand their classmates. Have students ask each other their open-ended questions and then include a follow-up like “what if…” or “what would change if…”

When students can practice asking and answering their own questions, encourage them to practice healthy comparisons as well. What were the similarities and differences in different people’s answers? Focusing on strong question skills can also help students improve their evaluation and reasoning. 

Your Role in Growing Great Thinkers

Critical thinking empowers students and committed learners to think deeply, solve problems, and connect meaningfully. Don’t just reserve “critical thinking time” to once a week — use these kinds of questions in daily conversation and assignments with students. 

And if you’re not sure where to start? Start here, with Mission.io. Mission.io helps teams stay focused, accountable, and in sync, all so you can turn ambitious goals into real outcomes. 

Every student already has a curious mind. All they need is you to show them how to use it.