The Thinking Toolbox
35 weeks of laugh-out-loud logic your teen will actually use.
$32
Quantity:
In a Curriculum Kit
Multiple Grades
Consumable
Supplemental Material
2026 Seventh-Grade Curriculum Kit
The Thinking Toolbox
Learning what to think is easy. Learning how to think is much more valuable.
The Thinking Toolbox, from the authors of The Fallacy Detective, is a practical introduction to critical thinking, logic, and reasoning for middle and high school students. Through 35 short lessons, students learn how to evaluate claims, analyze evidence, identify weak arguments, and make more thoughtful decisions.
Written in a conversational style and filled with humorous illustrations, the book presents complex ideas in a way that is approachable without oversimplifying them. Students are encouraged to engage with the material, question assumptions, and apply what they learn to everyday situations.
Along the way, students explore topics such as evaluating sources, recognizing bias, understanding the scientific method, analyzing opposing viewpoints, conducting effective brainstorming sessions, and distinguishing sound reasoning from faulty logic. The course also examines pseudoscience, misleading claims, and common mistakes people make when presenting arguments.
One of the strengths of The Thinking Toolbox is its practical focus. Rather than treating logic as an abstract subject, it demonstrates how critical-thinking skills apply to conversations, media, advertising, academics, and everyday decision-making.
Designed for teens but accessible to younger students and parents, The Thinking Toolbox works well as an independent study, discussion course, or family read-aloud. Whether your student is preparing for debates, evaluating online information, or simply learning to think more carefully, this course provides a valuable set of tools for navigating a world filled with competing ideas.
Clear, engaging, and highly practical, The Thinking Toolbox helps students build reasoning skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
How to Use The Thinking Toolbox
- Plan to complete one lesson each week. With 35 short lessons, The Thinking Toolbox fits comfortably into a full school year while giving students time to apply the ideas they learn.
- Students can work through the book independently, but many families enjoy reading and discussing the lessons together. The conversational writing style and humorous illustrations naturally spark discussion.
- After each lesson, take a few minutes to talk through the concepts. Ask your student to identify examples from books, advertisements, news articles, conversations, or everyday situations. The more students practice recognizing sound reasoning and weak arguments, the more natural these skills become.
- Don't rush through the material. Critical-thinking skills develop through discussion, reflection, and application rather than memorization. A thoughtful conversation is often more valuable than completing multiple lessons in a single sitting.
- The Thinking Toolbox also works well alongside debate, writing, rhetoric, science, and current-events studies. Many of the concepts naturally connect to subjects students are already exploring.
With just one lesson a week, students can gradually build stronger reasoning, better decision-making skills, and a more thoughtful approach to evaluating the ideas they encounter every day.
View a sample lesson here.
- Fun to use - not dry
- Can be used after The Fallacy Detective
- Introductory - teaches skills you can use right away
- Self-teaching format
- Over 60 cartoon illustrations by Richard LaPierre
Publisher's Information
Publisher: Christian Logic
Authors: Nathaniel Bluedorn & Hans Bluedorn
Illustrator: Richard LaPierre
Age Recommendation: 13+
Grade Recommendation: 8th+
Faith-Based: No
Consumable: Yes
Pages: 237
Lessons: 35
ISBN: 9780974531510
Format: Softcover
Copyright: 2005
Made in: USA
Awards and Endorsements from:
First Place in the Logic category of the 2012 Practical Homeschooling Reader Awards
Bina Walker:
- March 4, 2025
Recommend Recommend
A. P.
My kids and I love this part of our homeschool day. The conversations that come out of this book have been great. It really requires a lot of thinking but in a good way.
- October 9, 2024
My head hurts (in a good way)
Brittany F.
My 7th grader struggles with this, but in a good way. He really needs to focus and stretch his mind to work through the book, and I can see the difference it makes in his other work. I'm so glad I talked him in to try it! He already has debate skills; this book has helped to sharpen those skills.
- June 1, 2022
One of the best parts to our school day
Heather N.
Every one of my kids loved this book. It made us laugh. It made us think. It made us look forward to school whenever we had it in our schedule.
- September 3, 2020
Fun
Kim E.
This book makes learning to think deeper fun!
- November 16, 2018
The Thinking Toolbox
Florence B.
This book is right up my 11 year old son's sleeve. He practically read thru the book before I had a chance to look at it. He is a deep thinker and loves all things analytical, logical, and debatable. This book feeds his appetite in the truest sense.
- May 10, 2018
The Thinking Toolbox
Natasha S.
I enjoyed this book so much that we do it as a family rather than just for my 7th grader! There are always lots of laughs and my kids look forward to "Thinking Toolbox" days!
- May 10, 2018
The Thinking Toolbox
Gina o.
He looks forward to reading it.
- October 10, 2013
The thinking toolbox- great life skill
Joseph G.
We used the Fallacy detective, and my kids loved it. When we started the Thinking Toolbox, I noticed that it was a bit different. It's not about fallacies at all, but really about developing thinking and analyzing skills. These are things we cannot afford to take for granted, as they are becoming more and more rare in our society. I am so glad we are using this book!
- January 14, 2013
Great logic course
Sheila
Our children belong to a debate club and this course has been very useful in helping them think logically. We highly recommend it.
- October 10, 2011
Who knew we needed to learn how to think?
Virginia M.
The Thinking Toolbox is a treasure. We want our kids to think clearly and pursue wisdom, but we need a guide to help us. This book teaches kids study habits, and what Charlotte Mason might ave called "habits of mind." We combine it with The Fallacy Detective and The Art of Argument for an course in informal logic.
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