RSS Feed
via Email
Facebook
I love playing games with kids, because I believe it encourages strategic thinking. When I first heard about a new revolutionary toy that teaches just that I was thrilled to invite it into our home. ThinkBlocks don’t use the electronic gadgets that kids are used to, but instead encourage creativity and the natural ability to think. To me, this system is a great way to incorporate everyday life into a lesson.
ThinkBlock arranges itself into three categories: Play, Think and Thrive. You are given a small guidebook that explains several lessons, and divides them by age range and category. Each ThinkBlock activity is uniquely designed to help you facilitate learning and thinking by asking the right questions. Children (ages 4 and up) will learn how to identify distinctions, recognize relationships, organize systems and apply multiple perspectives to any idea, object, person or situation.
Research has shown that these four patterns are essential to thinking. The “Patterns of Thinking” model was developed by Dr. Cabrera from Cornell University and has been researched heavily. What I love about ThinkBlocks is that no matter who you are or what age group you fall into, the ability to think analytically and independently will ensure success on whatever path you choose in life.
By using the sets of different size ThinkBlocks, a free thinking tile starter set and dry erase marker you can help your child turn concepts into things that they can touch, play with and hold. We all know how hard it is to explain things to children that they cannot physically see. They gave an excellent example in the guide that stated, “Imagine holding an apology in your hand.”
Props & Pans is giving one lucky readers their own ThinkBlock boxed set valued at $79.99. To win you must visit their website and look at the video activity tutorials they have displayed. Tell us in the comments which activity you find interesting by Monday, March 17th.
You do not need a blog to enter, just leave us your e-mail address so that we may contact you. As always, it is Props & Pans policy NOT to distribute any information you give us (including your e-mail). Thanks for entering!
Stumble it!
Add to Del.icio.us
Digg it!
Subcribe to RSS Feed
Leave a comment
=...
Wow!!
They’re all fascinating.
There is so much you can do with these. I watched many of the activities. The one I found most interesting was the global ecosystem. This looks like a great learning tool.
Great contest!
henglish@nb.sympatico.ca
cool these are so neat.
Such neat things!
[...] Where: Props and Pans [...]
They are all fascinating, yes. I like the idea of the one ‘Play with a Purpose’. But the other ideas are also good also, and education in a way to start thinking early. please enter me. thanks.
how cool
Cool product. The global ecosystem is the most interesting. It works in well with what my daughter is doing in school.
thanks for the contest
Wow! All of these are great activities and very applicable to real life. “Us and them” is an activity that focuses on a relevant concept that is important to learn early in life. Thanks for sharing and for introducing this to us!
This is exactly the type of product today’s youth needs. Good for you for giving it away.
What a fantastic site. These blocks fit my youngest son to a tee.
He has had the ability to do Legos without the directions since he was three years old. I like the ideas given on the tutorial video. There is really a lot you can do with this set! Please enter me in your fantastic give away. I appreciate it…..Thanks,Cindi
Wow, those look like fun!
I haven’t seen these before, but I like the idea of something that teaches to “think outside the box”. “Perspectives: Learn to take different points-of-view”
Us Vs Them looks pretty interesting
These are all great - I like the “organizing systems” one best as I have plenty of applications for it!
This is new to me and I love it! Very clever!
I also like Play with a purpose and think outside the box. Would love these for my great grandchildren
The global ecosystem is great for my son who is very into the environment right now.
very interesting
What a creative game for kids to learn and develop new skills! Thanks for the great giveaway.
the activity I find interesting = perspectives on art
Cool! We are working on math with our son, so I like the Multiplying, Dividing and Factoring Units activity!
Thanks!
I thought the video showing the blocks to help understand sex versus gender was interesting!
Please enter me. These look great!
What a great site, as I can think of many items that would make a nice gift.
Great contest. Thanks for the chance.
think blocks hey why didn’t i think of something like this?
sweet
Very cool,
i like how you can write any word and have some type of association with it. It looked a little hard for me but I can definitely see how it inspires creativity. It’s interesting that it seems to have limitless possibilities.
they’r all gggrreeeaaat.
I love them all.
Cool contest, cool blocks
This looks like so much fun! I can’t wait to try it.
Oh good Lord. I’ll need one of my nieces of nephews to show me how to use this for the global ecosystem. I was just getting the hang out of how to peel off the colors of the Rubik’s cube and look smart. This will be a challenge!
good prize
I tried their videos but my computer keep stalling out. So after looking around the website… I came to the conclusion that these seem to exceptional for kids to make relationships with ideas bigger than we would normally introduce at this level. The idea is fascinating! I love that they break down all about Business and family relationships… and then even the difference metaphors and similes for kids to understand.
I would be very interested in testing this out with my kids… so on that note, I hope I win!
Thanks,
Marissa
I like the fact that it is educational.
The global ecosystem is the most interesting, would love to win
Experts say the more you stimulate the mind the more it helps with memory recall. so this is very interesting.
I haven’t seen these before, but how wonderful! I like organizing systems and the global ecosystem, thanks for the giveaway!
I like the multiplying, dividing, and factory units activity
What an amazing learning tool. I love that you can actually see how systems work together. Such as the ecosystem and how it is connected.
the global ecosystem sounds fantastic!!
Understanding Ecosystems sounds interesting!
The ecosystem is pretty neat.
I believe that manipulatives greatly enhance the learning process of my students and help turn an abstract idea into a greater understanding of content. I think these are fantastic and innovative. I would love to have a set for my classroom. My favorite tutorial was the video on factoring (of course). These are the coolest things since algebra tiles!!
this is a great tool for everyone in the house. all the activities are interesting. i’ll have to go with the ecosystem being that we are trying to teach are family about the importance of it now.
Oh wow, these are really really cool!
organizing systems
Very cool, especially us vs them.
The global Ecosystem looks very interesting. Thanks for the chance to win.
I liked the us and them exercise.
Mommie
http://www.mommieshome.net
I think the global ecosystem is interesting!
I like the global ecosystem activity. nice to see toys that help development.
I love the Global Eco-System!
the ecosystem is neat.
Sounds like a nice set.
Please enter me.
The global ecosystem is what I would pick. thank you
global ecosystem
Play with a Purpose seems the most interesting to me.
i love learning games for cxhildren- this one is super.
Playing this with my granddaughter would be a treat.
Games are great! Learning Games are even better!
LOVE TO WIN
THANK YOU GOD BLESS
organizing systems is my favorite.
global ecosystem
I’d have to say the Ecosystem one is the coolest to me. These would be great for homeschooling!
I’ve never seen these before and after looking through your site, this looks like a wonderful learning tool for the kids. Thanks for offering a set as a prize.
What a wonderful tool to have - especially when it masquearades as a toy!
I all looks fun!
I like Global ecosystem alot. This looks really cool! I hope I win!
AWESOME!!! Pelase enter my name, THANKS!!!
Very interesting. I really like the ecosystem as well.
I am a former teacher and these blocks seem great. I would love the math sets for my kiddos.
enter me please, thank you for the contest
Using Dry Erase and Stickers
is my favorite
These blocks are so cool.
very unique count me in please!
I really like the “Us and Them” activity. What a great educational tool!
just to cool
All of them look motivating and inspiring but I like the building Analogies
I have never seen these before either. I too like the Play with a Purpose as it would fit my daughter the best.
the perspectives on art is a great concept for kids
I like that my daughter would learn Perspectives: Learn to take different points-of-view
Please consider me for the contest. At age 70 I want to keep my mind active and believe this to be an excellent way. Gail Beal
I like the idea of Play with a Purpose
Global Eco System is my choice. It seems very appropriate for
today’s world
I like the “organizing systems” one. But I really like all of them- very cool.
global ecosystem seem great
All of them seem great, but I’d like to have the Thrive for my daughter.
Multiplying, dividing and factoring. Math is an “issue” at our home and this looks like something the whole family could learn from…..thinking outside the box, if you will.
The understanding ecosystems one is cool. Great giveaway! Count me in. bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
I’m most intrigued by the metaphors and similes. This is an interesting game. I’d love to win!
metaphors and similes would be excellent for my elementary-aged children. Thanks!
Really appreciate the Understanding Ecosystems, thanks for this awesome giveaway, also like controllable factors video.
Play with a purpouse is my favorite=)
I love the understanding ecosystems aspect of the product! awesome giveaway, thanks!
I bookmarked your site, you have lots of interesting things. The string game tutorial was very sweet. That cat is a star!
The metaphors and similes tutorial is interesting and probably would have helped me understand those concepts. I think the blocks have great possibilities for so many uses!
learning games for children
I love the global ecosystem set
I was never great at math so I watched the video “Multiplying, Dividing, and Factoring Units” with interest. I wish these were teaching tools that I’d had as a child. I want to be able to teach my kids in a better way. ThinkBlocks are amazing!
I love educational toys. learn and have fun.
I think Play with a Purpose sounds great, though the whole thing is an amazing sounding system! Thanks!
The Deconstructing Distinctions: Sex and Gender activity was really interesting. These things are fascinating.
Wow…I just keep thinking about how useful these would be with my 9th grade students. Um, AND my daughter, of course. :o) I like the simile/metaphor activity and the ecosystem activity, but the context one was my favorite. That’s a tough thing to teach, and the activity illustrated it perfectly.
Heather D.
hmdilorenzo (at) aol (dot) com
My two favorite activities were the Metaphors/Similes exercise and the Ecosystem activity. What a fantastic learning tool!
I love th eplay with a purpose segment. These are such a great innovation, any kid would be lucky to have them.
rap9r(at)hotmail(dot)com
I like the Number Line. My daughter is 4 and I think this could help her understand simple math concepts.
The Number Line idea is great!
My favorite is Play with a Purpose…though all are very cool! Thanks for the opportunity to enter, those blocks are so creative! My daughter would love them!!
These look really cool! I think the activities in Understanding Ecosystems look very helpful in our efforts to teach our kids about being green.
I love the Metaphores and Similies activity! It is always difficult to make comparisons, and I think this would help!
The Thinkblocks are great but I also really like the magnetic Thinktiles. The visual is always a great stimulant!
Wow! I will have to get a set of these, if I don’t win one
The activities that immediately caught my interest were the math related ones like “Multiplying, Dividing and factoring units”. This reminded me a lot of a tool used at my grade school to teach math. I had a terrible time with math concepts when people expected me just to memorize tables but when I switched schools to a place that taught math incorporating visual learning like this I suddenly “got it”. If I hadn’t had that experience I might have never gone on to pursue a career that required me to take at least 3 semesters of Calculus and lots of Algebra!
As a former math major and math teacher, I do have to say that I see a lot of potential for the Multiplying, Dividing, and Factoring Units activity. Thanks! uke9000(at)gmail(dot)com
I like the idea of the metaphors and similies. That is an awesome learning tool.
very neat!
My 7 year old is insane for anything math related. Once I saw the multiplying, dividing and factoring tutorial, I knew he would love these blocks. So cool, what an innovative toy!
I am a scientist, so I loved the ecosystem based one! Fantastic!
Since I teach ecology, I like the understanding ecosystems!
nifferjeno at gmail dot com
What a neat product! I would love to try this with my children. I looked through the videos and am most intrigued by Multiplying, dividing and factoring!
I like the Building Analogies activity.
Being a homeschool I enjoyed the video on Multiplying, Dividing and Factoring Units.
I like the perspectives on art. This helps me direct the topic and thoughts and then they can share their thoughts. I love it! I didn’t think before about asking my little one about these types of questions-line, color, texture. This would make it so fun!!
I like the Understanding Ecosystems idea… Thanks for the contest!
I like the vast number of different perspectives that can be considered.
ecosystem based one i like
i like the number line idea
Number Line: allows your child to learn deep counting and ordering skills.
I am home-schooling my 5yo daughter. This would be a huge asset to our curriculum.
Thanks so much for doing this giveaway! The One Problem, Multiple Perspectives video was interesting…thinking outside of the box and thinking from someone else’s viewpoint are important skills in development! Thanks again!
the Perspectives on Art seems interesting, as do all the videos!
perspectives on art sounds challenging
Metaphors and Similies looked the best….I am a grammar nut. Thanks! ( meg.wilson@gmail.com )
Neat idea, I like the Content and Context of a Distinction tutorial.
looks like an interesting game
What other toys could take your child from preschool to college? Great concept! We would really enjoy Making a Relationship Explicit and Organizing Systems. Thanks for the chance to win!
ooo, the Perspectives on Art sounds real cool, that’s super important to me, teaching kids about art~
Forget the kids, I want this !
Enter me
I need thinkblocks for myself! I have never seen anything like this. Who thinks up this stuff!?!
Great contest, thanks! I work with kids using art, Perspectives on Art would be great!
I really like the fact that these can be used for anything. The tutorial on Using Dry Erase Markers and Stickers shows exactly how versatile they are. Thanks for the chance to win!
Love this toy! What a great concept!
the controllable factors sounds really great, it’s important to try and work out problems in an intelligent way.
I like them all, but if I have to choose - The Perspectives on Art! Thanks!
my fav is the ecosystem
One Problem… Multiple Perspectives would be a great lesson for my teens.
Yeah, no batteries!
Multiple perspectives!
I really like the idea of using them as manipulatives for math. Think Blocks would be great when we start multiplication this fall.
I really like this concept for learning the Making A Relationship Explicit is the one I like best
These are great. I also like the Journey to Planet Knowledge (Children’s Book.
Very cool!
ThinkBlocks allows your child to learn deep counting and ordering skills that form the basis of a lifetime of mathematical ideas.
I like the one about the ecosystem. I think these would be a great tool for homeschoolers.
I like the Global ecosystem! Great site!
I love play with a purpose!
I like the Perspectives on Art and I also liked the Metaphors and Similes.
Great contest
mrosenthal@mmm.edu
the Metaphors and Similes.
What a perfect conversation piece! And my daughter would go bananas for these!
I like the Us and Them.
Great! Thanks!
Global EcoSystem.
Great teaching tool!
I really like the way they encourage creativity and problem solving in a fun way. While there are a lot of toys today which have a lot of flash and dash, I noticed that children often get tired of them when they have seen it over and over again. It kind of looses its fun anymore. I grew up with toys which made you think and gave you such a sense of accomplishment like “wow, I figured that out all by myself!” That is what I like most about these toys, the fact that they help children feel proud of themselves for solving it. I love that it is a mom and pop and child thing as well as it is so much fun spending that time together.
Sweet niblets!
I Like the perspectives on art. Wonderful contest!
My grandson would like the global ecosystem.
This product is amazing. I really liked the perspective on art. It was simple enough for a young child to be able to do with an adult and the way it links different perspectives help a child understand how art can be enjoyed from many different angles.
They all look great, but I think the Multiplying, Dividing and Factoring Units portion would be the first thing I would tackle with my eldest step daughter.
I love the math concept…great way to make them think!
nice
I think it is great!! anything to keep my kids off of the computor is good with me, and it helps them too, in all kinds of way!!1 I LOVE THIS
Please enter me in the contest
aharris007@sc.rr.com
These look like something my son would love!!! What a great way to learn to think.
The Building Analogies is great
I loved the set about making The Relationship Explicit. Love the idea that this can easily teach a child not to make assumptions, and that “not to judge a book by its cover”, and that “something may not be what it appears to be physically”.
This is a great teaching aid for children, because there are just some things that are better shown physically than taught verbally.
Great! Get the kids to use their imaginations again, instead of sitting in front of the TV or playing video games!
What a unique concept. I’d choose math related activities such as multipling, dividing & factoring.
I love it!!!
I like Perspectives on Art. We already have the Van Gogh Starry Night print in my son’s room!
The activiy to demonstate Self-similarity and Thinking looks interetsing.
Understanding Ecosystems looks great!
Decontructing Distinctions: Sex and Gender was the most interesting
the ecosystem is really cool — i like lots of them tho — great site and great contest!
I liked the organizing system activity as the theory of part and whole still to this day even makes me think..
I blogged you too
http://www.prizeatron.com
I “think block” therefore I am! I love the fact that these are not electronic and will help nurture a child’s instictive logic!
Clever Idea. great giveaway.
The Ecosystems sounds interesting!
ty!! 4 the great contest!
The understanding ecosystems. Thanks for the chance.
Perspectives on Art. This is a fascinating product!!
I liked the Building Analogies activity.
perspectives on art
I love the block thingamajigs.
I am in the middle of teaching my 7yu multiplication and division, so the activity of Multiplying, Diving and Factoring Units is appealing!
This is no cool - I especially love the analagy activity. You could do soooo much with this!
Math
Wow!!
Like all, but especially the ecosystem, very cool…
I love that this develops both left brain and right brain skills, and is so creative…
great product, had never heard of it before, so thanks for the contest.
the art perspective is very cool, although truthfully I liked all of them
How perfect for building logical and analytical thinking in children. I watched the “Us and Them” tutorial. These would be great for learning time with my kids- they are at the age where kids start asking “Why?” and looking for deeper answers and explanations about the world and people around them. Thanks for the giveaway
I like the dry erase and stickers activity.
perspectives on art
gotta think green nowadays, the ecosystem!
I like the multiplying/dividing activity!
The Understanding Ecosystems video is great–my husband is an environmental educator.
I have never heard of these before but what an amazing opputunity
i really like the magnetic Thinktiles.
they are all awesome i would love to try any of them!! ahdrad2932 at msn dot com
I like the building analogies activity. I think this is important for children to learn!
Making relationships explicit was interesting.
Too cool!
i thought self-similarity and thinking was the most interesting video! this game is so creative and great for my little sister!! Thank You for this great opportunity to win this game!
The global ecosystem one is amazing!
phenixind@hotmail.com
I like using it to link concepts. It is really cool.
This would one of the few non-electronic toys my kids would own.
Lets hear it for the global ecology; fun, teaching, invigorating!!!! Best of luck to all who enter
I love the idea to use stickers on the tiles - perfect for my young children and the young gifted children I teach! As a teacher of gifted students I’m constantly asked about “thinking toys” so this would be great to try out.
Sarah
I love the Multiplying, Dividing and Factoring Units video. How many people would benefit from seeing that and learning that way, thus cementing a firm basis for mathematical understanding? Love it!
I like the number line activity. I’m a stay-at-home mom. I constantly wonder if I’m teaching my children appropriately to prepare them for school. This would help a lot. Thanks!
Controllable factors looks really interesting.
Very clever and interesting, and thank you for the contest.
I find the Using Dry Erase and Stickers activity interesting.