S4 EP3: Let’s Get Critical! Are You Smarter Than an Eighth Grader?

<p><strong>MSMP Family Game Week begins with seven verbal brain games designed for middle schoolers, parents, teachers, and anyone else who wants to play along.</p><p>Inspired by our field trip to Creature Features in Athens, Tennessee, these puzzles feature Drift the Arctic fox, Coco the capybara, Willow the wallaby, Maisie the Highland cow, a possibly innocent kangaroo, and Lieutenant Steve—who has somehow gained access to the prize vault.</p><p>Along the way, we explore what is happening inside the developing middle-school brain and practice critical-thinking strategies such as examining evidence, questioning assumptions, eliminating possibilities, building mental models, and changing approaches when the first strategy doesn’t work.</p><p>Josh from Canada also asks which games can help middle schoolers become stronger thinkers. We discuss mysteries, riddles, chess, logic puzzles, strategy games, escape rooms, brain-supporting foods—and whether blueberries can actually make algebra easier.</p><p>Play in the car, around the dinner table, in a classroom, or anywhere your family could use a brain workout. No worksheets required.</p><p>Critical thinking isn’t something you either have or don’t have. It is a collection of skills that grows through practice.</p><p>Find episode updates and practical resources at MSMaryPoppins.com.</p><p>Stop. Regulate. Listen. And stay clever, little foxes.</p>