Literature and resources for teaching thinking were identified through:

• existing reviews of thinking skills approaches (e.g. Hamers and Overtoom, 1997)
• electronic search of catalogues (such as books in print and educational publishers catalogues);
• web searches using key terms;
• Beacon schools which had identified thinking skills as part of their work;
• Best Practice Research Scholarship summaries;
• 'expert informants' in LEAs and HEIs who recommended materials;
• hand searching professional magazines for reference to programmes and approaches (such as Teaching Thinking magazine);
• direct approaches to educational publishers.

The identification process concentrated on materials currently available in the UK appropriate for use by teachers with primary age pupils (4-11 years). A range of methods to identify materials were used as one method did not reveal the range of programmes and resources available. Some are commercially published, some are published by Local Education Authorities, others require training courses, or can be found through the internet.

If you have suggestions for further materials which you think should be included in the database please forward the information to: mail  to: victoria1.white@dfes.gsi.gov.uk

Priority was given to materials which:

• have clear curriculum links (e.g. National Curriculum, NLS and NNS for England and Wales, 5-14 guidelines for Scotland and curriculum for Northern Ireland.
• contain both activities for pupils and professional development guidance for teachers.
• make the process of teaching thinking explicit (either for teachers or pupils).
• have been evaluated or researched in classroom settings.
• can be used with a class or large group of pupils (not one-to-one teaching).

Thinking skills materials and resources were included because they:

• explicitly aim to teach thinking or thinking skills
• are currently available in the UK (to order, purchase or download)
• aimed at primary age pupils (4-11 years) or their teachers (or parents/carers)
• contain activities or lessons for pupils and/or professional development materials for teachers to support the development of thinking skills AND have an explicit underpinning theory or rationale for these activities
• are relevant to national curricular guidelines or requirements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales

Some materials and resources were excluded because:

• they do not explicitly aim to teach thinking or thinking skills
• they are not available in the UK
• they are aimed at pre-school, secondary, further or higher education only
• they are general texts or books about thinking skills
• they are sets of photocopiable resources with no explicit rationale
• they are reports of research
• they are not relevant to the primary curricula for the UK