Sample Skills List

Following are examples of thinking and learning skills associated with analysis, critical thinking, and
creative thinking.

Analytical Skills Critical Thinking Skills Creative Thinking Skills

identifying attributes analyzing trends fluency
observing setting goals flexibility
discriminating same/ making decisions originality
different
developing hypotheses elaboration
comparing/contrasting
testing generalizations brainstorming
classifying
inductive reasoning visualizing
setting criteria
deductive reasoning inventing
sequencing
distinguishing fantasy/ finding problems
identifying relationships reality
solving problems
identifying patterns determining advantages/
disadvantages
predicting
identifying point of view
determining cause/
effect determining bias
comprehending distinguishing fact/opinion
analogies/metaphors
judging accuracy
formulating
determining relevance
summarizing
judging credibility of sources
making inferences
recognizing assumptions/
fallacies
examining viewpoints
drawing conclusions

From Differentiating Instruction in the Regular Classroom: How to Reach and Teach All Learners, Grades 3–12 by Diane Heacox, Ed.D.,
copyright © 2002. Free Spirit Publishing Inc., Minneapolis, MN; 800/735-7323; www.freespirit.com. This page may be photocopied or
printed for individual or classroom work only. Since Free Spirit Publishing allows educators to adapt this form to their needs, it may
have been modified from its original format and content.
 Challenge Levels

Level Definition Action Activities

Synthesis Put together in a new Create It compose, hypothesize,

or different way design, formulate,
create, invent,
develop, refine,
produce, transform

Evaluation Determine worth or value Judge It judge, predict, verify,

based on criteria assess, justify, rate,
prioritize, determine,
select, decide, value,
choose, forecast,
estimate

Analysis Examine critically Examine It compare, contrast, clas-

sify, critique, categorize,
solve, deduce, examine,
differentiate, appraise,
distinguish, experiment,
question, investigate,
categorize, infer

Application Use what you Use It demonstrate, construct,

have learned record, use, diagram,
revise, reformat, illustrate,
interpret, dramatize,
practice, organize,
translate, manipulate,
convert, adapt, research,
calculate, operate, model,
order, display, implement,
sequence, integrate,
incorporate

Comprehension Show your Understand It locate, explain, summa-

understanding rize, identify, describe,
report, discuss, locate,
review, paraphrase,
restate, retell, show,
outline, rewrite

Knowledge Recall facts and Know It tell, list, define, label,

information recite, memorize, repeat,
find, name, record, fill in,
recall, relate

Based on Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: Book 1 Cognitive Domain by Benjamin S. Bloom, et al. (New York: Longman, 1984).
From Differentiating Instruction in the Regular Classroom: How to Reach and Teach All Learners, Grades 3–12 by Diane Heacox, Ed.D.,
copyright © 2002. Free Spirit Publishing Inc., Minneapolis, MN; 800/735-7323; www.freespirit.com. This page may be photocopied or
printed for individual or classroom work only. Since Free Spirit Publishing allows educators to adapt this form to their needs, it may
have been modified from its original format and content.