A Case of Red Herrings: Solving Mysteries through Critical Questioning, Book A1 (Grades 4-6) [Paperback]

Thomas Camilli (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 089455462X | ISBN-13: 978-0894554629 | Publication Date: 1992

Each mystery gives just enough information to start students guessing--usually in the wrong direction--as they use deductive reasoning, critical questioning, and creative reasoning to come up with the hidden meaning behind each story. Reading level: grade 4; ability level: grades 4-9; 32 activities and answers included. Reproducible for single-classroom or single-home use.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

These intriguing activities help students develop questioning techniques, follow lines of reasoning, generate hypotheses, analyze information, test possibilities, look beyond the obvious, and improve their thinking skills across the curriculum.

From the Author

OTHER TITLES BY THIS AUTHOR -- Case of Red Herrings A2, ISBN 0-89455-483-2; A Case of Red Herrings B1, ISBN 0-89455-463-8; A Case of Red Herrings B2, ISBN 0-89455-484-0.

Product Details

• Paperback: 37 pages
• Publisher: Critical Thinking Co (1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089455462X
• ISBN-13: 978-0894554629
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #591,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars don't waste your money, February 25, 2003

By 

"khjd2" (New England United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Case of Red Herrings: Solving Mysteries through Critical Questioning, Book A1 (Grades 4-6) (Paperback)

A ridiculous over-priced piece of fluff. This "book" is less than 40 pages. On each page, a single "mystery" is printed. (Most of us would call it a "riddle" based on a double meaning of a word or phrase). Answers are provided in the back of the book. Example: "Although she was not an unusually large woman, people were always surprised at Livia weighed. What was it?"
Answer: "Anchors" (i.e. Livia worked in a harbor and weighed anchors).

The author tries to dress up the book by providing a process of "critical questioning" for "solving the mystery".

Save your money, especially you homeschoolers and teachers. Instead, go to your local library and check out a book of riddles and jokes. You'll get the same benefit by reading that with your children. After all, the point of riddles is getting you to consider something carefully and look at it in a different way, or what this book would call "critical thinking skills".

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My class says thank you!, July 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Case of Red Herrings: Solving Mysteries through Critical Questioning, Book A1 (Grades 4-6) (Paperback)

I teach Adult Basic Education to people with 4th & 5th grade academic skills who are studying to take their GED tests. They said that the Red Herrings have really improved their reading skills! One student even said he'd have dropped out of math if we hadn't been doing the Red Herrings because after all these years he just learned how to note key words and concepts in reading, and also just learned how to think about what he's reading in a careful, critical, "What does this REALLY say" sort of way.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Way to Learn Thinking Skills, January 9, 2004

By 

"mac_dude" (Morrisburg, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Case of Red Herrings: Solving Mysteries through Critical Questioning, Book A1 (Grades 4-6) (Paperback)

We are a homeschooled family and my kids love this book. They beg for it. It is great because all of the age groups can do it together. The older ones can keep asking questions to help the younger ones figure it out. The problems help the kids to use their brain in a way that is not taught in the school system.