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1win Aviator Crash Game: An Overview

1win Aviator Crash Game is an innovative online game that challenges players to predict the trajectory of an aircraft. The game is inspired by the excitement of aviation and offers a unique twist to traditional crash games. Unlike other crash games where players bet on a specific multiplier and wait for the crash point, 1win Aviator introduces an aircraft that soars through the sky, giving players the opportunity to cash out at any time.

How to Play 1win Aviator Crash Game:

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Conclusion:

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CogAT Form 7 was released in 2011, and it offers changes and improvements over the previous version, CogAT Form 6.

We examine how CogAT Form 7 retains the basic elements which made the test the most reputable and popular reasoning abilities test in the US. Learn what you can in advance to decide if you want your child to attempt the CogAT practice test.

Cognitive Abilities Test Form 7

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) was first launched in 1968. It has undergone many revisions, until it has become one of the most reputable and widely used tests to gauge reasoning abilities in students.

CogAT Form 7 was released in 2011, after nine years of extensive research. It retained the features which made it popular and trusted, while it also added revisions which made it even better than previous versions.

In fact, the enhancements in the Form 7 were the most significant ever since it was first launched.

CogAT Form 7

What Remains the Same in CogAT Form 7

The testing time is still the same. This means that the tests are still able to fit within typical school schedules. There are still three different batteries of tests: Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal. These are the areas in reasoning abilities which are closely related to academic success.

Teachers and educators can still administer one or all batteries depending on their requirements and the requirements of the students. Different formats are still used for the batteries of tests.

This ensures that the score reflects the student’s reasoning ability and not just their preference for or affinity with a specific type of test format.

This use of different formats makes the scores fair and more valid. Educators still get to use an ability profile for the students.

Questions to Ask the School Before the CogAT Test

Should I Let My Child Take the CogAT Test

New CogAT Test Format for K to 2nd Grade

The Form 7 version of the CogAT for the primary levels from kindergarten to 2nd grade is markedly different than the Form 6 version.

The most notable differences:

For the Form 6 version, the teachers read the instructions aloud in English. In the Form 7 version, teachers now read in oral English or Spanish.

This change was made to acknowledge the changing language landscape in the US. For most of the country’s history, an overwhelming majority of the students spoke English as their native language.

It made sense to have the teacher read the question aloud while they chose the picture which answered the question. Now, however, there are a growing number of students who are not native English speakers.

Approximately 21% of school-aged children speak a language other than English at home. In addition, approximately 5% students speak a language other than English, and find it difficult to speak English.

On the Form 6 version of the CogAT, four of the six types of tests (oral vocabulary and verbal reasoning in the verbal battery, and relational concepts and quantitative concepts in the quantitative battery) were in English.

It was only in the figure classification and matrices in the nonverbal battery which used nonverbal questions in the form of pictures.

CogAT Form 7 questions

On the Form 7 version of the test for the primary levels, every type of test format are in nonverbal forms. The sole exception is the sentence completion part of the verbal battery, which used English or Spanish.

And that’s an optional part of the test. The switch to nonverbal means of representing problems (pictures and figures) became a much more effective means of accurately measuring the true reasoning ability levels of US students.

Students can understand squares, pictures of flowers, and other images. This is true whether or not a student speaks English.

The format for the primary levels now more closely resembles that of the tests for the older students.

CogAT Form 7 batteries

What types of questions are on CogAT Form 7? It’s important to understand, there are three batteries. In addition, each of these batteries contains three sections.

• Verbal:
  • Picture analogies
  • Picture classification
  • Sentence completion
• Quantitative
  • Number analogies
  • Number series
  • The third in the Quantitative section is Number puzzles
• Nonverbal
  • Figure matrices
  • Figure classification
  • Paper folding

This change was instituted because the different formats for the older students sometimes produced markedly different scores from the scores they received when they were in the primary levels.

With the increased similarity in formats, there is now greater consistency of results even when students take the CogAT at different points in time. Now if there is a change, it can no longer be attributed to the difference in the format.

CogAT Form 7 sample questions for 2nd grade

If you have a 2nd grader who’s about to take the CogAT 7 version, here are the kinds of questions you can expect for the various sub-tests:

CogAT Verbal Form 7

Verbal, picture / verbal analogies:

For example, the question will show two pictures; for example, a foot and a shoe.

The third picture might be a hand. The student needs to consider the fourth picture from three possible answer choices: a hand mirror, a hammer, and a glove.

Since the shoe is worn on the foot, then the right answer is the glove because the glove is worn on the hand.

The hand mirror and the hammer can be grasped by the hand, but not worn.

CogAT Sample Questions for Young Students

Verbal, sentence completion:

The question asks students to indicate which one of the animals in the answer choices swims in the ocean. There’s a picture of a monkey, a cat, and a shark.

And although it is theoretically possible that a monkey and a cat can swim in the ocean, these are not the best answers.

The best answer is the shark, which actually lives and swims in the ocean. In general, the most suitable answer is the right answer for these kinds of tests.

One rule you can teach your child when taking these tests is that the obvious right answer is the best answer.

If you need to explain why your answer can be right (“The cat fell from the ship and it swam!”) then it’s not the best answer.

The CogAT Sentence Completion Test for the Verbal portion can be given in English or Spanish.

It follows the traditional method of having the teacher read aloud the question while the student chooses the picture that answers the question.

Verbal, picture / verbal classification:

In this section, the student must figure out how three items represented by pictures are similar to each other.

For example, the student may see pictures of three kinds of balls: a basketball, a volleyball, and a baseball. Among the answer choices, there’s a soccer ball, a basketball ring and a baseball glove.

The right answer here is the soccer ball, even though the other options are also sports equipment. The soccer ball is not just a piece of sports equipment, but a kind of sports ball as well.

This makes it the best (and therefore the correct) answer.

CogAT Quantitative Form 7

Quantitative, number analogies:

In this part, students see three pictures. The first two have some form of numerical relationship.

The student is required to find the fourth picture among the answer choices which has the same relationship with the third picture.

For example, in the first two pictures, there may be a picture of a single pear, and then a picture of a pear cut into two halves. The third picture is a single apple.

Therefore, the right answer is the picture of an apple cut into two halves as well.

Quantitative, number puzzles:

This type of question offers pictorial representations of mathematical problems. For example, the question shows two pictures: a box with 4 dots inside, and a picture of two boxes with one box showing 3 dots.

The other box has a question mark.

This is a simple mathematical representation.

The right answer is a box with a single dot, so that the second picture has the same number of dots (4 dots) as the first picture.

Quantitative, number series:

For older students, this may be done with just numbers. However, in 2nd grade, CogAT Form 7 shows pictorial representations of the numbers.

For example, one string has a single bead, the next string has two beads, and then the next has three beads.

Then the next has one bead, next comes two bead, and then the next has three.

What comes next? The student should then pick the string with the single bead.

CogAT Nonverbal Form 7

Nonverbal, figure matrices:

The matrices here show three boxes, with the fourth box empty. The top two boxes have some sort of relationship, which then offers a clue as to which picture fits best in the empty box at the bottom.

For example, the top two pictures show a large square and a small square. The first bottom picture shows a large circle, so the right answer here is a small circle.

Nonverbal, figure classification:

Like the figure classification tests in the verbal part, in CogAT Form 7, the student is again required to find how figures and shapes are similar to each other.

For example, the test may show a shaded circle, square, and triangle. The best answer may be a shaded rectangle, compared to other options like an unshaded rectangle or trapezoid.

Nonverbal, paper folding:

The questions for older students here may involve punching holes in folded paper with the student trying to figure out how the holes in the paper will look like.

For 2nd graders and below, the questions here are about how the paper will look once they are folded.

How Important are the Results of a CogAT Test

Understanding CogAT Scores

Schools using CogAT Form 6 or CogAT Form 7

While the CogAT Form 7 is the latest and most updated version of the test, don’t assume your child’s school will be using it for their testing.

Some schools still use CogAT Form 6. In addition, some schools may continue to use CogAT Form 5. There are several reasons why a school may decide to refrain from using Form 7.

The most common reason is the expense of transferring to the new version of CogAT. This involves a fairly serious financial investment for the school, and some schools and school districts simply cannot afford it.

Other schools may not be all that eager to have their teachers learn and master another CogAT version. This requires time and effort, and some school administrators may be reluctant to undergo that kind of training again.

Finally, some educators may believe in the adage if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. This is not exactly a principle that encourages improvement, progress and development, but that kind of belief still persists in some academic circles.

What CogAT version does the school use

What this means it’s helpful to know what CogAT version your child’s school will use. While a CogAT Form 7 practice test will be helpful, it’s best to confirm if the school will administer the CogAT Form 7 version.

The easy thing to do is to ask the school which version they are using, and then buy the appropriate practice materials for your child. However, it’s important to note, most schools will not want to tell parents which form they use. This is because they don’t want parents to prep their students. For this reason, it’s best to find out another way.

When schools use CogAT 7 test results to place students in advanced tracks or gifted and talented enrichment programs, they will not want to give parents and their students an advantage.

Parents can find a CogAT Form 7 practice test based on the child’s grade. Teachers can download practice activities for the CogAT as well so that the students can be prepared equally even if their parents don’t buy or cannot afford to buy practice guides for the CogAT.

CogAT test is a useful determination of a person’s overall ability to comprehend and to learn. But how important are the results of a CogAT test?

It all depends on the school. Depending on the reason the school administers the CogAT, the results can be very important for your child.

It does a good job at predicting how well a child will do over the course of their studies. CogAT test results can also be useful to pinpoint a child’s strengths in order to further develop them.

CogAT is an overall cognitive abilities exam that measures students’ problem-solving capabilities and their likelihood for success in school.

Innate reasoning capabilities and critical thinking skills are useful predictors for children’s lifetime learning ability.

It’s essential for you to find out what the school does with students’ CogAT results. This is how you will know how important CogAT results are.

Questions to Ask the School Before the CogAT Test

Reasons schools administer the CogAT

Schools have students take the CogAT test for many reasons. You must find out what your school does with the CogAT scores. Call the school or school district office to find out.

It’s certainly better to know this before your child takes the test so you can decide how much to help him/her prepare.

If your child has already taken the CogAT, and the scores are already in, it’s important to learn how their scores will impact them at school.

We have been in school districts in many different states. They all used it for different reasons. Here are a few reasons we encountered.

Special enrichment class

In one school district, they were starting a district-wide gifted program. They tested all the elementary school-aged students to see who placed in the 90% or higher. Their plan was to bus those students from the various schools to one school for twice-a-month enrichment.

To have a baseline

In another school district, our elementary school was from K – 4th grades. They had kindergarten students take the CogAT to see where they were.

While my son performed exceptionally high (98 – 100% percent) on the three sections, it didn’t matter. There wasn’t a special gifted program. However, in fourth grade, students took the test again. Those CogAT results mattered.

To place students on different tracks

In the school I discussed above, fourth grade students took the CogAT in the spring. The school administration used the CogAT results to place the kids in the intermediate school which was 5th and 6th grades.

We had five elementary schools in the district with all the students feeding into one intermediate school. There were approximately 500 – 650 students going into fifth grade, depending on the year.

The school used the students’ CogAT results to place them in the different tracks. Each track had approximately 90 kids, who stayed together that year, rotating through three teachers.

We knew a family who had a fourth grader who earned high grades in his standardized state tests as well as earning straight A’s. However, his CogAT scores were not all in the 90 percentile or above. He was in the second highest track, not the highest, like they wanted.

For them, this was a big difference. For his sixth grade year, they transferred him to a private school.

If you wanted your child to be in the highest and second highest track, it would be crucial for your child to score well on the CogAT. Understaning CogAT scores is helpful.

To get into a gifted program

At a third school district we were at, the teachers selected students at the elementary school they thought would do well on the CogAT.

Those students would take the CogAT. If they scored a 96% or higher, they were admitted into the gifted program in one of the disciplines: Verbal, Non-Verbal, or Quantitative.

Those students who scored high enough to get into one of the weekly classes would leave the classroom teacher to attend the gifted class with other students in that grade.

If you scored at least a 96% in one section of the CogAT, you needed a 90% to get into either of the other two gifted classes.

Entrance exam for high school

We know of several high schools that use the CogAT as an entrance exam. Students usually take the CogAT in December or January in their 8th grade year. Some schools encourage students to take it in the spring of their 7th grade year.

These are schools that are selective with regards to “getting in.” These may be highly competitive magnet schools or private schools. In addition to CogAT scores, they look at GPA and report cards.

Results of a CogAT Test

How important are the results of the CogAT test?

CogAT test results measure three major factors that combine to give an impression of a child’s abilities. These are:

• Verbal
• Quantitative
• Nonverbal reasoning skills

It is only a guide, as there are many other factors that will enhance or inhibit the success of any child.

If you are wondering if you should let your child take the CogAT test, you must read this.

Although it is important to have a score to determine the level of functioning for your child, it is also important to not label, or predetermine the capabilities of the child based on the overall scores that they receive.

They should be a useful guide for helping the child, or to aid in assistance, but should not be a means of holding the child back, or to put limitations on expectations for them.

There are many children who are good test-takers and many who are not.

The way that your child performs on any given test is not always a fair representation of their abilities. There are things like test anxiety, or attention deficit issues that can alter the results and render them not as useful as you may think.

A great thing to do for your child is to let them see the types of questions on the CogAT. As stated above, there are three sections or batteries to each test:

• Verbal
• Quantitative
• Nonverbal

Each of these sections has three sections as well.

Letting your child learn about the nine types of questions — in advance of the test — is one of the best things you can do for your child.

They will know what they are supposed to do. Because of this, they will be calm and more confident. They won’t waste valuable time trying to figure out the directions.

Sample CogAT questions and CogAT practice tests

• Kindergarten CogAT
• CogAT practice test for 1st grade
• 2nd grade CogAT practice
• 3rd grade and 4th grade CogAT practice test
• 5th grade CogAT test

If your child is not used to taking tests, or has the inability to focus for whatever reason, the results will not be of much help to determine their overall success and should be considered in such a light.

The importance of a CogAT test is that it can be a useful guide to helping your child if they are having difficulty in one area.

It is also a fantastic test to single out particular strengths your child has.

As an example, your child may have strong spatial reasoning skills. The cognitive test will be useful in your child having an opportunity to use those skills.

However, a lot depends on how your child was feeling that day. Did he/she get enough sleep and eat a healthy breakfast, etc.? Did the student experience stress at home?

If your child is set to take a CogAT test, it is helpful if you prepare them for it by helping ease any anxiety that they may be having.

CogAT Sample Questions for Young Students

CogAT Form 7 – Sample Questions and What to Know

Taking time to review practice questions with your child

Your children want, above all else, to please you. Make sure that you don’t put too much pressure on them, or make them feel as if it is more important than it is.

If you put too much stress on them than the importance of the test will certainly not only be less, but the results will yield much less useful information for their overall outcome in school.

Review the CogAT workbook together. Read a few pages in advance of going over them with your child so you will be calm.

Then, enjoy the time with your child, making it fun and special time together in a stress-free environment.

Even if you child doesn’t place into an advanced program his or her school may have, by working on the CogAT workbooks, they will gain valuable, intangible skills that are not often taught in the classroom.

Should I Let My Child Take the CogAT Test

Best Summer bridge workbooks

So yes, your child’s CogAT results can matter a great deal. If you believe your child will do well in an enrichment or gifted program, it is important to learn more from your school district. Find how why they administer the CogAT and what they do with the scores from CogAT testing.

CogAT Nonverbal Battery – The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a standard test of reasoning. The CogAT has three main sections called batteries: Verbal battery, Quantitative battery and Nonverbal battery.

Each of these batteries has three additional sections. There are nine components to the test. Here we discuss the nonverbal battery.

Schools can administer the test for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. There are three batteries to the CogAT.  It’s not a standardized achievement test on grade-level content. The CogAT test measures students’ reasoning and problem solving abilities.

The nonverbal battery in CogAT is generally considered by many as the most difficult out of all the three batteries and is generally not considered in formal schooling.

The nonverbal section doesn’t contain any type of verbal test or reading exercise. It contains multiple choice questions which measure a student’s reasoning skills based on geometric figures and shapes.

CogAT Nonverbal Battery

If you want to see actual questions, strongly consider purchasing a CogAT workbook. You and your child can see the exact types of questions which will give your child an incredible advantage.

Purchase the sample test books for the grade your child is in. We recommend grade level and one grade below. You can review them with your child anytime.

The non-verbal battery of CogAT contains three main parts. These are:

• Figure classification
• Figure analogies
• Folding paper section, the figure analysis

Understanding CogAT Nonverbal Battery

Figure classification

In the Figure Classification section, students answer questions in which they are to classify and categorize figures.

This test typically contains three or four figures that will have some common factor. Students will have a choice of four answers.

The test taker will have to look at the figures, understand the common factor between them, and decide the right answer from the choices.

For example, there may be four circles each a different color.

Sample answer choices could be Answer choices could be green circles, red circles, colored circles and yellow circles.

In this case, the answer is colored circles since all figures are circles and filled with different colors.

Figure analogies

The second category under nonverbal battery of CogAT is figure analogies. In this section, students will be given two figures with one figure having certain uniqueness.

A student has to understand the first figure and apply the same reasoning with the second figure by choosing the right answer.

Sometimes the question will show three figures, with one pair having some relation between them.

A student has to recognize the relation between the first two figures and apply the same for the third figure, by choosing the best answer among the choices given.

A sample question can be a big circle with a small circle inside it and another big square. A set of choices will contain a small circle, small square, small triangle.

The correct answer in this case is small square.

This is because a big circle contains a small circle and hence a big square will also contain a small square.

Figure analysis

The third category under non-verbal battery of CogAT is figure analysis. People often refer to this as the “folding paper section.”

Figure analysis evaluates children’s spatial awareness and figure and diagram analysis.

The CogAT uses the example of folded paper.

The test shows a picture of folded paper. The child’s job is to answer the questions about what it looks like unfolded and/or with a hole punched in it.

As an example, the test will show the students they should fold a square piece of paper at the center from the top to the bottom.

There will be a hole punched through the bottom right hand corner. The test asks students how the paper will look when it is unfolded.

They would have to tell from the choice of answer of where the hole would be.

Example: One hole each at top and bottom right hand corner, only one hole at right hand corner, or one hole at right hand corner with one hole on the left.

The correct answer in this case is one hole each at top and bottom right hand corner.

Folding paper section

Many people consider the Figure Analysis section to be the most challenging as it relies on spatial reasoning. A way to practice at home is to use origami paper or any square paper and a hole puncher.

Make it fun. You can sit with your child as he/she folds the paper and punches a hole in it. Then have him unfold it to see where the hole is.

Familiarizing your child with this concept in advance of the CogAT test will help them understand it when they see it.

Understanding NonVerbal CogAT questions

If you want to give your child a head start for the next time, purchase a workbook.

Seeing the types of questions in advance is really the best way to prepare your child for the non-verbal and other sections.

The questions themselves don’t matter as much ensuring your child understands the directions. The CogAT nonverbal section is challenging. The questions are likely unlike others students have seen before.

How Important are the Results of a CogAT Test

CogAT Form 7 – Sample Questions and What to Know

CogAT Sample Questions for Young Students

Should I Let My Child Take the CogAT Test

Your child will have an advantage knowing the directions in advance so they will know what they need to do.

Understanding CogAT Scores Are Helpful to Parents

CogAT Sample Questions – When it comes to timed tests like the CogAT, it’s always a good idea for young students to get familiar with the type of questions they will likely face.

CogAT sample questions for young students can minimize the intimidation factor, and also alleviate any concerns as to what kinds of answers are correct.

Children who are in kindergarten or first grade may already be familiar with school tests.

For the most part, the quizzes and tests they take in class are designed to see what the child has learned. Because of this, a child can review for the test by reading their books and trying to memorize facts or math techniques.

But the CogAT is a different kind of test. It doesn’t really try to discover how much kids have already learned. Instead, it tries to measure a child’s ability to reason.

Many schools use scores to place students in enrichment and gifted programs such as GATE (Gifted and Talented Education).

Many experts discourage extensive reviews for very young children (kindergarten and first grade level). It shouldn’t be about the child’s ability to memorize answers to the CogAT sample questions.

Nonetheless, there is some value for young children to see the kind of test questions they will likely have in the CogAT.

Understanding CogAT Nonverbal Battery

CogAT Sample Questions

Helping young students prepare for CogAT

For one, it will let them see the types of questions on the test. While they should be encouraged to read the directions on the test, they will already be familiar with the instructions.

It can also lessen their anxiety about the test. By reading CogAT sample questions and knowing what type of answers are expected, a child can face the test with more confidence.

For kindergartners and first graders, the CogAT questions are read to them by the teacher, and the entire process is explained to them in a way that they will understand.

As a parent, you may want to read the questions to your child as well.

CogAT sample test questions for kindergarten and 1st grade

With an online search for CogAT prep, you will find CogAT practice workbooks, sample question, and online sample questions.

The most basic rule is that you need an age-appropriate CogAT sample test, because the CogAT test questions for older children are much more difficult and complicated.

There are many choices for CogAT prep books.

Cogat sample Test Questions for 1st grade

So take the time to consider workbooks, flashcards and anything you can do to review the CogAT sample test. The idea is to make the time relaxed and fun with your child.

Choosing CogAT practice test for kindergartners and first graders

For some people, trying to help kindergartners and first graders do well in the CogAT may seem over-the-top. This may be true, in a way. Some parents just really want their kids to excel, and preparing for the CogAT may seem excessive.

But at the same time, the CogAT may determine your child’s academic curriculum.

Many school districts use tests like CogAT to find out which kids can enter a Gifted and Talented (GT) or Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program. Students will benefits greatly from these types of educational instruction, but there may only be a few slots.

What’s more, your child may be overlooked for these programs because of low CogAT scores when your child is highly intelligent and creative.

Learn more about different ways schools use the CogAT results.

Understanding CogAT Scores Are Helpful to Parents

Should I Let My Child Take the CogAT Test

So how does a child prepare for the CogAT?

There are several ways to prepare K – 2 students. But essentially, children should be familiar with the process so that their confusion or anxiety will not affect their CogAT scores.

That’s how the CogAT test sample questions work. They expose the child to the type of questions they will encounter, so that the child can be familiar as to the kind of answer expected.

These CogAT test sample questions are not meant to be memorized.

The preparation can be fun for children, but it should also not interfere with the child’s other normal activities, such as sports, reading, or doing their homework.

By getting a good score on the CogAT, your gifted child may be able to take advantage of more creative and more in-depth teaching methods that are more fun and more effective for exceptional children.

CogAT Sample Test Questions

Cogat Practice Test Questions

Here are some appropriate CogAT test sample questions for your young child to practice. Just remember to read the questions for the child, just as they would in the real CogAT.

Verbal questions

These are the questions which emphasize a word and the relationships between words. The student will need to pick the picture or pictures which show the meaning of the word.

For example, a question may be: Which of these pictures are identical?

If your child knows the meaning of the word “identical” then they would pick the two pictures which look exactly the same among the answer options.

Another possible question is: Which picture shows a peel?

The right answer may be the one with the banana peeled halfway.

Finally, there’s the question: Which one is upside down?

And the right answer is a turtle that’s lying upside down on its shell.

The right answers here define a key word in the questions.

As you can see, it may not be possible to memorize every word that a gifted first grader may be expected to recognize.

But by encountering questions like these in their preparations, the child may have a better idea of how to answer the question.

Verbal reasoning

Some questions may be about how words are related to each other. For example, here is a sample item:

Mrs. Smith will walk to the park. It is raining. Among the pictures shown, what should Mrs. Smith bring with her to the park?

The right answer may be the umbrella if it’s shown among the choices. To answer the question correctly, the child should know what’s needed when someone is about to walk in the rain.

While the other picture options (like a bag) in real life may be helpful and can also be used to cover the head when it rains, the child should know that the umbrella here is the most appropriate answer.

Quantitative concepts

The CogAT’s Quantitative section is mainly about math. For example, the students may be shown a picture of three stars. They may be asked to count how many stars there are in that picture.

Then the test asks that they look at other pictures of stars to find the picture that has 4 more stars than the first picture.

To answer this correctly, the child should realize that “4 more stars” means adding 4 to 3 to arrive at 7 stars.

It may also be about knowing which number is greater than another.

For example, a child may be shown a number such as 156. Then other numbers will be introduced, and the child will be asked to pick the number which is greater than the first number.

Figure classification

In this part of the test, a kindergartner is asked to look at a group of figures.

The first figure may be a bunch of blue triangles of different sizes. The answer options may include another blue triangle, along with a green triangle and a blue rectangle.

With this type of CogAT sample test question, your child may understand that a group of figures may be similar in two ways instead of just one.

That’s why the correct answer is the blue triangle, instead of just another triangle or another figure that’s blue.

Here’s another example:

A square, rectangle, and a triangle are in the same picture, and each one of the figures has a shaded corner.

The most appropriate answer is the one which also has a shaded corner and not the figure with shaded area in the middle.

Even for first graders, some of the questions may be a bit complicated.

You should make your child understand that no one (including you or the teachers) expect them to get each and every item correctly.

Matrices

This may seem like a rather complicated term, but it just denotes a big square divided into 4 boxes.

Give your child the opportunity to look at the problem and to think about what he or she is supposed to do. This is part of the reasoning that the CogAT tests for.

After some time, explain to your child that there are pictures in three of the squares, while another square is empty. Point out the empty box to your child.

You can then say something like: Look at the first little square at the top row. It has a drawing of a rectangle.

Now see the next drawing in the next square at the top row? It also has a rectangle that is exactly alike as the drawing in the first square.

This is your clue. The two pictures in the top row should have the same shape.

Now on the bottom row there is a picture of a shaded circle.

To complete this puzzle, you need to find the answer that looks like the first picture of the shaded circle. Look at the drawings in the answer choices, and pick the right picture that also has the shaded circle.”

CogAT Form 7 – Sample Questions and What to Know

Tips on prepping young child for CogAT

For kindergartners, first graders, and second graders, it’s not a good idea to prep a child too extensively. However, scoring well can set them in enrichment classes if the school offers them.

You can find some sample CogAT questions online or get a workbook. The advantage of the workbook is that it will be more orderly — you won’t have to print the online materials out. This will lessen the stress of reviewing the questions.

It’s essential to make this time fun and enriching. CogAT questions are helpful to build critical thinking skills. It’s important to give your child the opportunity to figure out the problem on their own. If they need help, then work through the problem together, giving them a little bit of information at a time. It’s important for them to try to figure it out.

Helping young children with prepping for the CogAT means to take a few problems at a time in one section. Another day, work on another section. There are nine parts to the CogAT.

Keep it short

Make sure when reviewing the CogAT with kindergartners and 1st graders that you keep the review session short. Spending 15 – 20 minutes should be enough to review questions in a section. It’s important the child isn’t tired and distracted.

At this age, many children can really find it difficult to focus on a single activity for too long. They get bored easily. This same principle applies to your review session too.

Let them figure it out

Don’t be quick to answer questions when helping your child. Give them some time to work out the problem. This will give you an idea if they understand what the directions are. You will also gain insight into how your child considers the problem. This is a chance to see how your child will interpret the questions and solve them through reasoning.

Try to make it fun

One way of encouraging children to review for the CogAT is to make a game out of it. Many games, including video games, are all about problem solving, so you can do the same for your review sessions.

Be easy-going

Children are very good at assessing the mood of their parents. Remember, you’re reading the test items to your kids. You need to make your tone of voice friendly and cheerful, so that your child does not tense up.

Admittedly, some parents may feel a bit of frustration when their children fail to answer questions correctly. But you must be calm and patient.

The CogAT measures reasoning ability. This comes more naturally for some kids than others. The point of the review is not to improve your child’s reasoning ability… though you can give them test-taking strategies such as the process of elimination.

The point is to familiarize the child to what going to happen in the CogAT, so they know what types of questions to expect.

CogAT sample questions

The CogAT is an effective way to measure how your child recognizes, discovers, and uses relationships between words, numbers, and figures. It also tests for how flexible they are in their reasoning.

These abilities are not inborn. These skills can actually be developed, both in school and in your home. As a parent, you can help with that, and prepping for the CogAT is a good start.

The CogAT is also a very good way to predict the academic performance of your child. But again, reasoning ability is not the only factor that determines grades.

Their work habits can really help, and they should want to get good grades. As a parent, you can instill effective work habits that can help them all through college. You should also encourage the desire to do well.

Remember also, you don’t need a school test to be the motivation to work with your child. Involve them with questions you encounter in everyday life. You can do this while driving or preparing meals together.

CogAT practice test

CogAT or Cognitive Abilities Test is an assessment test that challenges a student’s abilities in many areas. It’s a test of one’s reasoning ability and not depth of knowledge. It happens that a very good student, who earned straight A’s on a report card, wouldn’t score in the 95 percentile or higher for the CogAT.

The reason behind this could be that reading comprehension, vocabulary, and math operations are not part of this test.

CogAT has three sections: Verbal, Nonverbal and Quantitative.

Verbal ability test

Verbal ability is always a very important part of any cognitive test. This section measures a student’s to make analogies and inferences with words. It doesn’t test reading comprehension, punctuation or grammar.

These questions are aimed to observe the vocabulary, perception of ideas and potential to pick new words while understanding their relationship in contrast to similar terminologies.

Students will need to understand broader concepts. For example, the way certain words go together. They must make connections between words. For example, Boy is to Man as Girl as to ?.

Some of the important points of this section are:

Synonym/Antonym:

Students will need to recognize words of similar meaning.

Sentence completion:

There might be some sentences that may need completion with a suitable word from given options.

Quantitative aptitude

This is the test of one’s problem solving capabilities. The Quantitative battery analyzes the problem solving qualities and judgment in quantitative reasoning. Some of the important questions in this section are:

Number series:

A series of number would be given and students would be asked to find the missing elements of the series. In order to do so, one needs to understand the relation between the numbers first.

Equation:

This section includes building equations and creating relationships between equations.

Nonverbal section

This is perhaps the most interesting and challenging section for the students. Because this is unlike most other tests, you may want to spend more time in this section when preparing young student for the CogAT.

In the nonverbal section, children see various types of puzzles such as picture analogy, relationship inference, and figure classifications. It involves the use of illustrations and geometric shapes to evaluate the cognitive powers of the students.

All You Need to Know About the CogAT Practice Test

The best way to examine and discover your child’s potential is by exposing them to the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT).

CogAT test is an evaluation test formulated for checking the merit of students who can enter gifted and talented programs.

However, it helps to prepare young students for this test. Oftentimes, schools just in K – 2nd grade but not later. This means, to qualify for a gifted program, students in younger grades need to score well.

CogAT for K – 2nd grade

For every section or part of the CogAT practice tests there is specific given time. Each section has multiple choice questions.

Importance of CogAT practice test

You can consider tutoring. It’s a resourceful option; however, most often tutors will focus on reasoning problems to build critical thinking skills, not specific CogAT-type test prep and practice testing.

Those who prep for the CogAT, no matter their age, will have several advantages over those students who don’t.

When children can know in advance the types of questions, they will know what to expect or at least be somewhat familiar with the concepts.

They will spend less time trying to understand the directions and more time on the problems.

In many schools, they test for gifted and enrichment placement in the younger grades. If this is the case for your child, it’s important for parents to learn about the CogAT. It may make sense to help your kindergartner, first grader, or second grader prepare for the test.

Stimulating your child’s mind early is important. Toys are a safe way for babies and toddlers to explore their world. Learn about the best developmental toys for babies and toddlers.

As parents, it’s difficult raising children with the internet. Age-appropriate development toys are more important than ever before. They will help make connections as well as foster curiosity, imagination, and more.

Through play, young children learn how to think critically and use reason to solve problems from an early age. Encouraging your child to play with age-appropriate developmental toys has lots of benefits. No matter when you start, there are toys and manipulatives to engage your child.

Developmental toys for babies and toddlers

One of the most important things for a child to develop at an early age is the imagination. Toys that are open-ended — not just one way to use them and learn from them — are one the best. Choose from among these developmental toys to help babies and toddlers learn essential skills.

Best developmental toys

Shape Sorter

This is a terrific toy for many reasons. If you are buying just one toy, buy a Shape Sorter or a Shape Sorting Cube. This dimensional toy is also a classic and is the epitome of the best development toy. Children from 6 months – 3+ years will enjoy this toy.

Children match the shapes to the shape cut out. The pieces fall into the cube. These are colorful and help build analytical skills. They also help children develop fine motor skills and hand eye coordination.

Shape Sorter

Toddlers will also enjoy opening and closing the sorter. It’s one of the best developmental toys as it encourages critical thinking and problem solving. As the child gets older, you can help them learn colors and shapes. Kids can sort by shape or color. In addition, they can use the pieces to practice counting.

What’s also nice is it stacks well and all the pieces fit neatly inside. This is an excellent teaching toy. Some of them are wood or wood-like material. Others are plastic.

You may also find a set that includes a key that the child needs to insert and turn in order to open the box. This adds additional learning opportunities.

Stacking Cups

Stacking Cups

You will be amazed at how much your little one will enjoy using stacking cups. You may also find them as nesting cups. Some have an edge to them (overhanging plastic edge) which will help kids hold them better.

These are colorful plastic cups in different sizes. They will have fun figuring out how to nest them together. They will improve hand eye coordination as they learn to build them in a tower. Indirectly, they will learn physics and cause and effect as they build.

Kids can use this development toy to help with motor skills. They can also learn to order from smallest to biggest. You can use them to teach colors.

There are differences between stacking cups. The best ones we’ve used are more than just the colorful cups. You will get more learning opportunities out of the cups if they have additional features. Some look like animals from the top. Some of them, on the bottom of each stacking cup, is a shape. You can help your child recognize different shapes such as a triangle, circle, square, etc.

Toddlers will make their own fun with the cups as well. This is an open-ended toy they can use in many ways.

You can supervise them playing with stacking cups in the bath. As they get older, these are fun to use to make “special potions” and mixtures or use at the beach or in a sandbox. These are easy to wash because the cups are plastic.

Blocks and Cubes

Blocks and Cubes

Not only will your child have tons of fun with blocks, they serve multiple purposes. Blocks help children understand counting, shapes, ABCs, spelling, and colors. There are soft stacking blocks, plastic blocks, and wood blocks.

Children can stack, make patterns, and sort.

They are also some of the most classic development toys around… a back-to-the basics type of wholesome toy. There are blocks strictly for building, arranging on the floor, stacking, and categorizing by shape or color.

There are also letter blocks. As your child ages, they can learn to recognize letters, letter sounds, learn to put them in ABC order, and eventually to build words. They can build word towers out of the blocks as well.

Stacking Rings

Stacking Rings

Choosing a stacking ring is another excellent developmental toy for babies and toddlers. These are for children ages 6 months to 24 months.

Babies will be able to explore the different rings, colors and textures. They are large enough for babies to grasp. Some come with balls that move inside the ring, like a rattle. Babies can shake it to make noise. This helps teach cause and effect. Picking up, grasping and later holding the rings  enables them to work on fine motor skills.

Note, there are different types of stacking ring sets. There are some where all the rings are the same size in the center so they all can fit without being in a certain order. This is ideal for babies and younger children.

As they age out of this toy, there is another type of stacking ring. This is one in which the child learns to figure out how to stack from largest to smallest for all of the rings to fit. As babies grow older, they can use the stacking ring to figure out how to stack. They will learn about how the larger rings have to go on the bottom for them all to fit.

Stacking rings make for excellent development toys. Babies, one year olds and toddlers will learn about sizes, including concepts such as sequencing as they learn to order the rings largest to smallest. They will learn about same and different. In addition, they will learn about colors.

You can wash these easily as they are plastic; however, they also make fabric stacking rings. The best stacking ring for babies is one that has different textures to the ring as well.

Musical Learning Table

Musical Learning Table

While children today will have more than their fair share of light up, electronic devices, a musical learning table is an enriching developmental toy.

Parents can hold babies as young as 6 months while they explore a learning table. These are sensory wonderlands with levers, switches, gears, flaps, buttons, and dials. Tables can have 15 functions or more.

Many learning tables have removable legs so it can rest flat on the floor. As the child learns to stand and walk, he or she can stand by the table and play. These tables provide a lot of interaction with sounds, lights, and music.

Children will begin to make connections — if I press this, it lights up — which helps teach cause and effect. They learn they can impact their surroundings. The various activities also help youngsters to develop fine motor skills. While they figure out what to do with each piece, they build upon their critical thinking skills.

There are many types available. Some have four sides and some are more in a circular shape.

Note, there are some tables where all the activities face forward, meaning, a child is “supposed” to play from one end. We highly recommend the four-sided tables or circle tables where kids can approach it from any direction, looking at it from a different perspective.

Some brands to consider are Vtech and LeapFrog. These can be called activity table, learning table, learning center, etc.

Toddler Musical Instruments

Find a set of toddler musical instrument. Typically, these come with a set of at least six instruments. They usually include some wooden, plastic, and metal pieces. It’s best for ages 3 and up.

Many sets contain small bells, strings, and other pieces that can become loose. If you find any of the instruments questionable, you can put them away until the child is older.

What’s great about a toy musical instrument set is that children up until 11 years old will likely find these fun. Older children may have fun playing in the band and having performances for the family.

Most sets will include a drum, xylophone, triangle, maracas, shakers, cymbals, and a tambourine. Larger sets will include castanets, bell stick. Typically, the only “mouth” instruments are a whistle. Some sets come with a recorder, trumpet, flute, and a harmonica. You may want to consider these sets for when they are younger.

Kids will enjoy using these musical developmental toys… parents? Maybe not as much! Sometimes they can be loud. However, giving kids time to play with these toys will enrich them in many ways.

Each instrument will make a different sound. These sounds will also vary depending on how the child manipulates it.

They will work on eye hand coordination, fine motor skills, rhythm, imagination and creativity. In addition, they will learn cause and effect.

Musical instrument toys have the benefit of being interactive with sounds and noise without them being an electronic. Many include a carry bag, making cleanup easy.

Pound a Ball

Pound a Ball

A good developmental toy for one year olds is a pound a ball. You will need to supervise small children as the balls can be a choking hazard.

This is a toy in which children use a mallet to pound the balls into the holes. The balls fall down through the levels and out the bottom.

This is a STEM toy that will help kids build problem solving skills. It teaches cause and effect as well as critical thinking skills.

Kids learn to match the color ball to the same color hole.

This is a toy that helps develop fine motor skills and strengthen hand eye coordination. It’s a fun set. The only downside to it as there isn’t as much more to do. While kids will have fun sitting down to play, there isn’t much more to it. This wouldn’t be the only toy we would recommend if you were just buying one toy. However, kids will really enjoy playing it.

Children will have fun playing on the floor with this toy. A hard surface will make it more durable.

Puzzles

As children continue to grow, incorporate other toys into the mix. They may enjoy puzzles. Kids learn concentration, focus, and problem solving skills.

Puzzles are excellent developmental toys. Kids learn concentration, focus, and problem solving skills. They also feel pride and a sense of accomplishment when they complete the puzzle.

There are many puzzles which have just a few pieces. You can find toddler puzzles on wooden boards. Each piece has a peg holder for the child to place in the correct spot. You can find them with animals and sets with more pieces that include numbers or the alphabet.

There are many types of puzzles and matching sets your child will benefit from. The advantages to these types of activities is they are educational and fun. Kids will enjoy the hands-on opportunity to learn.

The Learning Journey Match It

There are many two and three piece puzzle sets. The Learning Journey has a series called Match It.

Kids can start with the animal sets that challenge them to match the head with the correct body and tail for animals. There are sets that match objects with words. As an example, the puzzle will be a dog and part of it includes the letters to spell dog.

GYBBER&MUMU Wooden Preschool Shape Puzzle

This toy is deceptive in its simplicity. This is a wooden board with shape cutouts. It’s a powerful learning tool.

Children can learn shapes and colors. They will also get a head start on problem-solving while figuring out which shape goes where.

These types of toys help cognitive development in children. Any toys in which children find and match shapes is an age-appropriate development toy.

Alphabet Set

Having kids use manipulatives helps to enforce skills and helps them learn in new ways. One of the best ways to judge a child’s development is the alphabet.

There are foam letter sets, plastic letters, and magnetic sets. Be aware of your child’s age and abilities to be sure you get them large enough so they aren’t a choking hazard.

Language is not only an important way to communicate but opens up doors to creative expression, independent thought, and reading.

Your child can feel proud mastering smaller words — mom, dad, dog, cat, book, toy — as well as sorting them by color. In time, you can teach your child about vowels.

Having tangible letters that kids can manipulate fosters and speeds up learning.

If you choose magnetic letters, children can leave messages on the refrigerator for their parents, learning new words along the way.

The magnetic toys also allow for interaction between the parent and child, giving you the opportunity to take part in the teaching process.

This is a simple developmental toy the entire family can enjoy. If your refrigerator isn’t magnetic, you can use these ABC magnets on a cookie sheet or a dry erase board.

As children get older, this is a tangible way for them to practice their spelling words for school.

VTech Musical Rhymes Book

This musical rhymes book helps teach children how to read, associating words with sounds and images.

This sound and word association will increase literacy in all age groups. The interactive book also comes with play pieces to help develop motor skills.

The book also has bright pages and a flashing star that lights up with the sounds and music, giving your child positive reinforcement for learning and playing.

Developmental toys prepare children

Learning cognitive skills early in development helps children in school and social situations.

Playing with the appropriate toys and proper parental engagement can give your child a head start to success.

Investing in educational toys can make a big difference. These are the key years for your child’s learning and development.

Best Educational Toys for STEM Learning

Best Engineering Toys for Kids– Best Engineering and STEM Toys

Science Toys That Will Inspire a Generation

Stimulate your child’s curiosity and imagination and improve their fine motor skills.

Promoting a growth mindset in children is more important than ever. Make it easy for your kids to be engaged with play with these challenging and fun developmental toys. They will have plenty of time for the iPad when they’re tweens!

The purpose of a Naglieri NonVerbal Ability Test is to identify gifted and talented students. It measures nonverbal reasoning as well as problem solving abilities.

The Naglieri NonVerbal Ability Test is also referred to as NNAT, NNAT2, or NNAT3. The differences are updated versions of the test. NNAT3 is the most recent edition.

Naglieri measures nonverbal abilities, eliminating factors such as language and learning disabilities. An advantage of this test is it is culturally neutral.

It’s a multiple choice test. The test contains pictures and diagrams instead of words. The directions and problems are illustrated. The NNAT tests children’s reasoning capabilities. It doesn’t measure knowledge students have acquired.

Learn about Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test scores, the types of questions, and why schools administer the test.

CogAT Nonverbal Battery

CogAT Sample Questions for Young Students

Naglieri NonVerbal Ability Test

Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test

Students who score high on the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT) may qualify for enrichment opportunities at school.

This may mean a gifted and talented class or an accelerated program. It might mean taking all advanced or honors classes and being put on track in which teachers teach to the next year’s grade level standards.

School districts handle NNAT scores differently based on what programs they have and how many students they can accept.

What does the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test measure?

The Naglieri test measures students’ ability to think critically and to solve problems. The questions measure the child’s ability to complete patterns and to use reasoning by analogy.

In addition, depending on the student’s grade level in school, the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test may measure serial reasoning and spatial visualization.

As an example, for students taking the Naglieri in 2nd through 6th grades, they will have questions which measure four things: serial reasoning and spatial visualization as well as pattern completion and reasoning by analogy.

However, for students in kindergarten, the Naglieri ability test will measure pattern completion and reasoning by analogy.

The Naglieri test does not measure knowledge students learned in school, math abilities, or language, including vocabulary, grammar, tenses, etc.

What is a good Naglieri score?

A good score on the NNAT test is considered High Average, Superior, or Very Superior.

However, a good score on the NNAT depends on how your child’s school will use the scores. If the school is using the Naglieri for admittance to a gifted program, a good score will be whatever score they consider the minimum score to qualify.

This will depend on how many students they can admit to the program. Schools with large populations (hundreds of students per grade) may accept scores that are Very Superior which is in the 98th percentile — meaning, these students scored in the top 2% of test takers. This is a score of 131 and above. It may be more difficult to get accepted in the enrichment program at larger schools.

Alternatively, larger schools they may be able to have entire classrooms of enrichment and be able to accept more students than schools with less students and resources.

In smaller schools with less enrollment, students may need a superior score on the Naglieri to qualify. This means students scored within the 90 – 97th percentile with NNAT scores between 121 – 130.

It comes down to how many students the school can accept into the program. If they have room for 30 students, they may view the NNAT scores and take the top 30 students. In this case, a good score on the Naglieri means scoring in the top 30 students in that grade. That may be the 94th percentile or it could mean the 97th percentile or something else.

Is the Naglieri an IQ test?

There isn’t a verbal component to the Naglieri test. It’s not considered an IQ test as it only tests for nonverbal abilities.

How can I prepare for NNAT test?

For parents, guardians or students who want to prepare for the NNAT test, there are two options.

The first is to use free sample test questions online. Parents can print the questions or children can look at the questions on the screen.

There are also gifted and talented NNAT test prep workbooks based on children’s grade level. This will give your child the opportunity to complete the problems with a book and a pencil. They will be laid out in an organized way that may be less stressful than using an online resource. Kids can work through the workbook as time permits.

These are valuable resources to help prepare for the NNAT. They will give students an advantage. Students can use Naglieri practice questions to help them learn to seek solutions through reasoning and process of elimination.

These are great questions to encourage critical thinking and problem solving and to enrich at-home learning.

Other options to prepare for the Naglieri are to play brain games, do puzzles, mazes, and other activities which get kids exploring concepts different.

What score is gifted?

A Naglieri score is gifted when it is 132 or higher. Schools will look at the percentile rank as well.

School districts will determine what score is gifted for entrance to their programs differently based on how many students they can have in the programs. They may take students who score in 95% percentile or higher.

What does the NNAT3 measure?

Like all versions of Naglieri, the NNAT3 measures students’ reasoning abilities and how strong their problem solving skills are. It determines how students think critically.

NNAT example question for K-12

There are four sections but the NNAT3 will measure 2 – 4 criteria depending on the child’s grade level in school.

What kinds of questions are on the NNAT?

The Naglieri test features four types of questions which test for a student’s critical thinking skills. These questions use figures, patterns, designs, and shapes to evaluate students’ problem solving and reasoning skills.

Teachers read the directions and lead the students through examples. This can take between 5 – 10 minutes, and then the students begin the test. Students have 30 minutes to complete the test. The entire administration and test portion takes 35 – 45 minutes.

It measures a child’s visual and spatial reasoning. It doesn’t require past knowledge nor does it  rely on a child’s language abilities. NNAT questions measure these four areas, depending on their grade level:

• Pattern completion
• Reasoning by analogy
• Serial reasoning
• Spatial visualization

Pattern completion

In the section for Pattern Completion, the students look at a design. Their goal is to correctly answer which section is missing.

Reasoning by analogy

In questions which measure Reasoning by Analogy, children look at the problem and determine the relationships between different geometric shapes.

Serial reasoning

Questions in the Serial Reasoning sections ask pupils to recognize a sequence of shapes.

Spatial visualization

With questions that measure Spatial Visualization abilities, students are to combine two or more objects and determine what the resulting figure will look like.

NNAT questions

It’s important to note, there will be more or less questions in each category based what Naglieri test the student takes. It’s based on what grade they are in school. Depending on what grade your child is in, they will be tested on the above skills.

In addition, if the school administers the first version of the NNAT, students will have 38 questions divided into the following sections. If they give the NNAT2 or the latest version, NNAT3, students will asked to complete 48 questions.

Kindergarten:

• Pattern completion
• Reasoning by analogy

1st grade:

• Pattern completion
• Reasoning by analogy
• Serial reasoning

2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade:

In these grades, their tests will include all four question types:

• Pattern completion
• Reasoning by analogy
• Serial reasoning
• Spatial visualization

7th grade, 8th grade, 9th, grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade:

Students in grades 7 – 12 will be tested in three areas.

• Pattern completion
• Reasoning by analogy
• Serial reasoning

sample NNAT question

The examination is nonverbal. It includes different illustrations and diagrams with various patterns and shapes. Students need to look for what comes next in a sequence or make connections between diagrams.

Questions may show something missing and students will need to figure out the pattern. Or students may need to identify shapes and objects based on what is shown.

Duration of the NNAT

The NNAT needs to be completed within half an hour, which is 30 minutes. There are differences between the NNAT tests in terms of the number of questions.

Whichever NNAT version the school administers, the types questions are similar. You will not have a choice which version your child takes. Depending on your child’s grade, there will be more or less questions in each category.

Skip the question or guess?

Seeing that there are 48 questions kids have to answer in 30 minutes, you may wonder if that is enough time. It’s natural to wonder if students who are nearing the end of the test should guess or skip the question.

For the NNAT, students are graded on the number of correct answers. They aren’t penalized for incorrect answers. Therefore, it’s better for students to answer all the questions.

According to the test creators, students who were given more time do not obtain higher scores. They deem 30 minutes to be sufficient to complete the test.

Benefits of NNAT

Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test doesn’t rely on school performance such as report cards. This test doesn’t factor in acquired knowledge. What does this mean? Well, think of a standardized math test. Students will have to know how to perform equations that advance in difficulty. To answer questions on the NNAT, students use their reasoning abilities, not information they already have learned.

The NNAT is a good predictor for success in a school’s gifted and talented program.

In addition, it is fair for students who have transferred into the district and who wouldn’t have had the same curriculum as his/her peers.

In addition, the test doesn’t require students to be fluent in English. It doesn’t rely on reading and writing and language skills. This makes it a culturally-neutral test. Scoring is unbiased.

While the questions depict different patterns, diagrams and shapes, the only colors they use on the test are yellow and blue. White and black are also used.

Disadvantages to NNAT

While this test is meant to give all students an equal chance at success, there will be parents/guardians who help their child prep for the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test. This is typically the case with most all standardized tests because of access to sample test questions online as well as practice Naglieri workbooks.

Therefore, there will be some students who will have gained an advantage in taking NNAT sample tests and practicing NNAT questions in advance.

Familiarizing students with the types of questions and explaining what to look for to decode patterns and analogies will give kids an advantage. They will have the benefit of seeing the types of questions on the NNAT even if the questions aren’t exactly the same.

Students who prep in advance won’t use as much of the 30 minutes trying to figure out strategies for solving the problems. They may be able to get right to work answering questions.

When is the Naglieri test administered?

Schools typically use the Naglieri Nonverbal in the fall and/or in early spring. They may choose to test once or twice during the school year.

Because schools typically use Naglieri scores for placement into a gifted program, most tend to only test children once in a school year. Some schools administer the test based on a certain grade. As an example, “all 2nd graders take the NNAT”.

In other schools, all students might take the test once every year or every other year, etc. Again, it depends on the school district.

How do students take the NNAT?

The Naglieri test is set up so students can take the test on paper with a pencil. They can also take it online with a computer or tablet.

The NNAT is a multiple choice test. The directions are illustrated.

Who takes the Naglieri?

Schools can give the Naglieri to students PreK through 12th grade. However, it’s more generally used starting in kindergarten rather than preschool. High-ability preschoolers can take it but the test is designed for children who are at least five years old.

School districts decide who which grades take the Naglieri. It might be all students in certain grades take the test. As an example, “all 6th graders” take the NNAT in the fall.

Schools use NNAT scores to determine who should be admitted to a gifted program. Therefore, if the gifted program starts in 2nd grade, the school may have 1st graders take the NNAT in the spring or 2nd graders take it when they return to school in the fall.

The Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test is considered to be a fair test for schools with diverse populations, especially where various languages are spoken. Students do not need to know how to read to take the NNAT test.

One of the barriers, however, is that there will be students who access NNAT practice tests in advance. Prepping for the Naglieri will give those kids an advantage.

Levels of the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test

There are different stages of the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test. There are seven in total. This information shouldn’t concern parents as the schools administer the correct stage or level test based on the child’s grade in school.

A student in kindergarten will take the kindergarten test which is Level A. Level B is for students in Grade 1, and so on.

The examination consists of different questions including reasoning through analogy, completion of puzzles and patterns, sequential reasoning and 3D imagery.

Many people believe that the Naglieri is a sophisticated and effective way to screen children for their talents.

Why should your child attempt the NNAT/NNAT2?

If the school offers the chance for your child to take the NNAT, have him or her take the test. If the score is high enough, it could mean acceptance into a gifted and talented program or class.

In addition to enrichment, other schools may use Naglieri scores to separate students for math. They can use children’s problem solving skills as a measure to put them in the math class appropriate for their skills or use scores to separate out the students for an advanced math class.

There are several things about this test that set it apart from others. The NNAT does not require verbal communication.

You do not need a reason/qualification to take the test. Teachers can administer the examination individually or in groups.

It is suitable for a diverse range of students. There is equality in testing. The test measures critical thinking skills and natural reasoning abilities, not knowledge.

Difference between the NNAT and NNAT2

The biggest difference between the NNAT and NNAT2 and NNAT3 is the second and third versions contain 48 questions instead of 38 questions.

• NNAT: 38 questions
• NNAT2: 48 questions
• NNAT3: 48 questions

The later versions enable students to take the test online instead of only with a pencil and paper.

All versions of the test are designed to examine the potential of children through spatial visualizations, reasoning through analogy, etc.

Consider the NNAT as a tool for schools to identify children who are naturally gifted.

NNAT preparation

When considering preparation for the NNAT test, it’s important to know that it will help to teach your child to analyze things more critically. Kids will learn ways through process of elimination to solve problems.

These are skills kids will use on the Naglieri test and in life. Taking advantage of NNAT prep materials will certainly give those children an edge. They will have seen the types of questions and will learn what to look for in order to solve them. It’s great practice for students before they take the NNAT test.

Remember that NNAT preparation is not an overnight thing. You need time, effort and patience as you and your child prepares. It’s best to start with workbooks that help kids think critically months before the test. They can do sample problems in a low stress setting as part of summer learning, etc.

Otherwise, it’s best to start preparing at least 2 – 3 months before the actual test.

While students may get straight A’s in school, it doesn’t mean they will score in the 95 percentile or higher on the Naglieri. This is because Naglieri scores don’t reflect knowledge.

Helping a child take a NNAT practice test will give them a better opportunity for success. Students will be able to see the test content and format in advance.

Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test scores

Your student will receive detailed scores after taking the Naglieri. Before interpreting the test results, it’s helpful to know why the school administered the test. You will want to find out what score your child needs to get if it means being accepted into a gifted or enrichment program or class.

When you know what scores the schools uses as their criteria, you can focus on those scores.

Naglieri scores provide the following:

• Raw Scores
• Scaled Scores
• Normative Scores

Raw Scores

The raw score is the number of questions the student answered correctly. The highest score in this section will either be 38 or 48, depending on which NNAT version the school administered.

Scaled Scores

While the raw score treats each question the same — the student answered it correctly or incorrectly — the scaled score measures the difficulty of each problem. More challenging questions are weighted higher. Parents and schools can use scaled scores to compare scores from different areas of the test and to compare performance over time.

Normative Scores

The normative scores are based on the scaled score as well as how old the test taker is.  This score accounts for four additional measures. The results are then compared to the results from other students of the same age in a nationally representative norm sample.

These results use age rather than grade.

• Naglieri Ability Index (NAI): The NAI score ranges from 40 – 160. The average score is 100. Using this score allows for more detailed study of differences for students who score very high levels as well as very low levels.
• Percentile Rank: It’s important to know with NNAT scores, percentile rank doesn’t mean the percentage of questions the child answered correctly. Instead, it means how well the student scored relative to other students. As an example, a student scores in the 70th percentile scored in the top 30%. However, as the percentages increase, there are greater differences in abilities.
• Stanine: Stanine scores range from a low of 1 to a high of 9. An average Stanine score is 5. Above Average is a score of 8 or 9.
• Normal Curve Equivalent (NCE): The final factor in determining the Normative score is the NCE. This score is another version of NAI scale scores with an average of 50 and a standard deviation of 21.06.

When interpreting Naglieri scores, the higher the numbers, the better the student did on the test. They will have answered more questions correctly and answered the more difficult questions correctly. It also factors in how other students tested and how your student compares.

What is a raw score sheet?

You can also ask for your child’s raw score sheet when the Naglieri results come out.

A raw score sheet contains the number of questions which have been answered by the student correctly. Raw scores are then measured to form scaled scores that are arranged in order of the age group that your child belongs to.

Normative referencing is another way of comparing students on their performance of the NNAT with other students appearing for the test belonging to the same age group.

What are the admission requirements of a gifted school?

In order to determine whether or not your kid can get an admission to any gifted school you will need to match its requirements. You can do that by comparing your child’s score in the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test with what a particular gifted school requires.

Each program has different requirements and considerations when it comes to enrolling gifted students.

Many gifted programs have a standardized cut off, for example some schools require a 93^rd percentile. Others start from the 88^th percentile and some may require a 98^th percentile.

If you or your child’s teacher does not have information regarding the requirements necessary to get admission to a gifted school, it is best that you contact the institutions you are considering more detailed information. You will likely find the information online under the Admission Requirements section.

Should I be worried if there is considerable inconsistency between my child’s performance on the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test as compared to performance in school?

There is no reason to worry. There is a difference between bright students and gifted students. Both are smart and can get “good” report cards. However, they often consider and solve  problems differently.

Students may score low on the NNAT test but are outstanding students in the classroom.

In addition, there are many students who score well on the NNAT tests but may get average or below average grades on their report cards.

NNAT scores don’t demonstrate to students’ abilities in the classroom regarding memorization of information, reading comprehension, math skills, etc.

One of the benefits of the NNAT tests is pointing out that while a particular student does not do well in class but performed well in the NNAT, he or she may do well in a gifted and talented program.

Measuring potential is the crux of the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test.

Tips and guidelines for attempting a Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test

In order to attempt the NNAT/NNAT2 tests, it’s helpful to prepare.

It is a complex test aimed at defining your problem solving and reasoning abilities. It’s an advantage to see the types of questions in advance.

Here’s how you can prepare for the NNAT test.

1. Start preparing

Since the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test does not require speaking, it is suitable for children who do not speak English. However, because it is a nonverbal test, it could be something entirely new for your child.

It would help your child if you took some time out and started preparing some time before the test.

One of the best ways to help prepare your child is to have them review NNAT sample questions.

By giving them the advantage of seeing the types of problems in advance, they will know what they will have to do when they are actually sitting in front of the test. They won’t use as much time trying to understand directions.

Expose your child to the line of questioning in sample NNAT tests and make sure that your child manages to complete the test within the allotted time.

Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Practice Tests and Guides are online. Workbooks are very helpful and will be an organized way to practice.

2. Spatial reasoning

A Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test consists of questions related to spatial reasoning.

Spatial reasoning utilizes the use of different shapes and patterns and their relationships to identify how a particular child may interpret them.

You can try and use tangram pieces to practice spatial reasoning with your child. Create different shapes and patterns and ask your child to form different shapes.

This can be a fun process for both parents and their child.

3. Engage child in solving easy puzzles

Puzzle-solving skills can considerably increase your child’s spatial reasoning abilities. Having your child practice thinking critically will help them on the test. You can easily engage your child by playing puzzles, mazes, and other brain games. Make it fun.

Magnetic Toys: Choose Between Magnetic Balls, Blocks, Tiles & More

4. Do math with your child to increase analytical skills

It is also important that you teach your child math analogies. While there won’t be math problems on the NNAT, analogies teach focus on breaking problems in to different stages in order to identify their components so that the problem is easily recognized and solved in minimal time.

Good problem solving skills give students the ability to form solutions to complex problems that they face in the later years of their academic life.

You can easily buy books that contain puzzles and problem solving scenarios. Make it a habit to practice with your child. This can be a fun way to spend time together.

Summer Bridge Workbooks

What is nonverbal ability?

The Naglieri test measures nonverbal ability. What is nonverbal ability? It’s a person’s ability to analyze information and solve problems using strategies such as the process of elimination. It doesn’t rely on information the student already knows.

It’s the ability to solve problems based on other factors besides words and written directions.

Testing day

The NNAT test is a good predictor of academic achievement. The test is 30 minutes long. Students will complete 38 or 48 questions, depending on if the school administers NNAT (38 questions) or NNAT2 or NNAT3 (each are 48 questions).

Ensure you prepare your children for the test to give them the best opportunities for success. This includes planning for healthy eating and sleep leading up to the test.

Most schools will administer the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test in a particular grade. If given the choice, have your child take it. If they score high enough, they can partake in enrichment programs the school offers.

The Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test helps to distinguish those students who, due to a limited proficiency in English, cannot perform well on other standardized tests which test for gifted placement, such as the CogAT.

NNAT results showcase that a linguistic barrier does not mean that the child is incapable of learning. This being said, it should be clear that while this test assess only a single aspect of a student’s performance.

Tests other then the NNAT may help in identifying a student’s other strengths. As an example, the CogAT test has a verbal, nonverbal and quantitative component while the NNAT strictly tests for nonverbal abilities.

Magnetic toys are educational and fun for kids. While playing with magnets, they learn science, math, physics and more. When it comes to magnets, there are many types. It’s important to choose the right one for your child.

There are magnetic building toys such blocks, sticks, balls, and tiles. In addition, there are letter magnets kids can play. This will help them learn letters and to form words.

All of these magnetic toys are good STEM building toys. Kids will play with them in different ways for years to come. Magnets teach kids about math and science and let the kids explore cause and effect in tangible ways. 

Your budding engineer can use magnetic manipulatives to boost spatial reasoning, creativity and critical thinking skills. It’s even more fun when they can combine different sets, such as a set of magnetic balls with a set of magnetic blocks.

It’s important to know magnetic toys can be choking hazards. Children should use with supervision.

Best Developmental Toys for Babies and Toddlers

Magnetic toys 

Here’s what to know about these magnetic toys as well as other things kids can do with them. It’s important to learn about magnetic building toys before buying a set.

We explain the differences between magnetic blocks, magnetic balls, tiles, sticks and magnetic toys so you can make the best choice for your child.

Magnetic blocks

When you think of magnetic blocks, you may be thinking of magnetic cubes — much like wooden blocks. However, most magnetic blocks today are more like tiles.

They usually come in a set with bright colors that you can see through. The shapes are made with durable plastic. Each piece is magnetic. These tiles will have strong magnets so builds hold together. Kids will learn shapes and colors playing with these tiles. 

Magnetic blocks

Magnetic tiles and blocks sets include triangles, squares, and rectangles because they have a straight edge. Meaning, you likely won’t find magnetic tiles in circles. The idea is for kids to match sides together so they stick and hold together. 

Includes different shapes

The sets will include different sizes of each shape, meaning, two or three different sized triangles, rectangles, and squares. Some larger sets include hexagons. Some sets include wheels for kids to build vehicles and machines. This helps keep it interesting and so kids can create and build different things. It will also help kids learn shapes as well as sorting.

Children can build cubes or pyramids by color if they choose. They can build kingdoms and towers upright or build lower and horizontally. There are endless possibilities for play.

Like with most magnetic toys, the more they have, the more they can build. Magna-Tile was one of the first (maybe the first!) to come out with these sets. Since then, there have been many others on the market. Some brands are MagBlocks, Picasso Tiles, etc.

Magnetic block tiles are fun

In addition to being excellent educational toys for STEM learning, they don’t take up a lot of room and fit nicely inside a plastic box. This makes magnetic block tiles portable for kids to play. 

It’s important to buy enough tiles. Many sets only come with 30 – 150 magnetic tiles. While it will be fun in the beginning, it likely won’t hold kids’ interest for the long term.

Think of it like other construction toys, like LEGO bricks. The more they have, the more they can create with. Find a set you like. After your child shows interest, and you know it’s a quality product, buy more tiles if you can.

Most magnetic block sets will include directions for ideas. However, kids will enjoy building their own creations. Like all magnetic toys, these sets will foster creativity and imagination. They are educational and will help kids fine tune their motor skills and hand eye coordination.

This is one of the best magnetic toys because it likely poses less of a choking hazard than others with smaller pieces. Magnetic tiles are larger and good for younger kids. It’s a great way to introduce STEM learning to younger kids for this reason.

Older kids, including tweens, will enjoy them as well. Like most magnetic toys, teens and adults will enjoying playing too.

Magnetic building sticks set

There is another type of magnetic building toy. You may see them called magnetic building block sets and magnetic building stick sets. They are small, colorful magnetic sticks kids build with.

These are educational and fun. However, it’s important to note these are small magnetic sticks that can be a choking hazard. Many sets come with magnetic balls as well.

Magnetic building sticks

Kids use their imaginations to create structures. There is a wide age range — younger kids up to tweens will have fun building. Even teens playing with their younger siblings as well as adults will become imaginative building with these magnetic building toys.

These sticks contain strong magnets so creations hold together well. This means it won’t be frustrating for children.

Most magnetic building sticks sets are more than one color. This makes it fun for kids to learn colors as well as sort by color as they wish. 

Like all magnetic toys, kids will build hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Playing with these will encourage spatial thinking. 

Other great things about these types of magnetic blocks and sticks is they are small. They don’t take up a lot of room. Kids can fit thousands of pieces in a small box. It’s also a portable toy kids can play on the road. 

It’s important to look for sets with a minimum of 300 pieces. You may have to buy more than one set. Like with many building toys, the more pieces kids have to create the better. They will be able to build more intricate pieces when they have more sticks.

Magnetic balls

The first thing to consider before buying magnetic balls is they are very small. These pose a choking hazard to small children.

There are two types of magnetic balls. Both are easy to store and don’t take up a lot of space. Magnetic balls help foster spatial thinking as well as imagination and creativity. Kids will fine tune their motor skills and hand eye coordination.

Magnetic balls

Depending on the magnetic set you buy, your child will have fun sorting, building, creating, and using her imagination. 

Even better, when kids outgrow the magnets — which won’t be for years, as even older kids love them — you and your kids can use them in engaging projects.

5 mm magnetic balls

Some sets come in a set with 5 mm balls. These usually come in sets of 222 – 1,000 pieces. Some magnetic balls come in a set with all one color; some have six or more colors.

The balls stick together. Many parents use this set as a fidget toy. Children can use them as a  sensory tool to improve concentration, active listening, and attention.

In addition, kids will enjoy creating patterns, flat shapes, 3D shapes such as cubes and spheres, and towers with magnetic balls. 

2.5 mm balls

At half the size, 2.5 mm magnetic balls will take up half the space. These are small magnetic manipulatives that will boost fine motor skills.

These usually come in sets of 500+ balls that together can be an inch in diameter. These are fun for kids and also often geared as a stress relief toy for adults. Oftentimes, companies advertise them as a magnetic sculpture toy to keep on a desk to reduce stress.

Kids can build and create with these magnetic balls; however, these are very small and more difficult to build towers and structures.

If you choose to buy magnetic balls, note the size and how many come with the set. It’s also important to consider the reason you want them. If you are looking for a magnetic toy for a smaller child, you wouldn’t want to choose magnetic balls. 

Magnetic marble run

Learning Resources makes a marble run for the refrigerator. It’s a wonderful STEM magnet marble set for kids to learn cause and effect. They will be learn to be quick to adjust their creation to ensure the marble drops into the holding container.

If you can buy more than one set, that will be ideal. As with many magnetic building toys, the more pieces they have, the more educational it is because they can create more. 

Some magnet marble runs include spinning wheels and other features. You may also find a magnetic wall coaster which is the same idea. 

Kids will enjoy creating different runs, using their science, engineering and design skills all of which build critical thinking and problem solving skills. You may also want to find magnetic gear sets which are an excellent learning toy as well. 

Older kids may enjoy putting together Spacerail marble runs.

Magnetic set

You can also get a magnetic toy set that includes different magnet manipulatives. With this type of open-ended set, kids aren’t building but exploring concepts.

Learning Resources has a set called STEM Explorers Magnet Movers that incorporates different magnets.

Most all open-ended magnet sets make for excellent engineering toy. Children will get inventive as they use the magnets with items around their home. This will help them figure out how things work in a hands-on way.

Magnetic letters

There are many magnetic letter sets available. Kids don’t need a refrigerator for them to stick to in order to use them. Kids can play with magnetic letters on a table or on the floor. Many dry erase boards are magnetic which can enhance play. Some magnetic sets include a small magnetic board.

magnetic letters

Kids will learn letters and then words with these sets. Consider your child’s age before buying magnetic letters. There are many sets available. Some are larger than others. Consider what will be easy for your child to hold and use. Also, consider how some can be choking hazards.

Magnetic letter sets typically include more than one of each letter, especially the vowels. They often come with their own plastic case with spots for each letter. Many also include numbers.

Important tip for choosing letter magnets

Most letter sets come in different colors. This can be confusing for children who are struggling to learn letters.

If you have a beginning learner, you may want to buy a magnetic set that has the vowels in a different color than consonants. As an example, the vowels are red and the consonants are blue.  It can be easier for children to focus on the letter and phonics when it comes in two colors instead of many colors.

With these magnetic toys, children will learn letters, sounds, and to make words. They will build on upon their fine motor skills.

The brand LeapFrog makes a magnetic letters set. When the child puts the magnetic letter and pushes down, it makes the sound. It’s a great way to learn phonics and letters.

Playing with magnetic toys

Magnets are an educational STEM toy that kids will enjoy. In addition to playing with the toys as they are, there are amazing things you can do with magnetic toys for family fun. You can also get creative and make magnetic toys. 

Investigate the magnetic content of food

Kids will have fun learning about the iron content in breakfast cereals. You will need is a neodymium magnet. Next, select a cereal that has a high percentage of iron and smash it into tiny bits. Have your child hover the magnet above the cereal.

In cereals with higher traces of iron, you should be able to see tiny specks of iron pull onto the magnet.

Magnetic ball marble run

Use your child’s small magnetic ball to create a marble run out of old paper towel and wrapping paper rolls. You can even cut up pool noodles in half (horizontally) for longer ramps.

It doesn’t have to be magnetic for it to work; any marble or small ball will do.

Make painted wood sticks

Painted wood sticks or Popsicle sticks are another great way to get more use out of your child’s magnetic toys and encourage imaginative play.

You can have your little one paint on the wood sticks in fun and creative designs. After they are done painting and they dry, take your magnetic disks and put one on each end of stick using a hot glue gun.

Your kids can enjoy playing with the sticks on any magnetic surface. The fridge is the obvious choice but it could lead to fun little designs around the house. They can make different designs with the sticks.

Magnetic fishing

This is a simple magnetic toy you can make at home. You will need magnets, paper clips, hot glue, string, sticks, and any other craft supplies to make the fish.

Make a fishing pole by tying the end of the string to a stick and using a hot glue gun to secure the magnet on the other end of the string attached to a small piece of the stick. Kids can get creative making fish. Use a hot glue gun to a paper clip on each fish.

Once the magnet is attached you can place the paper fish in a bowl or behind a sheet you hang and have your kids start fishing.

Create magnetic refrigerator puzzle 

If your child likes doing puzzles, this next tip will be a blast. Choose one of your child’s puzzles, and adhere magnets to the back of each piece small magnets with super glue.

Your kids will be able to do puzzles on the fridge without you worrying about lost pieces. It will be a great way for them to stand instead of sit, and to view the puzzle differently. 

Magnetic sculptures

As your child becomes more involved with science, building things may pique their interest. Another excellent way to get the most out of your magnetic toys is to use the magnets to build sculptures.

Incorporate nuts and bolts, metal lids, and your child’s collection of magnets. If the magnets from your toy are not big enough to fit in the metal lid, adding flat, ceramic magnets should do the trick.

Once the magnets are in place, you can start adding the nuts and bolts onto the other side of the lid.

If you feel the magnetic structure losing its strength, put another ceramic magnet in the structure, and you shouldn’t have any problem expanding whatever your child builds

Magnetic slime

Kids love to get messy, and this could be the messiest idea on the list. To get things started you will need plain Elmer’s glue, liquid starch, iron oxide powder, and of course one (or a few small) neodymium magnets.

To make the slime you will need to put 1/4 cup of liquid starch into a bowl with two tablespoons of iron oxide powder. Stir until it starts to make a liquid form.

Add in 1/4 cup of glue and continue mixing for a few minutes. Next, have the kids mix it by hand. It should become the stretchy form you will use.

Pat the slime dry using a paper towel to get any excess liquid off of it. Children can use a magnet with the slime and have fun.

Create a mini magnetic field

This is a simple trick and shouldn’t take much time to get set up. You will need a round neodymium magnet and copper piping slightly larger than the magnet.

Stand the pipe up and drop the magnet down. Instead of dropping down quickly, it will slowly descend to the bottom. This will be fun, exciting, and entertain your children.

Make jingle bell wands

This magnetic toy is geared towards younger children but can be fun for tweens as well. To make the magnetic jingle bell wands, you will need craft sticks, bells, magnetic disks and a hot glue gun.

First, help children glue two magnetic disks on each side of the popsicle stick. Once the magnets are in place, glue the bells onto magnets.

After the bells are securely on the magnets, kids will have a jingle bell wand to enjoy playing with for their parades, plays, dances, and other creative play.

Magnetic toys ~ which to consider

Magnets are some of the best learning toys for early exploring of STEM concepts. Magnetic toys are educational and teach about simple science concepts, fostering creativity and exploration, and encourage problem solving.

Before buying magnetic toys, it’s important to consider the different types. There are magnetic blocks, magnetic tiles, magnetic balls, and more. Each has it’s advantages.

Creating with magnet toys is also a great way to get older kids interested in playing and creating and away from video games. With any magnets and small pieces, supervise young children and watch younger siblings.

Kids will use them in many ways for years. There are so many ways you can get extended use out of magnetic toys.

LEGO Women of NASA ~ It was exciting when LEGO launched the Women of NASA builds. There are three LEGO sets honoring four exceptional women scientists. They are sold together in one 231-piece set.

This collaboration between NASA and LEGO was anticipated and well-received. The NASA LEGO Women set was released November 1, 2017. It’s LEGO set 21312.

While there is no shortage of science and construction toys, it’s nice to see LEGO — a construction toy empire — represent these women of science. This is a great way to further enhance what’s great about LEGO.

Not only are they among the best STEM toys, they have taken it a step further by introducing history and science into households. Think of the conversations that will start with families who have this set. This is literally opening up an entirely new world of play.

LEGO NASA Women

These sets are called LEGO Ideas Women of NASA. The instructions are for three builds. Each pays tribute to some of the incredible NASA women scientists.

These women made history in math, science, engineering and space travel.

What’s fantastic is that LEGO put all of them in one set, so kids can enjoy learning about each   NASA scientist and don’t have to buy each kit separately.

They’ve also kept the set small, not adding additional pieces. The entire set of the four women NASA scientists is 231 pieces. Some may view this as a negative. They could have added more pieces to enhance the set.

However, by keeping it small, the positive thing is this kept the price lower. When they released this set and you could find it in stores, it was typically $30. This made it more affordable for everyone to have the LEGO women science set without paying for the additional pieces.

LEGO Women of NASA

There are four minifigures in this set. The women scientists featured are: 

• Sally Ride
• Mae Jemison
• Nancy Grace Roman
• Margaret Hamilton

Women of NASA LEGO scientists

Sally Ride LEGO

In the LEGO set that features Sally Ride, she is with Mae Jemison.

NASA choose her as an astronaut for NASA Astronaut Group 8 in 1978. It was a group of 35 astronauts. It was the first class to admit women. 

Sally Ride was the first American woman in space, but this isn’t the only way she was revolutionary. At just 32 years of age, she was also the youngest American astronaut to travel in space, a record that still stands today.

She earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and Physics from Stanford University as well as a Master’s degree and PhD in Physics from Stanford University.

Her gender made her a controversial pick for NASA’s Challenger task force. As a result, she dealt with countless questions and comments that no doubt prompted some eye rolls. These included suggestions that the flight would affect her reproductive organs and that she would cry if things went wrong. In her response, she pointed out that the other astronauts weren’t asked these questions.

According to Sally’s mother, there were a lot of people waiting for her to fail. However, Sally rose to every challenge.

After working with NASA, she went on to become a physics professor. Later, she founded her own non-profit organization to promote science, engineering, math and STEM education to young people in the USA. It’s called the Sally Ride Science organization.

Mae Jemison LEGO

Dr. Mae Jemison was the first black woman to travel in space, and is a hugely inspirational figure.

Her character in the LEGO set has the same famous orange space suit she wore. She is featured in this set with Sally Ride.

In 1992, she boarded the Space Shuttle Endeavor and made history. She was the Mission Specialist. She became an icon and role model for young girls everywhere.

In addition to being an astronaut, she was an engineer as well as a physician. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and African and African American studies. From there, she completed her medical degree from Cornell University.

Mae Jemison earned numerous honors and awards throughout her career. This includes a seat in the International Space Hall of Fame.

She started out in the Peace Corps. After her success with NASA, she pursued her interests in technology and social science. Then, she founded a technology research company and later a not-for-profit educational foundation.

Jemison has worked tirelessly to inspire young people to take up science and technology, with a particular focus on minorities. She has written children’s books and was on television, including in an episode of Star Trek.

Through this LEGO set, Mae Jemison can continue to inspire a new generation.

Nancy Grace Roman LEGO

Another extraordinary NASA woman scientist LEGO chose was Nancy Grace Roman. She was NASA’s first Chief of Astronomy, and the first woman to hold an executive position at NASA.

She is featured in a LEGO set on her own with a small LEGO Hubble Space Telescope.

Her role involved overseeing the planning and development of the Hubble Space Telescope. For that, people consider her the ‘Mother of Hubble.’

Various organizations have recognized Nancy’s work. In 1962, she won a Federal Women’s Award. Life magazine named her one of the most important young people. In 1969, NASA awarded her the Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal.

Currently in 2020, NASA is developing a next-generation telescope for space using wide field infrared survey. This telescope (WFIRST) is named to honor Nancy Grace Roman’s contributions in astrophysics.

NASA calls it the Roman Space Telescope for short. It’s official name is the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Nancy Roman was a pioneer in creating space telescopes which focused on the universe. She was NASA’s first chief astronomer.

She earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1946 in Astronomy from Swarthmore College and graduate studies, including a PhD from the University of Chicago. 

Nancy Grace Roman had a passion to encourage young women to pursue careers in science and engineering. This LEGO set brings Nancy Grace Roman’s achievements to light and highlights her legacy.

Margaret Hamilton LEGO

Margaret Hamilton was the lead software designer for Apollo 11. It was partly due to her work to develop and test the Apollo software that the mission was successful. If it hadn’t been for her work, the moon landing would have aborted.

Just three minutes before the Lunar Lander reached the moon, the computer overloaded. It triggered several alarms. The software she helped to develop was able to recognize the problem and go into recovery mode. The moon landing was successful.

Hamilton earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

NASA also gave her a special award, including the largest financial award they’d ever given to an individual. Margaret was a coding pioneer and the first person to coin the term ‘software.’

She is a systems engineer, computer scientist, and later, a business owner. She studied at University of Michigan and Earlham College, earning a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and a minor in Philosophy. At MIT, she worked on software to predict weather among many other accomplishments.

The most astonishing photo taken of her shows her next to books full of pages of code that she’d written, stacked up as tall as her. This is what the LEGO set with Margaret Hamilton features: She stands next to her volumes of coding.

Women Scientists NASA LEGO

Surprisingly, Katherine Johnson is not part of this LEGO set. Katherine Johnson’s incredible mind was integral to some of NASA’s biggest missions.

A genius mathematician, she was able to calculate trajectories and launch windows for space shuttles. Can you imagine if the Apollo 11 flight to the moon had never taken place? Without her, it might not have.

Katherine Jonson has received a long list of awards and honors for her astonishing work.

However, by far the most prestigious award she received is the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which she received in 2015. In 2016, she was featured in Hidden Figures. This film told the previously little-known story of NASA’s African-American female mathematicians.

The film’s release was a great step in putting NASA’s previously unsung heroines into the spotlight. We hope LEGO continues making NASA women scientists sets and includes Katherine Johnson.

LEGO NASA sets

This set is a welcome extension to some previous LEGO sets, which included female scientist figures.

Those sets featured female LEGO characters in a STEM career, instead of the usual shopping, hair salon, or pet store scene. These LEGO female mini-figures included a chemist, an astronomer, an inventor and a paleontologist.

What great role models! They were wonderful sets. However, LEGO made them limited edition sets. They sold out quickly.

As parents seek positive role models for their children, we were happy with LEGO’s effort to represent female NASA role models.

LEGO science sets

These LEGO science sets feature revolutionary women leaders from NASA. They give kids a chance to enjoy engineering toys in a new way. In addition, they encourage discussion about women scientists in history.

We hope LEGO will feature more scientists in sets, women and men. Whether it’s about NASA scientists or others, it makes learning about science more tangible for kids.

It also gives parents a way to further the discussion into history as well as discuss current NASA projects, astronomy, weather, physics, engineering, construction, and more.  

LEGO has a few sets that focus on space, some include female mini-figures as well. We hope they will feature architects, engineers, mathematicians, scientists, and more. 

The LEGO Ideas Women of NASA set is amazing. It’s no longer in stores. You can find the women of NASA LEGO set on ebay and other auction sites.

FAQ’s about Women of LEGO NASA set

There are many questions about this set because you can’t find it in stores. 

What is kit number for NASA women set?

The LEGO Women of NASA kit number is 21312.

How to buy Women of NASA LEGO?

LEGO released this set in 2017. You can no longer find it in stores. You can find it online. Many people sell it on ebay. You may find it brand new or used, with or without the box. 

Depending on when you search ebay and other auction sites, you may find LEGO NASA new in box (NIB) and never removed from box (NRFB). 

How much does the new LEGO Women of NASA cost?

When this set was released, it was $29.95.

This is in line with how LEGO used to be with pricing for non-copyrighted sets. Generally, they used to be 10 cents a piece. This mean if the LEGO set had 200 pieces, it would be $20.

However, when they started adding commercial sets based on movies and characters, the price increased.

For this NASA science set, LEGO included 231 pieces. That translates to $23.10.

This is very inline with pricing, especially for the four minifigures and most every piece being significant.

When is LEGO Women of NASA being released?

LEGO Women of NASA was released November 1st in 2017.

Women of NASA LEGO set

LEGO creates great developmental toys, helping to boost fine motor skills, imagination and creativity. Now they will be help children to learn about STEM careers too. Sets featuring scientists will get kids thinking about LEGO and science in new ways.

Being such great engineering and STEM toys, you can add more LEGO bricks to this set to make it your own. Like most construction toys, the more bricks you have, the more possibilities for imagination.

If you are at all considering it, find and buy this Women of NASA LEGO Ideas set. It features women NASA heroes and will spark new topics and conversations.

Kids can accomplish anything… LEGO shows them this through these sets featuring scientists.

Best educational toys – Giving children a strong STEM education at a young age is vital to their future success. Even if they don’t grow up to become scientists or engineers, kids develop certain skill sets in childhood.

Our goal as parents and educators is to create a love of learning in children. Inspire them to have a growth mindset and for them to learn to be critical thinkers.

Toys are fun. If your kids play with the best educational toys, they will learn to think of STEM as a game or puzzle.

These positive experiences will translate to achievement in the classroom later on. And that positive reinforcement will make your kids more successful adults.

Best Developmental Toys for Babies and Toddlers

Best educational toys

It all begins in early childhood, and toys are some of the best ways to start that process. What seems like playtime to us is actually important learning for kids.

Kids learn a lot through play. As they explore the world through tangible objects — and not screens — they build fine motor skills, build hand-eye coordination, figure out cause and effect, and more.

There are some toys designed to help that along. They may teach numbers, math concepts, letters, colors, patterns, sorting, figuring out problems, etc.

Best Educational Toys for STEM Learning

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Magnetic Toys: Choose Between Magnetic Balls, Blocks, Tiles & More

LEGO

Perhaps the best DIY educational game of all time, LEGO teaches a child how imagination can make even the smallest parts be important in the overall scheme of things.

Few educational games have retained their original charm but LEGO remains on top of the charts with its simple block colors and sizes for creation of almost anything, from houses to robots to cars and trains.

Ello Creation System

This one engages children in construction. Ello Creation System has incorporated traditional elements such as crafts with customization and beading.

These sets include panels and shapes in colorful palettes, a building process that is intuitive and flexible, and a variety of themes for kids to create buildings, characters, decorative accessories, jewelry, and anything else they want or imagine.

Zoomorphs

Each set has 30 – 100 plastic animal pieces which a child can snap together to create actual animals like a dinosaur or cat.

The pieces can be rearranged so as to for various fantasy creatures such as a horse-dinosaur-bird-cat.

Each of Zoomorphs set’s pieces are also interchangeable with pieces from other sets which result in dozens of possibilities for a child’s imagination to create.

Learning Resources Science Lab

These activity kits from Learning Resources let your child experience a lab right at home. Kids will love having tools of the trade, including test tubes, beakers and goggles.

This can be fun to set up in the kitchen, on a table or outside. Let your kids mix, create and experiment. This set recreates the thrill of laboratory experimentation for kids.

They will learn science is fun, and the lab is a great playground.

What kids learn

This Learning Resources toy teaches actual experimentation, instead of just providing a set of rules for your kids to follow.

While this obviously isn’t the same as giving your children free range over a chemistry lab, it is a great way to introduce these skills to your children from a young age.

In addition, the science lab kit teaches children valuable chemistry and lab safety skills.

This set will even teach your kids science terms. This is one of the best educational toys for teaching chemistry.

Goldie Blox and the Builder’s Survival Kit

Combining a story, a toy, and a game, Goldie Blox is one of the most fun all-around toys you can find. It comes with a story book, in which your kids will help Goldie Blox solve various problems.

They’ll choose between difficulties and either build simple or complex inventions. This is an educational toy that exercises both the intellect and imagination.

This is a great choice for anybody who has a child who’s been prone to get lost in their daydreams or a good book!

What kids will learn

The most obvious skill your kids will learn here is physics. This is a construction toy; your kids will be learning while creating, imagining, and engineering.

This is also among the best educational toys out there for teaching problem-solving.

When your child plays with Goldie Blox, they use construction and engineering to help her with the trials and tribulations of her fictional life.

See also best science toys and best engineering toys for kids of all ages.

SpaceRail

SpaceRail is a roller coaster toy that features 9 increasingly difficult levels. This is a top STEM toy for teens. You should start by purchasing the Level 1, to introduce your kids to the toy and constructing it.

If your kid likes construction toys, marble runs, or roller coasters, they’ll love SpaceRail. It works by allowing players to build a track and then roll a steel ball down the track — success requires a firm knowledge of STEM skills.

One of the other benefits of SpaceRail is that there’s are increasingly difficult sets. After you’ve accomplished setting up level one, there are eight more levels for you and your child to learn with.

As children get older, it’s more difficult to find toys that will engage them. SpaceRail is a toy that even older teens will find challenging.

It’s also a great way for parents and children to spend time together and keep older children learning through play.

Skills they’ll learn

This is one of the best educational toys for teaching construction and engineering skills. In addition, SpaceRail is a physics toy.

Getting an early start on physics can be good news for ensuring success in high school and college.

In both cases, you’ll help your children develop an interest in practical sciences from a young age. They will learn to follow directions and organize pieces. They’ll have fun setting it up, and then testing it when they’ve finished. They will have a sense of pride from completing the set.

KiwiCo Review for Older Kids

Trading Cards

From baseball cards to Magic: The Gathering, trading cards are some of the best toys for teaching STEM skills to children. You should choose trading cards based on your child’s interests.

If your son or daughter likes Pokemon, get them Pokemon cards. Maybe they’re interested in sports, then get them baseball or football cards.

If you get your kids trading cards they’re genuinely interested, you’ll be using the one of the best educational toys out there.

One of the primary advantages of trading cards is that while kids may not think of learning as fun, they’ll be learning through play with these innovative cards.

What kids will learn

Perhaps the most important skills kids can gain from these cards is the ability to categorize and organize. They may group cards by traits or other determining factors.

In addition, they may learn a set of rules. Even relatively simple games like Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh have intricate rule sets, and learning those as a child will translate to stronger analytical and rule-following skills later in life.

Beyond that, these games are highly effective at teaching math skills. Most of the games use statistics in the form of attack and defense points.

This is a great way to make math and statistics fun from a young age!

Math Workbooks

Math Games

CogAT Test

Interesting Math

Learn about the best educational toys

The best educational toys help us parents to help our children succeed. There are so many incredible resources available. Choosing STEM-based educational toys are a great start.

Developmental toys, even magnetic toys and other science sets, all work to increase your child’s awareness of STEM principles. They help to foster cognitive abilities, spatial relations, critical thinking skills, and many more.

In addition, the best education toys will also encourage kids to be creative and use their imagination. Helping kids prepare for a STEM-based world with toys they manipulate, not screens they touch, will give them a head start.

Hands-on education with manipulatives is critical and are among the best educational toys.

Fidget toys are all the rage. Everywhere you go these days, you will probably see a child spinning a fidget spinner in his (or her) hands. Here we discuss the best fidget toys.

Depending on who you ask, these little gadgets are either godsends or annoyances. Regardless, they are aptly named, as they capture the attention of the ever-fidgeting child.

Not only that, fidget toys are fun.

Best Fidget Toys

While they are toys, many experts consider them to be tools as well. Some studies are finding that fidgeting, when allowed, can improve performance in kids and adults who suffer from ADHD.

It is not such a leap then, to also apply this theory to those who experience OCD, autism, or anxiety.

Because they are being recognized for their ability to aid those with ADHD, fidget toys are also being called fidget tools.

There is also a connection between fidget tools and the STEM program.

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Fidget toys besides fidget spinners

While the popular fidget spinners are simple in design and performance, the benefit is often the calming effect is has on kids and adults with ADHD. But what about other fidget toy and fidget tools out there?

Some, like the 10 listed below, are proving to be educational tools in their own right.

While part of the design was to reduce boredom, the happy side effect is that kids are clicking, spinning, building. They are problem solving their way through their time with these fidget tools.

Seamless pattern of colorful fidget spinners isolated on white background

Fidget toys for ADHD and anxiety

The focus of these first 3 fidget tools are deliberately simple in their design, with the intent to help focus and calm the user.

This makes them effective tools for those with other anxiety-related disorders, such as autism. Yet, we can see that these are educational toys as well.

They can be age-appropriate developmental toys that have many benefits, including helping with fine motor skills. Since fidget spinners have saturated the market, we didn’t include them in this list.

Marble Fidget Toys

Mesh and marble fidget toys that keep hands busy while letting the mind relax.

They are also quiet and provide little distractions to other students in the classroom.

The marble fidgets are an educational tool because the user has to contemplate the motion of the marble in the mesh.

Some sets also include spinner tops for pencils.

Stress Relief Fidget Cube Toy

The stress relief fidget cube is a non motorized, no battery cube with six sides, like a die.

The user can enjoy manipulating each side, including rolling a ball, spinning a wheel, flipping a switch, pressing buttons, and rubbing a circle.

The tactile feel is designed to provide relaxation for people with ADHD or any other disorder which decreases attention or increases anxiety.

There is enough functionality in these little cubes to spark some interest in the mechanical makeup of the cube. They are small and discreet. Depending on the fidget cube you get, there may be minimal noise from the clicking.

Stretchy String Fidget Sensory Toys

Called Monkey Noodles, these stretchy string fidget/sensory toys can stretch from 10 inches to 8 feet.

They’re targeted toward sensory and tactile stimulation.

They also get kids thinking about the material these are made from, and how they stretch so far and then immediately snap back into shape.

STEM toys enhance science, technology, engineering and math skills

Now, think about the latest educational initiative, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and you can see how easily these toys become tools within the STEM objectives.

People are finding that fidget tools are doing more than calming the mind; they are challenging it, making STEM educators and parents everywhere take notice.

STEM toys, like educational games, are designed to engage learning in problem solving and experimentation as well as creative and critical thinking.

Some of these smaller toys most certainly qualify as fidget tools.

Neliblu Sensory Fidget Snake Cube Twist Puzzle

These snake-like geometric puzzles have been around a long time.

They build fine motor skills, eye and hand coordination skills, problem solving skills, and sharpens the user’s powers of deduction.

Tangle Relax Therapy, Brain Puzzles & Fidgets

The Tangle Relax Therapy, Brain Puzzles, & Fidgets is a toy bundle that features 8 interconnected twistable pieces to keep the mind engaged.

This pack keeps things interesting.

Several items come with this set, including the “Magic Wire Ring,” which challenges the user to make different shapes.

Another is the “Snap and Click Wacky Tracks” which has the learner create shapes with links.

IQ Challenge Set by GamieUSA

The IQ Challenge Set is an educational toy and puzzles set that stimulates creativity.

The set includes a 3” IQ puzzle ball and 4 different 2. 5” plastic puzzle balls, a metal puzzle, and a 2-inch wooden cube puzzle.

The toys in this set will help develop critical learning skills.

Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Build & Bloom Building Set

This is an incredible set. Learning Build & Bloom set helps build STEM skills, creating thinking, and fine motor skills.

The flowers are interchangeable gears. In fact, all parts are interchangeable, which means endless combinations of a spinning flower garden, with butterflies, bees, ladybugs, and all.

Learning Resources Stem Simple Machines Activity Set

This Simple Machines Activity set contains six simple machines and accompanying activities to show how they make our world easier.

Your child will enjoy figuring out all he can do with a lever board, wedge, pulley with rope and hook, cart with removable wheels, Archimedes screw, and 4 barrel weights.

This set teaches science, cause and effect, and keeps busy kids engaged.

California Creations Geomatrix, The Magnetic Art of Building

The Geomatrix set is made with Neodymium magnets, which are strong magnets that keep the shapes where you place them.

Kids and adults can build models, thus developing knowledge in geometric shapes and design. Like the SpaceRail toys, this is all about building it yourself.

You may want to invest in several sets to make more creations.

Magnetit™ 216 piece heavy duty DIY Magnetic Balls Sculpture Toy

The Magnetit™ Magnetic Balls Sculpture Toy is a tabletop toy that certainly qualifies as a fidget tool.

The magnets are a stress reducer, but they also improve creativity, design skills, and focus.

Adults may find these on some of their coworkers’ desks as stress relievers.

For kids, they are STEM toys. Kids learn about cause and effect while using these magnetic toys.

Best STEM/Fidget Toys

As most of you know, the latest toy craze is with fidget spinners, fidget cubes, and related fidget toys.

Children embraced them immediately, but so have adults, many of whom have ADHD.

While some schools have requested no fidget spinners in the classroom, other fidget tools are finding their way into the classroom as well as at home.

People with ADHD often require help with focus and remaining on task. They also may need help calming down. Fidget tools and toys can be a great option.

Just about any kid will encounter the boredom monster once or twice. And so many of our kids today experience ADHD, autism, OCD, and other disorders that makes focusing difficult.

For some, these fidget tools do more than just occupy time and keep them in their seats. They engage the mind, improve cognition, increase fine motor skills, generate questions, and inspire theories and experiments.

Best Educational Toys for STEM Learning

Manipulatives, including the best fidget toys, are a great way for children to explore and learn.