children apply winning strategies to games and life

In the game of noughts and crosses, for example, children discover that the best starting move is the centre of the grid - because it creates the most possibilities for winning - while also learning to think ahead. Through Connect 4, another MindLab game, children learn the "traffic light" principle: "red light" to stop and think about what their opponent is trying to do, "orange light" to , gather as much information as they can and look at all their options before choosing the best one and finally "green light" to act. MindLab helps children understand how to apply winning strategies such as these to games, and most importantly, to life.

And in addition to helping children learn, develop and apply critical life skills - MindLab is pure fun! Children are totally engaged and learn while they play.

A MindLab class is an hour long lesson and is built around the MindLab curriculum. The classes are designed to address a two to three year age range in each class.

A typical lesson features the following structure:

The teacher leads an opening activity, puzzle or story to introduce the central theme of the class and engage the children.
The teacher explains the aims and rules of this week’s game.
The children have plenty of time to enjoy and play the game in groups (usually pairs or foursomes). The children are completely absorbed in the fun and challenge of the game.
The teacher leads a discussion about the game strategies the children have been using. The teacher then describes new game strategies, thinking concepts or models that relates to the game and can help the children improve their playing.
The children learn the benefit of these new tools through their experience of playing the game again in groups.
The teacher discusses with the children how they can apply these new thinking tools to the game and to real life situations.
The teacher encourages the children relate their feelings and thoughts during the lesson. The teacher reinforces the social and emotional intelligence lessons learnt by awarding a "MindLab medal" for the week to the child who has stretched the most in that area.

For each lesson there is a student worksheet which the children bring home and can be used for further study or reviewed with their parents. Parents should be able to see the progress and development in the materials brought home as well as in their child's ability to describe and use thinking and problem solving concepts.