This practicum was designed to help third grade students develop critical thinking skills of application, analysis, and synthesis in social studies activities. Teachers were unhappy with the teaching of social studies as it existed. Among the contributing causes were the lack of a critical thinking program, an over-dependence on commercially prepared worksheets, and the lack of student opportunities to explore their environment. Specific strategies were developed that addressed the integrating of thinking skills into the third grade social studies curriculum. The solution was to stress thinking skills through the teaching of three to five thinking skill strategies, problem solving techniques, the use of cooperative learning, wait time, and high level questioning techniques. Teachers also wrote and published six social studies units that were shared with other teachers. Although not all objectives were met, significant growth in thinking skills did occur. Most children showed improvement in application, synthesis, and analysis skills. Creative thinking was fostered by participation in an invention fair. Teacher in-service training sessions were another component of this practicum that was well received. (Author/SG)