Getting ready to check out at my local grocery store, I had to make a quick decision about which line I should join:

• Self-checkout, credit cards only, no debit cards
• 15 items or less, cash only
• Groceries, all payment types, no alcohol without proper ID

Standing in line (after having chosen bullet three) I mused that I was seeing Boolean logic at work in our day-to-day world: “this” and “this”, but NOT “that.”  Remember when you first started with search engines, and you had to use + signs or parenthesis to modify the search results? And now Google or Bing looks at your first word or two, and makes suggestions for you! Little analysis or critical thinking is needed – time-saving yes, but certainly not as much fun!

Later as I reviewed materials from one of the COMPUTER EXPLORERS preschool curriculum writers who is using a classic children’s software program “Thinkin’ Things” and the “Fripple Shop” activity, I realized that it is teaching Boolean logic to three-year-olds.

The software is at least fifteen years old. It’s not wildly interactive with constant talking underscored by frenetic music as are so many of today’s online activities, kids software or apps; instead the Fripple Shop is perfect for starting preschoolers on a career that involves critical thinking and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) literacy. How, you scoff? No one was thinking about STEM fifteen years ago, and especially not for preschoolers!

“I want a Fripple that is green with curly hair, big eyes and no spots.” After hearing a request to purchase a specific Fripple, the children fill the order by selecting the right cartoon character from the inventory on the screen. As they study the choices, they consider the characteristics — making assessments about the Fripples, rejecting those that do not fill the requirements and selecting the one character that does; the right selection hops out to a delivery truck to go to its new home. Silly little game, isn’t it? But one with so much impact on a future STEM career! Logic, perception, analysis and decision-making rolled into one activity!

Leaving preschool thoughts behind, I went back to ruminating on Boolean logic . I searched for a “Museum in Denver with dinosaurs but no admission fee,” and I found one in Boulder (close enough!) Pushing my luck, I searched for “Hotel in New York City with swimming pool and no bed bugs.” No results…apparently I will have to refine my search a little, maybe using “or” …