

Sudoku rules are similar to the rules for solving other puzzles however, the format of sudoku varies slightly. Moreover, you'll find that a printable version of sudoku can be a great way to start. However, there are many ways to solve them.
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Whether you choose to use them as an after-class bonus, a first day of school activity or as part of a targeted lesson plan, math puzzles will delight your students while also allowing them to develop critical skills that they’ll use for the rest of their lives.Printable Sudoku 16 Puzzles Free - If you've ever struggled with sudoku, you're aware that there are numerous kinds of sudoku puzzles and it can be difficult to decide which one to tackle. Instead of yawns and bored stares, get ready to see eager participants and thoughtful concentration. Consider creating a weekly leaderboard in your classroom for the students that complete the most puzzles, or work through a few as a class before sending students off on their own. Final thoughts on math puzzlesīe aware that it might take a while to get all your students on board - they could be hesitant about approaching unfamiliar problems or stuck in the unenthusiasm that math class often brings. What methods did your students try? What tools did they use? What worked and what didn’t? Having students explicitly state how they got to their solution (or even where they got stuck) challenges them to examine their process and draw conclusions from their experience. If possible, make math puzzles physical using recycled craft supplies or modular tools.Īfterward, have a class discussion or put up math journal prompts. Use problems like the mobius strip to awe and amaze your students before drawing them into a larger discussion about the mathematical concept that it represents. If the problem is grade-appropriate and solvable, students will learn more from applying their own reasoning to it than just watching you solve it for them. Give your students space to struggle with a problem and apply their own solutions before jumping in to help them. She found that “playful, exploratory learning leads to more creative and flexible use of materials than does explicit training from an adult.” Rachel Keen, from the Department of Psychology at the University of Virginia, conducted a study about problem-solving skills in preschoolers. Math puzzles help build the essential balance between thinking and remembering. Kitty Rutherford, a Mathematics Consultant in North Carolina, emphasizes that math puzzles and games shouldn’t be based solely on mental math skills, but on “conceptual understanding” that builds fluency over time.

Instead, use them to reinforce the concepts they’ve already learned. While fun math puzzles are a great way to engage your students in developing critical thinking skills, they’re not a tool for teaching important math concepts. However, if the problems are too difficult to solve, there’s a good chance they’ll get frustrated and give up early. If the problems are too easy, students will get bored and disengage from the lesson. Here are some suggestions for making the most of your lesson time: Make sure the puzzles are the right level for your class
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Now that you’ve got some great math puzzles, it might be tricky to figure out how to best incorporate them into your classroom.

Math games can help students build a basic understanding of essential math concepts, and as another study shows, can also help them retain concepts longer. Puzzles challenge students to understand structure and apply logical thinking skills to new problems.Ī study from the Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Educationfound that puzzles “develop logical thinking, combinatorial abilities, strengthen the capacity of abstract thinking and operating with spatial images, instill critical thinking and develop mathematical memory.”Īll these skills allow young students to build a foundation of skills they’ll draw on for the rest of their lives, no matter what kind of post-secondary route they pursue. Why use math puzzles to teach? Math puzzles encourage critical thinkingĬritical thinking and logic skills are important for all careers, not just STEM-related ones. With older students, use mobius bands to talk about geometry and surface area. Have them model the problem with strips of paper and see for themselves how it works in real life. Is it magic? Is it geometry? Your students will be so amazed they might have a hard time figuring it out.
