TeachersFirst Logic and Puzzles
We all know that spark of excitement in the classroom when a student finally "cracks the code" or solves a particularly tricky problem. Puzzles are like a gym for the mind, building the reasoning abilities students will use across every subject and throughout their lives. Whether they're working through a Sudoku grid, untangling a riddle, cracking a code, or solving a brain teaser, students are practicing essential skills such as pattern recognition, deductive reasoning, strategic thinking, and perseverance. The beauty of puzzles is that they feel like play, but they're doing serious cognitive work—teaching students to test hypotheses, eliminate possibilities, and think several steps ahead. To help you cultivate more "aha!" moments, we have curated a collection of logic, word games, and puzzle resources to challenge, engage, and inspire your learners. Whether you are looking to sharpen your students’ critical thinking skills, fill those extra five minutes at the end of a lesson, or provide a brain-teasing challenge for your early finishers, these activities are crafted to make high-level reasoning feel like play. Use these resources to help your students discover the genuine joy of a good puzzle!
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Tetris N-Blox - Tetris.com
Grades
2 to 8
tag(s): logic (162), problem solving (269), puzzles (160)
In the Classroom
Help students develop computer skills and reasoning skills through playing this game. Tetris teaches visual thinking and two-dimensional awareness very helpful for geometric reasoning. Create a classroom chart and challenge students to post their highest scores and levels achieved. Have students write journals describing how they feel as they play the game, and strategies used to progress through levels. Display this site on an interactive whiteboard to use as a learning station.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Math Pickle - Dr. Gordon Hamilton
Grades
K to 12tag(s): logic (162), number sense (73), operations (71), problem solving (269)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to use as a resource for challenging math activities for the classroom. Use these activities with gifted students to promote problem solving, trial and error, and exploration of concepts. Have students create blogs. If you are beginning the process of integrating technology, exchange paper and pen and have students create blogs sharing their learning and understanding using Site123, reviewed here. If you are teaching younger students and looking for an easy way to integrate technology and check for understanding, replace pencil and paper and challenge your students to create a blog using Edublog, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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BrainBashers - Kevin Stone
Grades
3 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): logic (162), problem solving (269), puzzles (160), riddles (15)
In the Classroom
Use the odd words daily for students to learn new vocabulary. Share the fun fact on your interactive whiteboard or projector as a class discussion starter. Print and share Sudoku and other puzzles as challenge activities. Use logic puzzles in class for practice with problem solving skills. Share the site on your classroom website or blog for students to access at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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PuzzleMaker - Discovery
Grades
1 to 9tag(s): crosswords (21), puzzles (160)
In the Classroom
Create your puzzles by following the simple directions. These can be used both online and in print form. You or your students can create games for use on an interactive whiteboard (students highlight the answers in different colors). Have students create their own to challenge classmates! If you have kinesthetic learners or those with weak fine motor skills who have trouble with pencils, the whiteboard is a real help. Make it a center. Build a class collection of student-made games and puzzles for use over and over. Tip: If you take a screenshot of a word search or print it to a pdf, you can save it electronically. Screenshots: Prtscrn key on a Windows machine, then PASTE into a document; Command+shift+4 on a Mac; press both buttons at once on an iPad to save a screenshot to the camera roll.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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KenKen - Nextoy, LLC
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): addition (137), division (109), logic (162), multiplication (133), puzzles (160), subtraction (118), vision (41)
In the Classroom
Review the illustrated tutorial on your interactive whiteboard or projector when showing students how to play KenKen. After students understand the game, create a link to the free puzzles on classroom computers or the computer lab for students to solve. After solving puzzles, allow students to discuss their solutions and problem-solving process.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Color Sudoku - PrimaryGames
Grades
K to 6In the Classroom
Model this game as a whole group activity several times so students become comfortable with the concept and rules. Share the site on your interactive whiteboard or projector, and show students how to shrink the window to cut out the ads. Place students in pairs during center time, math class, or computer lab to accomplish this game together for problem solving and teamwork. Allow students to try this site independently on laptops. Use this as an end-of-the-week, whole group incentive. Be sure to list this link on your class website for students to access both in and out of the classroom. Challenge older students to create their own color Sudoku challenges using a paint program.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tower of Hanoi - NCTM Illuminations
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
Use this activity for independent challenges at the beginning of your math class. List this site on your class blog or website for students to try at home. Ask your advanced students to generate a "how to" explanation for the challenge.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Logic and Reasoning Games - Math Playground
Grades
K to 12tag(s): gifted (63), logic (162), problem solving (269), puzzles (160), substitutes (25)
In the Classroom
Use one of these on an interactive whiteboard as a brain warm-up at the beginning of class or as student enter the room. If you have a difficult group in a study hall, this site could keep them busy in a positive way. Substitutes will also love it! Include this link in your class's newsletter, classroom computer, or teacher web page for extra challenges and enrichment. Teachers of gifted can challenge their students to write "how to" directions for how to solve these puzzles, once they have figured them out!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Thinking Machine 4 - Martin Wattenberg
Grades
8 to 12Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tangram Game - PBS
Grades
2 to 6tag(s): geometric shapes (151), logic (162), problem solving (269), tangrams (8)
In the Classroom
Tangrams are perfect for practicing shapes, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning skills. Share this activity on student computers for use as a math center, or share a link with parents for students to play at home. Include this tangram activity and others within a blended learning lesson created using Curipod, reviewed here. Include videos, interactives such as this game, quizzes, and other learning activities in one shareable link.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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