26 Star Puzzle
Can you place the numbers 1-12 correctly to solve this 26 star puzzle that was originally posed by Henry Ernest Dudeney.
I thought this would be a perfect puzzle for celebrating the new calendar year of ’26.
Looking for more New Years Puzzles and Activities for celebrating the beginning of 2026? Here’s a few examples of the other 2026-themed New Years Resources I have created.
26 Star Puzzle Instructions
Place the numbers 1-12 in each circle so that each line of 4 circles as a sum of 26.
Bonus Challenge: Can you also make the six points of the star sum to 26?
I created a page of numbered circles that can be printed and moved around by students while solving the puzzle.
Puzzle Source
This puzzle was originally posed by Henry Ernest Dudeney. He referred to it as the Six Pointed Star Puzzle.
Files for 26 Star Puzzle
The 26 Star Puzzle is available as both a printable PDF file and an editable PowerPoint file. In order to edit the PPT file, you will first need to unzip it.
Click here to SAVE the file to your device.26 Star Puzzle (PDF)
2 saves – 57.46 KB Click here to SAVE the file to your device.
26 Star Puzzle (PPT in ZIP)
0 saves – 111.21 KB
Puzzle Solutions
Puzzle solutions are available on a password-protected solution page. I do not openly post the puzzle answer keys because one of my goals as a resource creator is to craft learning experiences for students that are non-google-able. I want teachers to be able to use these puzzles in their classrooms without the solutions being found easily on the Internet.
Please email me at sarah@mathequalslove.net for the password to the answer key database featuring all of my printable puzzles and math worksheets. I frequently have students emailing me for the answer key, so please specify in your email what school you teach at and what subjects you teach. If you do not provide these details, I will not be able to send you the password.
Not a teacher? Go ahead and send me an email as well. Just let me know what you are using the puzzles for. I am continually in awe of how many people are using these puzzles with scouting groups, with senior adults battling dementia, or as fun activities in their workplace. Just give me enough details so I know you are not a student looking for answers to the puzzle that was assigned as their homework!
