Shape Grid Puzzle
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I am really excited about this shape grid puzzle from Erich Friedman. The goal of the puzzle is to divide the grid into geometric shapes. Any lines you draw must follow either the grid lines or the diagonals of the grid squares. Each shape that you draw must contain exactly one shape icon inside. This icon must agree with the shape formed by the lines.
Erich Friedman is one of my favorite puzzle creators. He has a section of his website called “Puzzle Palace” that is chock-full of thousands of puzzles.
I discovered this specific puzzle in Puzzle Box, Volume 2. I absolutely love this series of three puzzle books.
They have completely changed my attitude towards using puzzles in the classroom, and in a way they have changed the trajectory of this blog and what I share.
Next year, when COVID restrictions are hopefully a thing of the past, I hope to use this puzzle with my students in dry erase pockets.
MATH = LOVE RECOMMENDS…
I cannot imagine teaching math without my dry erase pockets! They instantly make any activity more engaging and save me countless hours at the copy machine since I can use the same class sets of copies year after year.
Here are my current go-to recommendations:
If you don’t have a classroom set of dry erase pockets, you could also use heavy duty sheet protectors. But, I highly recommend investing in a classroom set of the pockets since they are so much more durable.
Digital Version of Shape Grid Puzzle
Kathy Henderson has put this shape grid puzzle into Desmos Activity Builder.
Puzzle Solutions
I intentionally do not make answers to the printable puzzles and math activities I share on my blog available online because I strive to provide learning experiences for my students that are non-google-able. I would like other teachers to be able to use these puzzles in their classrooms as well without the solutions being easily found on the Internet.
However, I do recognize that us teachers are busy people and sometimes need to quickly reference an answer key to see if a student has solved a puzzle correctly or to see if they have interpreted the instructions properly.
If you are a teacher who is using these puzzles in your classroom, please send me an email at sarah@mathequalslove.net with information about what you teach and where you teach. I will be happy to forward an answer key to you.
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, as fun activities in their workplace, or as a birthday party escape room.
Need help! Struggling to solve, but also struggling to support my students on the Shape Grid.