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
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!
Need help! Struggling to solve, but also struggling to support my students on the Shape Grid.