MLK Day Hidato Logic Puzzles
Honor the contributions of Martin Luther King Jr with this free printable set of hidato logic puzzles which spell out MLK DAY.
For years, I have used hidato puzzles in my classroom, and they have always been a HUGE hit with students. I recently learned how to generate shaped hidato puzzles.
Have a different shape of puzzle your students might be interested? Send me an email, and I might be able to make it happen!
I also created a MLK Day Maze that you might be interested in.
What are Hidato Puzzles?
Hidato Puzzles (or Hidoku Puzzles) are the creation of Dr. Gyora M. Benedek, an Israeli mathematician. The Hebrew word “hida” means riddle. In a hidato puzzle, you are given a grid with a selection of the numbers already filled in.
Your task is to fill in the missing numbers so that each number connects to the next number either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. 1 must connect to 2, 2 must connect to 3, and so on.
When I use Hidato Puzzles with students, I often have them draw in the lines between the numbers in order to help them check their solutions.
MLK Day Hidato Puzzle Instructions
Fill in the missing numbers in the letter-shaped grids so that each number connects to the next number either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
This Martin Luther King Jr Day puzzle is actually six hidato puzzles in one!
You could definitely think of this puzzle as making a “chain of numbers.”
Four Levels of Puzzles and Printing Options
These MLK Day logic puzzles are available to download in four different levels: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Challenging.
As the levels progress, you are given fewer and fewer numbers on the grid to begin with. This means that much more logic is required to solve the puzzle.
For most students, I would recommend starting with an easy level puzzle unless your students have solved numerous hidato puzzles in the past.
Free Download of Martin Luther King Jr Day Hidato Puzzles
These MLK Day hidato puzzles are available as a PDF download and as an editable PowerPoint file.
MLK Hidato Puzzles (PDF) (5 downloads )
Editable Powerpoint Files in ZIP Folder
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.
