Diwali Square Edge Matching Puzzle
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Can you assemble the pieces to form a 3×3 square where the pieces match up along each edge to create images related to Diwali?
This puzzle is a special request for the students at Liberty Elementary School in South Riding, VA. Their teacher reached out to me to see if it would be possible to create a Diwali edge-matching puzzle. Her students chose the images for the puzzle, and I am happy to share it with all of you as well.
Do your students love these square edge matching puzzles, too? If your classroom has their own special request for a puzzle, drop me an email at sarah@mathequalslove.net.
This puzzle is just one of many printable edge-matching puzzles that I have created for my own classroom and am sharing with you!
Be sure to check out my entire collection of free hands-on puzzles.
Puzzle Instructions
Cut apart the provided pieces and assemble them into a 3×3 square so that the puzzle pieces match along each edge to form images related to Diwali.
Options for Printing and Prepping the Puzzle
There are several options for printing and prepping this edge-matching puzzle.
The easiest way to distribute this puzzle to students is to print the page with the puzzle pieces, have each student cut out their own pieces, and let them build their square grid on their desks.
If you are looking to display the resulting work or if you would like students to keep their work in a folder or notebook, you might want to print the next page in the PDF file which includes a 3 x 3 puzzle grid for students to build their solution upon or glue their pieces on after solving.
If you are giving each student their own copy of the puzzle, this is entirely unnecessary. Just print on some pretty, colorful paper and GO!
There is an alternate version which includes a starting hint in the top left corner.
Including this piece of information will drastically reduce the amount of time it takes older students to solve the puzzle, so I would be very discerning about whether your students need this scaffolding or not.
Ultimately, you know best what your students need. When I first started sharing puzzles I created for my classroom 8 years ago, I never imagined that they would be used in so many diverse classrooms around the world.
Large Puzzle Pieces
If you would like students to work on this puzzle in groups or if you would like to hang a large version of this puzzle on your dry erase board (I recommend adding ceramic disc magnets to the back of each piece), I have created a large printable version of this puzzle.
Free Download of Diwali Square Edge Matching Puzzle
This printable Diwali Puzzle is available to download as a PDF file. As a result of the program I used to make the puzzle, there is no editable version. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Click here to DownloadDiwali Square Edge Matching Puzzle (PDF)
656 downloads – 223.58 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!
