Eight Checkered L’s Puzzle

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1 Free Download of Eight Checkered L’s Puzzle
2 More Checkered Puzzles
3 Puzzle Solutions
4 More Puzzles with Movable Pieces

I recently ran across this Eight Checkered L’s Puzzle from Peter Grabarchuk and I knew I had to make a laminated version for my classroom.

eight checkered l's puzzle

I typed this puzzle up before Christmas, but I only finally got around to laminating it today and cutting out the pieces during my Google Meet Office Hours. Sadly, no students stopped in to ask questions today.

MATH = LOVE RECOMMENDS…

drawing of laminator machine with text "laminating recommendations"

A laminator is a MUST-HAVE for me as a math teacher! I spent my first six years as a teacher at a school with a broken laminator, so I had to find a way to laminate things myself.

I’ve had several laminators over the years. I currently use a Scotch laminator at home and a Swingline laminator at school.

I highly recommend splurging a bit on the actual laminator and buying the cheapest laminating pouches you can find!

I have to admit that I haven’t solved this puzzle YET. I played around for the pieces for a bit, but then I decided I have much more important things on my to do list to accomplish today like updating grades, taking virtual attendance, and contacting a few parents of virtual students who are falling behind.

eight checkered l's puzzle by peter grabarchuk

Update: I did have one student who managed to solve the eight checkered l’s puzzle. He was so proud of himself, especially because he worked on it for DAYS.

More Checkered Puzzles

This checkerboard puzzle was actually the inspiration for my checkered ornament puzzle I created and shared before Christmas.

Checkered Ornament Puzzle with puzzle pieces laying on carpet.

I’ve also shared a much easier 4 x 4 checkered square puzzle.

4 x 4 checkered square puzzle with pieces scattered on top.

Want even more puzzles? I’ve compiled all of the printable puzzles I’ve created on my puzzles page.

Puzzle Solutions

I intentionally do not make answers to the printable math puzzles 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.

More Puzzles with Movable Pieces

Sarah Carter teaches high school math in her hometown of Coweta, Oklahoma. She currently teaches AP Precalculus, AP Calculus AB, and Statistics. She is passionate about sharing creative and hands-on teaching ideas with math teachers around the world through her blog, Math = Love.

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8 Comments

  1. How you are using these in your classroom during the pandemic? My students are slotted to return in February and I don’t see how they can interact with the puzzles like they used to. (Maybe sanitizing them each time, but that might ruin the spontaneity of wanting to attempt them.)

    1. I haven’t been using the puzzles like this with moveable pieces with students. Some of them I am able to make a digital version. Others are just being created and living in my filing cabinet until life returns to normal. I wish I had a better answer for you!

  3. Can you share the solution? Have been playing with it for a while and would love to have it. Thanks

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