Elephant Pentominoes Puzzle
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The animal-shaped pentominoes puzzles I have been putting out on a weekly basis have been a huge hit with my students. This elephant pentominoes puzzle was no exception!
This puzzle is just one of many printable pentominoes puzzles that I have created for my own classroom and am sharing with you!
Be sure to check out my entire collection of hands-on puzzles for the classroom.
Elephant Pentominoes Puzzle Instructions
Can you arrange a set of twelve pentominoes to form the shape of an elephant?
You can flip or rotate any of the pentominoes pieces, but you may not overlap them.
Puzzle Source
I ran across this elephant shaped pentominoes puzzle in Jon Millington’s Pentominoes: Puzzle shapes to make you think which was published by Tarquin in 1987. It was listed as part of a Pentazoo puzzle challenge.
Previously, my students have tackled the Terrier Pentominoes Puzzle, the Penguin Pentominoes Puzzle, and a set of 13 different printable pentominoes challenges.
I was able to check out a copy of this book virtually from the Internet Archive’s Free Online Lending Library. You will need to make a free account to access the book.
Printing and Prepping the Puzzle
11 x 17 Version
I printed three copies of the elephant pentominoes puzzle on 11 x 17 cardstock. Often Amazon will list packages of this cardstock as “used.” This usually just means that the outside packaging has been torn. I am often able to pick these packages up for 50% off as a result.
I printed this elephant puzzle on 11 x 17 paper since the plastic pentominoes I have in my classroom are made up of 1-inch squares. I wanted my students to be able to lay the pentominoes pieces directly over the elephant outline.
MATH = LOVE RECOMMENDS…
Amazon offers several brands of plastic pentominoes which I recommend. Each brand is sold in a tub containing six sets of twelve pentominoes each for a total of 72 pentomino pieces.
- Learning Resources Rainbow Pentominoes
- Learning Advantage (edxeducation) Pentominoes
- Didax Colorful Pentominoes
Want each student to have their own set of pentominoes? I also offer a set of free printable one-inch pentominoes pieces which can be laminated or printed on cardstock for durability.
If you don’t have a class set of plastic pentominoes, I do have a printable version of 1-inch pentominoes available to download and print. Please be aware that you MUST allow students to turn over the printed pentominoes pieces in order to solve the puzzle! This is less obvious than with the plastic pentominoes pieces.
8.5 x 11 Version
Since many teachers have told me that they do not have access to a copy machine or printer which prints on 11 x 17 paper, I have also uploaded a letter-sized version below which prints on two sheets of 8.5 x 11 inch paper. You will have to trim and tape or glue the two letter-sized pages together to form the pentominoes puzzle board.
Ideas for Using in Class
I placed each set of pentominoes in a magnetic pocket below the puzzle on the dry erase board.
I like this method of displaying the puzzles because students are able to easily grab the pocket of pentominoes and take them back to their desks.
Looking for more animal shaped pentominoes fun? I have also created a frog pentomino puzzle.
Hint Cards
Also available to download is a set of 4 hint cards that can be used with students who need a bit of assistance with solving the puzzle or seeing if they are on the right path.
Free Download of Elephant Pentominoes Puzzle (PDF)
11 x 17 Version
Click here to Download
Pentominoes Elephant Puzzle 11 x 17 (PDF)
4042 downloads – 229.15 KB
Click here to Download
Pentominoes Challenges Poster 11 x 17 (PDF)
8111 downloads – 196.69 KB
Letter Sized Version – You will need to print on two letter sized sheets of paper, trim, and tape or glue together.
Click here to Download
Pentominoes Elephant Puzzle – 8.5 x 11 (PDF)
550 downloads – 31.90 KB
Hint Cards
Click here to Download
Pentominoes Elephant Puzzle Hint Cards (PDF)
1211 downloads – 73.75 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!