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Little Ones and Big Ones Puzzle

This Little Ones and Big Ones Puzzle was a huge hit with my students last semester. I appreciate the simplicity of this puzzle. Even though there are only four different puzzle pieces, this is actually four different puzzles in one!

little ones and big ones puzzle

Select any of the four shapes (say, the rectangle). Try to fit your four pieces together to make this shape, but twice as large. The pieces may be flipped over but not overlapped. Do this for each of the four shapes.

Little Ones and Big Ones Puzzle

I discovered this Little Ones and Big Ones Puzzle (called Little-Uns and Big-Uns) in a 1971 puzzle book called Nut-Crackers: Puzzles and Games to Boggle the Mind by John Jaworski.

Little Ones and Big Ones Puzzle

I wanted to make a magnetic version of the puzzle for my students to manipulate, but I wasn’t exactly sure how to do it since the puzzle pieces were allowed to be flipped over.

I ended up printing the four pieces and their mirror images so I could place a disc magnet in between the two layers.

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 decided to laminate the pages for extra durability.

Two layers of pieces with magnets in between

It wasn’t exactly perfect, but I was able to attach the two laminated layers of paper using an adhesive roller.

puzzle piece with adhesive roller

Since the puzzle instructions suggested that students start out by building the rectangle, that’s where most of my students started. I had quite a few students solve the rectangle puzzle.

solved example of Little Ones and Big Ones Puzzle

Some students went on to tackle the other three puzzles as well.

I wonder if students might benefit from seeing each of the four shapes that need to be created drawn out in some way.

If you want a smaller, individual sized puzzle that doesn’t use magnets, I’ve got you covered!

I printed the four shapes with their mirror images already attached.

paper printed with Little Ones and Big Ones Puzzle

All you will need to do is cut out the four shapes around the outside edge.

cut out pieces for Little Ones and Big Ones Puzzle

Then, fold on the bold line of symmetry.

Cut and Folded Pieces for Little Ones and Big Ones Puzzle

Then, the four pieces can be glued together to form double-sided puzzle pieces.

Folded Pieces with Glue Stick

You could then choose to laminate them at this stage or leave them as-is.

Little Ones and Big Ones Puzzle

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!

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