Perfect Square Puzzle
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Last week, I came across a fun perfect square puzzle. Place a set of numbers in a row such that adjacent pairs of numbers always sum to a perfect square.
I decided to create a version of the perfect square puzzle for my students to try who finished their 9 weeks test early.
To keep things more manageable, I decided to only use the numbers 1-15 with my students. So, I typed up a set of number cards and a card with the puzzle’s instructions.
I laminated the cards, cut them apart, and placed them into the new square shaped snack bags from Wal-mart. I’m not sure how I feel about this new shape of snack bag…
MATH = LOVE RECOMMENDS…
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!
If your students need a list of perfect squares to reference, check out my printable perfect squares chart.
Even though I had typed up the instructions for the perfect square puzzle, I found that my students really needed to hear me explain the task aloud for them to grasp what it was asking them to do.
Even though they were quick to claim the puzzle was impossible, some students persevered!
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!
