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