Growing up, I was not a fan of math. I especially was not a fan of logic games because I thought they were too hard! My brain actually hurt when I thought too hard {slight exaggeration, but you get my point – I was a kid who wanted to read a book over doing math any day!}
As I’ve grown older {and have read articles citing studies suggesting the benefits of brain games} I’ve realized that it’s so important to expose children to these logic games from a young age.
If exposed to the right kind of logic games, you can improve attention spans, working memory, and thought processes over time.
You may know that I’m a huge fan of math games in my classroom! {You can grab Math Game FREEBIES for your classroom and learn about how I set up my math games, too!}
When students have any free time, they are always allowed to pull out a math game and work on some skills.
In the past few years, I’ve added more than the standards-based math games I started with. Now, our math bins include logic puzzles, games and brain teasers.
Here are a few of my current favorites:
Logic & Learning
These thematic logic puzzles ask students to read clues to determine the correct order of the colored pictures.
They’re great for a few reasons: they practice reading, they need to practice directionality, and they need to stretch their minds a little bit!
I love that that these logic puzzles make students follow directions!
Logic & Learning is a growing bundle that will include a set of problem-solving puzzles for each month!
To introduce each set, I usually do a few puzzles with the students. Then, I put all the puzzles & pictures into tub, along with the answer sheet.
On the Dot
In this brain teaser game On the Dot {affiliate link}, players try to arrange four transparent squares so they perfectly line up to match the dots shown on the pattern card.
It totally seems easy…until you try it! But I have a few kids who won’t give up on it! It includes 60 different puzzles, so it’ll keep ‘em thinking for a while.
Go-Go Dominoes
A simple way to stretch those brains is to pull out your dominoes! I’m not sure what it is about dominoes that kids love, but they are highly motivating!
So, I slipped a little learning into those “toys” they’re so fond of!
Go-Go Dominoes are a HUGE hit during our math time!
These activities ask kids to use their problem-solving skills to work it out!
I love when you can combine toys and learning – don’t you?
Flexi Puzzle
Do you remember these fun stretchy block toys? Well, some genius has turned it into Flexi Puzzles {affiliate link} – the bendy, stretchy brain-teaser that helps encourage spatial and three-dimensional thinking! How fun is that?
Using the included challenge book, kids bend the 12 colorful cubes in every direction to master each of the four levels {which range from beginner to master}
Kids can’t get enough of it! And to be honest, neither can I!
Problem Solvers for the Year
To extend that logical thinking throughout the day, we’ve started using Problem Solvers. The kids pull out these half-page math warm ups each day.
These monthly packs each follow the same format.
First Week of Each Month: Some type of number or visual pattern the students need to extend.
Second Week of Each Month: A word problem to solve.
Third Week of Each Month: An open-ended question.
Fourth Week of Each Month: Students are given the answer to a problem and they must write up the question!
Click to learn more about Problem Solvers!
Do you have any problem-solving activities that you love in your class?
Slainte!
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