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Fun Word and Picture Puzzles: Building Important Skills | Elementary Homeschooling

January 10, 2011 By Laura 2 Comments

I know I’ve blogged about puzzles before. But, that was puzzles of a different kind. I believe all of the studies, that all puzzles, are just good for our brain – young or old. (People, or puzzles, for that matter.) They can help keep our brain active, quick, and sharp, and God knows I could use all of that. (Ask Him!)

So when a puzzle sort of exercise came up in my triplet 8 year olds’ Language book, we ran with it. Puzzles come in many different forms. Any exercise, of trying to figure something out, can be considered a puzzle, in my book. It’s the search in your head, for a solution – whether it be for a problem in life, a jigsaw, or 17 Across. Regardless, I love puzzles. (OK, I actually do not love the jigsaw kind. They are o.k. on occasion. )

As I was saying…..when a puzzle sort of exercise came up in…..uhhhh, my 3rd grade Language Arts class ( <—solution! ; )… I was thrilled. Because, puzzles are beneficial for the above stated reasons. But these particular kind we came up to in our daily lessons, I saw how they had other benefits to offer, after accessing them. Here’s in what other areas: Comprehension, and following directions, through reading words that direct one’s actions, is pretty important skills for our kids (yours and mine, collectively speaking), to develop. Right? Kids especially, need to have opportunities to develop these skills, to continue succeeding in their advancing education, eventually in the workforce of their choosing (if they want to keep their job), and naturally for everyday occurrences in the process of living. That’s what these exercises, I called puzzles, would help develop. But…..it just-so-happens, they are FUN too! And as I have always said, having fun is always the best way to learn!

So, without too much more chatter, I thought I would share with you first, the two puzzles my three 3rd graders did, show you their results following them, and then welcome you to print them off for your kids to do, if they are in the appropriate age range, and would like to do them, too. (But I have to tell you, I’d enjoy doing them myself. So if you are inclined to print them off for yourself, I won’t tell a soul. ; )

Puzzle ONE

1. Draw a circle.
2. Draw an upside down ice cream cone above and on top of the circle. ·
3. Draw a half circle on each side of the big circle.
4. Draw a U in the big circle.
5. Make two dots over the U.
6. Make one dot lower than the two dots, but above the U.
7. Make a circle on the point of the upside down ice cream cone.
8. Make a W under the big circle.
9. Color your picture!

WHAT AM I?

If directions were followed carefully, the drawing should look something like this:

That is just one of my student’s puzzle solution /drawings, after following the directions. Of course all 3 of them had similar results, with only slight variations. But all were correct in terms of following the directions correctly.

* If you would like to print off the directions to this puzzle, just click on the link above named ‘Puzzle ONE’, or click here. It is a downloadable and printable Word document, if I did it right.

Here’s another:

Puzzle TWO

1. Draw a big circle.
2. On the left top of the circle, draw an upside down V.
3. On the right top of the circle, draw an upside down V.
4. Draw a big W inside the circle, near the bottom.
5. Above the center point of the W, draw an O.
6. Near the left side of the W, draw a V lying on its side with the point of the V toward the W.
7. Near the right side of the W, draw a V lying on it’s side with the point of the V toward the W.
8. Near the middle of the circle, draw two small circles beside each other.
9. Color your picture!

WHAT AM I?

Here’s the results of this puzzle, by one of my student kids:

fun-word-and-drawing-puzzles-for-elementary-age-kids-hoeschooling

*Again, if you would like to print off the directions to this puzzle, just click on the link above named ‘Puzzle TWO’, or click here. It is a down-loadable and printable Word document, if I did it right.

The kids had such a good time doing these, that I thought I would keep working with these puzzles a little more, but put their own writing skills to use. In fact, I was reversing their role, from puzzle solver, to puzzle creator. I gave them the assignment, of each writing their own puzzle directions. Then later, they would have the opportunity, to solve each other’s puzzles the other 2 had written. They loved the idea, and had a great time doing it!!

SO……I have their puzzles, that they wrote themselves, to offer you too! I am displaying them in this post, (as their handwritten papers, which I scanned) but their titles are down-loadable links for you too! Now this time the downloadable links are PDF documents, and they are just what you see below – handwritten by the kids. Why? Because I totally did not feel like typing them all over. I think they are readable enough for you to figure out, and they have some endearing homemade character. Especially, my spilled coffee stain, on {S}’s paper. ; ) Just keepin’ it real!

J’s puzzle

O’s puzzle

fun-word-and-drawing-puzzles-for-elementary-age-kids-hoeschooling-4 –

S’s puzzle

fun-word-and-drawing-puzzles-for-elementary-age-kids-hoeschooling-5

You and/or your kids, may have more fun than you think you will, doing these puzzles. If you do, I will take total credit for that. You may also have less fun, than you think. That will not be my fault. I am easily amused, and often presume everyone is as easily amused as I am. : )

If you do download the kid’s puzzles, or follow them from the computer, YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE FUN? (Or, you know, I think it would be…). Letting us know the solution you came up with, for each kid’s puzzle!! What does your drawing look like? Let us know in the comments section below, afterward. Don’t worry. We’ll tell you if you are wrong! ; )

Hope you enjoyed this post! And hope you enjoy the puzzles too!!

Don’t sprain your brain, now! ; )

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Your Kids Might Dig This, Too! | Archeology Digging Fun for Kids | Homeschooling

May 22, 2010 By Laura 2 Comments

If your kids love archeology, digging in the dirt, or finding treasured, they are really going to dig this!
(This post contains an affiliate link.)

My cousin and her daughter (my God daughter) came down a couple of months ago, for a girl’s overnight with myself and my own 2 girls, and so thoughtfully, she had brought some great gifts for the kids! It was so sweet. It was unexpected and unnecessary, but I do love gifts that are both project-like, fun and educational.

This is one of those gifts,…. which was for {JM}: Dig & Play Treasure Island.

Some may not think of it as educational, initially, but many of us homeschoolers, tend to quickly identify the learning aspects that are truly in just about anything, and everything.

Dig and Play Treasure Island brings out the excavator in your child. The kit contains a plaster block, which contains buried treasures and coins. Using the specially designed digging tool, they must dig at the plaster little by little, to find the treasures.

It takes hard work, determination and ambition, but is ultimately rewarding. To me, this helps instill the life lessons, that nothing worth having, comes easy. What’s more, {JM} spent hours having fun, was excited about what he had found, and inspired to keep going to see what else was still yet to be discovered.

By reading and following the directions (such a necessary skill in life), {JM} learned that wetting the plaster, would make the digging easier, because the plaster would soften. (Science).

Soon he could see the edge of something! He dug more ambitiously around the treasure, so that he could get it out.

Gold and silver coin treasures were being exhumed all over the place. Because the plaster digging was a dusty job, {JM} wore a face mask that Daddy had on hand. But a bandana would do as well.

{JM} also learned that the more water he sprayed on the plaster, the easier the job got!

What’s this? It looks like a treasure chest! He wondered what was inside.

Wow!! Look at the beautiful gems! And a die?

Dig and Play Treasure Island, also comes with a game board. and game directions. Game pieces are also exhumed while digging in the plaster block.

So once the digging is all done, the fun doesn’t end!
What a great gift idea, for your kids, or other kids in your life.

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How Doing Puzzles Benefits Our Brain

March 21, 2010 By Laura 2 Comments

Puzzles are not only a great deal of fun, challenging, and an enjoyable way to pass time, but putting together puzzles benefits our brains in numerous ways! For people of all ages. The brain can be so fascinating, as we all know, and learning the many ways in which doing puzzles help our brain health, is really cool. I’m going to tell you the many ways as to how, in just a moment.
(And by the way, I should also let you know that this post has a couple of affiliate links.)

Real quick first though, I wanted to show you a very different kind of puzzle, than we had ever done before.

My father had this 540 piece sphere puzzle, and he couldn’t figure it out how to piece it together. So he brought it along when came to visit one weekend, to see if the kids might want to give it a try. It’s a very unique puzzle, in it’s spherical shape, which as you can probably imagine creates new challenges to assemble, as opposed to the more traditional flat table puzzles.

It is a puzzle that is a bit more complicated. At first glance, the pieces look typical of any other puzzle.
However, they are actually plastic pieces, and have a slight curve to them.

But the backsides are where they really differ. They all have a little number on them, from 1-540, which is of course, how many pieces are part of this puzzle. This is where our 7 year old triplets were able to help the most. They grouped the numbered puzzle pieces into their proper hundreds: 100’s, 200’s, 300’s, 400’s and 500’s. And then got them more so in order from there. Great educational help, from the triplets.
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But {A}(12), our oldest, really did most of the puzzle assembly. You would think the numbers on the back of the pieces, really give away quite a bit, as to what pieces go where. But if you think about it, each piece connects to at least 4 others. So number sequence is hardly at play at all times.
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It really is a bit a tricky thing, to connect them just right too, as there is no table or hard surface, to press down on. Out girl found her technique though, and you would, too. In addition to the typical challenges of a puzzle, you don’t have a photo of the puzzle on all sides for this spherical one. Of course, you do have the numbers to help guide you somewhat. Still, it does take some focus and attention.
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It’s a proven fact, that puzzles are good for one’s brain. EHow offers these facts about why puzzles are so good for your brain:

• The brain is a highly complex machine that constantly forms and reinforces connections between its 100 billion cells. Performing mental exercises, such as puzzles, can help form new connections and boost long-term mental performance.
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Making Connections

• Connections between brain cells, and in turn the ability of each neuron to chemically signal the 10,000 or so other cells it connects with, are what form memories.

Strengthening Connections

• Memory retrieval and the ability to process new information is associated with brain health.
Puzzles can help with both of these important brain functions by strengthening the connections between brain cells.

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Giving Your Brain a Work Out

• Just as you exercise to build and maintain muscle mass, you can also strengthen your brain by exercising it.
Engaging in problem solving exercises creates new connections in the brain while strengthening old ones.

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Use It or Lose It, Baby!

• If you don’t give your brain a solid work out, your mental strength starts to deteriorate.
As you age, it is important to keep your brain fit through routine exercises.

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Continued Importance Throughout Life

• According to one study in the Journal of the America Medical Association, elderly people who strengthened their synapses through ten sessions of brain-boosting exercises showed improvement in memory, reasoning skills and mental processing, “well beyond the specific skills the volunteers learned.”

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So we can only assume, that puzzles are a great mental exercise, for our kids! Or anyone, at any age.

I’m thinking with all of benefits for our brain, I could really stand to join my kids doing a few puzzles, or 1,000, myself. Perhaps the younger kids start enjoying puzzles, the more their brains can benefit from them. I think I’ll be encouraging doing more puzzles for my own kids, as an activity for those rainy days, or an after-dinner wind down before they settle into bed for the night. I already know that they love to do crossword puzzles, and the more structural type. But we need more old fashioned puzzles to put together around here! What a great idea for Christmas present, come to think of it. And putting together puzzles can be a great family-time activity, as well!

**Here are some more ways in which kids doing puzzles benefits their brains:**

• Hand-Eye Coordination • Fine Motor Skills • Gross Motor Skills • Problem Solving
• Shape Recognition • Memory • Setting Small Goals

I haven’t been able to find this fairies design sphere puzzle online yet. But some of you homeschoolers may also love this other Esphera spherical puzzle (540 pieces) that is a world globe, which of course would not only be fun, but a great geography learning as well.

But if you and your family prefer traditional puzzles, they are just as fun, and of course give you all the benefits, too!

All in all, I think the likely perks of doing puzzles now and then, can be great for anyone. If nothing else, it’s a leisure and relaxing activity, that exercises patience and persistence as well. But as we all know now, there is so much more in it for all of us, than that!

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Math Games | Elementary Homeschooling

November 24, 2009 By Laura 5 Comments

Our three second graders, { J, O & S}, have been working pretty hard in math, lately. They were getting stuck on a particular concept, and so taking advantage of the perks of home schooling, we didn’t move on in their workbooks until they ‘got it’. We had some extra long math classes even, working on that concept. So I decided we needed a little FUN with math, today, and made up a couple of games.

MATH BINGO!

If you have any kind of BINGO game, with whatever pieces to draw numbers, you can do these math games with your kids. You can also alter how the game is played, to suit the age and skill level of your own kids. So I’ll share with you how we played, and maybe have a suggestion or 2 of how you can make it easier for younger grade level kids.

First, because we’ll be doing math ON them, a piece of paper has to be set up as a BINGO card, for each child. It doesn’t have to perfect…..ours sure weren’t. I just did the example below, on the computer, for this blog post. But we did ours on regular loose-leaf paper. I let the kids draw whatever shape they wanted in the center FREE box.

$homeschooling math games$

This is our BINGO game. You will not need the real BINGO cards, or the chips for the math games WE played. But later, I will give you an alternative game for younger kids, where you can use the chips on the cards.

So once everyone’s paper is set up as below, you are ready to start the game. You draw the first call, and announce the letter and number. (Example, say it is N-31.). The can put that 31 in any box to start, under the N, but each number needs to be somewhat in the middle of the box, for room to do math with it. As letters and numbers continue to be called, they can continue to choose an empty box to put the number in, under the corresponding letter. Again, when the kids write a number in a box, they need to leave room above that first number, as well as below it, and of course the math sign to the left.

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The paper board will start to look like this. Notice, the first numbers are put int he middle of each box. So for a little bit, you’ll call letters/numbers and only have one number in each box around the board. But eventually, one of the LETTER rows is going to full up, already having a number in every box. As you can see above, N’s row has a number in each box, all the way down that row. So, once we get another N call, the real math will begin!

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And there it is. N-35.

So here is how WE played. Each child could continue to choose any N box (that already had one number in it), but where to put it? Well, after choosing which N box they were going to use, they had to figure out if the 35 was higher, or lower, than the number in the chosen box.

In order to create both addition and subtraction facts, I decided the pattern would be as follows. If the number was HIGHER than the number already in the box, it went OVER the number already there, and they would add. If the number drawn was LOWER than the number already in their chosen box, they would put the drawn number BELOW the number already there, and SUBTRACT.

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So {O} chose her first N box at the top. She already had a 40 in it. 35 is smaller than 40, so she put it under, and SUBTRACTED.

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{S} also chose the first N box. However, he had a 31 in his box. So, he put the 35 OVER the 31 he had, and ADDED.

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We continued to draw letters/numbers and kept the game going in the same pattern. To refresh:

BIGGER numbers went OVER existing number > ADD.

SMALLER numbers went UNDER existing numbers > SUBTRACT.

$homeschooling math games$

As I drew letters/numbers, I put them in the holder tray….just as you would put the numbers/letters on a master BINGO card.

$homeschooling math games$

We played until someone had BINGO….which, as this game goes, everyone should have had at the same time, if they were listening carefully and putting the called numbers, under the correct letters.

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N down was filled first, until everyone had BINGO. But they didn’t officially WIN, until their row was corrected, and all answers were correct. ; )

*1) A YOUNGER VERSION: Instead of doing MATH per-say, children just learning letter and number recognition, can use the real BINGO cards, with the chips. They can wait until they have a row filled to call BINGO, and the teacher can use their master Bingo card, with the chips on it for called numbers, to correct if they identified each number and letter correctly.

*2). For a LITTLE BIT OLDER children, who are working on WRITING and correct letter and number formation, can simply write the one number called, under the correct letter, until they get BINGO. At that time, correction can be done in the same manner as 1) above. In these case, no math is done.

*3) Another option, is to play the game somewhat as we did, doing ALL ADDITION, only.

* No doubt, with a little brainstorming, you can come up with your own ideas for math games, using these suggested tools, to fit the needs of an and all kids of all grades and skill levels. Have fun with it!

MATH TIC TAC TOE!

For younger kids, using a Tic Tac Toe version may be a quicker game. And again, doing all addition at first may be easier.

We followed the same concepts as we did for Math Bingo, but applied it to Tic Tac Toe, with the goal of getting 3 (correct) in a row.

$homeschooling math games$

They put the first number called, in a different box, aiming for 3 in a row.

$homeschooling math games$

BIGGER numbers went OVER existing number > ADD.

SMALLER numbers went UNDER existing numbers > SUBTRACT.

$homeschooling math games$

Oh the suspense….WHO is adding and subtracting correctly??

$homeschooling math games$

Suddenly, everyone was yelling ‘Tic Tac Toe! 3 in a row!!” But was their math work correct? They were. We had 3 winners, although one of them almost forgot to bring down a number, and noticed right before I was about to check!

I hope these games inspire you to play with math, with YOUR kids!! I make up games all of the time, to help instill lessons for life, in the kids. If I can, I get them out of their chairs, and outdoors, if possible! After all….as I say all of the time…

LEARNING SHOULD BE FUN!!!

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Word Spin – An Educational Word Game – Homeschooling

June 29, 2009 By Laura Leave a Comment

We wanted to share with you a simple, little, hand held educational games that our kids get a lot of enjoyment out of! It’s a great game that helps develop spelling skills, vocabulary, problem solving, motor skills, and more. And we should let you know that this post contains an affiliate link, for this word game that has provided so much fun-filled educational time for our kids, that we wanted to point you it, and see what you think.

The game is called Word Spin, and it has won several awards–including the Oppenheim 1996 Gold Seal Award, the Best Mind Game of 1995 from MENSA (the high-IQ society), and the 1995 Game of the Year from the Australian Toy Association. There are larger size versions, but ours happens to be the little key chain version. Which matters none to our kids. It’s actually more manageable for small little hands, but our oldest, who has much larger hands, still plays with it. And so do I. : ) It’s too much fun not to! What I love most about hand-held games like this, is that they are quiet, and do not require batteries!

The game naturally comes with instructions, and directions of how to play up to 10 different games! This game is one we have had in our home, and used, since our oldest was little, and so unfortunately our directions have been lost-since there is no way to keep them together. But really, any parent, or school aged kid, could think up several word games to play on their own, or with one more more others. (Although we really do not recommend losing the directions. lol)

Here’s a little more information about this game:

Word Spin consists of eight interlocking, magnetic spin wheels with 10 facets that each display one letter. One possible game is where each player takes turns combining the wheels to form words, for a set number of turns each. With each word a player forms, they add up the points on each letter, and the player with the highest score in the end wins. (Oh, math!)

Our kids have come up with several games of their own, using Word Spin. Yesterday when the 3 little ones played, these were the challenges they gave each other:

{O} and {S} challenged {J} to spell the word POTTERY our, correctly, with the wheels, and {J} wasted no time getting to work, while the other 2 looked on…..

{J} was rapidly getting the word together, and looking pleased with his progress….

Mission accomplished.

Next up was {S}’s turn…

{J and O} gave him the word LADDER….

They all got a giggle as {S} frantically took a part and put back together the wheels, looking for the letters he needed….

Meanwhile, {O} started playing with the 2 remaining wheels on the floor-which is another fun aspect of this game. Since all of the wheels are magnetic, they have positive and negative side, with which they can connect all together, or push some around with another. (Oh, science!)

There it is!!

When it was {O}’s turn, they decided to switch up the game,….

She closed her eyes, and scrambled up the wheels really good.

When she opened her eyes, on the count of 3, she had until their count of 10 to make a 3 letter word. For this one, taking the wheels apart was not allowed.

They counted to 1, when she said, “I already have one! RUG!” (And I spy PUT right under it.)

There is no doubt that this little gadget has provided lots of educational FUN for all of the kids here….big and small!

{J} hadn’t even started his turn upon opening his eyes, when he spotted the word (?) BOO! Could it count a a real word?
Well it was in our online dictionary!

This game has also been handy on long car rides, and also come out of someone’s pocket while we we waited for our meals in a restaurant.

If you are interested in this word game, here is a link the link once again to be purchased online : WORD SPIN

Although it is also likely still sold in some stores in the games section.

Do you have any simple and educational little hand games your kids love? We’d love it if you’d share them with us!

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Making Connections

Strengthening Connections

Giving Your Brain a Work Out

Use It or Lose It, Baby!

Continued Importance Throughout Life

Here are some more ways in which kids doing puzzles benefits their brains:

MATH BINGO!

MATH TIC TAC TOE!

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**Here are some more ways in which kids doing puzzles benefits their brains:**