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Though there are many ways to encourage creativity and engagement among students, one of the most effective methods is puzzles. Puzzle-solving exercises are fun and challenging, which can spark creative juices and then spur all kinds of ideas on how a student can become more engaged.
Playing puzzle games can help students improve their attention span, cognitive thinking, fast reflexes, and hand-eye coordination. Through puzzle games, especially jigsaw puzzles, students can learn to work together as a team, solve problems, make decisions, and learn the art of patience.
Here are five ways via which you can encourage creativity and engagement among students through puzzles:
1. Encourage Collaboration
Puzzles can be used as learning tools in classrooms for various subjects, such as science, math, and language arts. Teachers can use puzzles to engage students in learning new vocabulary words, improving their reading comprehension, and learning how to solve complex problems using logic and reasoning skills.
Use puzzles like Strands NYT as a way to encourage collaboration among students. Instead of asking all the students in the class to solve a particular problem individually, give each group a puzzle to solve. This will get them working together and communicating with each other. It will also help them learn how to communicate with each other by showing how each person’s input is essential for completing the project successfully.
Examples of Group Puzzle Games
Jigsaw Puzzles – Jigsaw puzzles can vary in difficulty, but they all require a group effort to complete. For example, if you have an image with several pieces missing, each person must work together to find these missing pieces and put them back into place.
Crossword Puzzles – Crossword puzzles require participants to fill in words on a list using clues given at the start of each row and column. It is a fun game that can be played by teachers and students alike. And you can always use the word unscrambler if you get stuck!
Word Search Puzzles – Word search puzzles provide another great way for people to work together and learn new vocabulary words while doing so! These puzzles aim to find as many words as possible within a set time (usually 5-10 minutes).
Teachers can also use puzzles as an assessment tool for students struggling with a subject area or needing extra practice on specific skills. Puzzle-solving allows teachers to monitor student progress by measuring the time it takes for each student to solve the puzzle and whether they have solved it correctly or not.
2. Use Puzzle Solving For Critical Thinking & Cognitive Development
Solving puzzles encourages students to look at information from different perspectives and think about how other parts of a problem fit together. Asking students to solve puzzles also helps them understand that there is often more than one solution to a problem, which encourages the development of creativity and critical thinking skills.
In addition, puzzles help develop cognitive skills such as memory. Solving a puzzle requires the student to remember where each piece fits into the larger picture while using logic to determine where each piece must go next, e.g., a jigsaw puzzle.
Examples: Maze Games & Tangram Puzzles (improve spatial reasoning)
3. Introduce New Cultural Aspects To Students With Puzzles
Puzzles provide an excellent opportunity for students to explore different cultures and traditions while learning how to apply these concepts in their lives. For example, if you’re teaching about Japan, you might want to introduce your class to Japanese culture by giving them a puzzle that depicts Japanese scenery or landmarks. This will allow them to understand better what Japan is like and how its people live their daily lives.
Examples: World Map Puzzles & Riddles
4. Enhance Children’s Problem-Solving Ability With Logical Puzzles
Parents often use logical puzzles to help their children develop their brain power. The problem-solving skills required to solve these puzzles can help children think more clearly and develop better analytical skills.
They also help improve memory and concentration. If you have ever tried to solve a complex puzzle, you know how difficult it can be to concentrate on the task. Two significant benefits of solving logical puzzles in the classroom are “improved mental flexibility (with ability to think outside the box) and improved concentration levels (with ability to focus on complex tasks for long periods without getting bored).”
Examples: Rubik’s Cube, Legos, Mastermind, Math Brain Teaser, & Sudoku
5. Creative Writing Using Puzzles Pieces (Words, Sentences, Paragraphs, etc.)
The Puzzle-Piece Plotting Method is a creative writing technique that encourages students to use their imaginations and express themselves in a way that they are comfortable with. The puzzle pieces can be words, sentences, paragraphs, or even longer writing pieces.
Students who struggle with written expression will benefit from this method because it allows them to express their thoughts. Students who have difficulty reading aloud may benefit from this method because it will enable them to practice reading aloud in a low-stress environment. Many students also enjoy using the Puzzle Piece method because they can control the amount of time they spend on each piece of writing, which helps reduce anxiety when completing assignments.
Teachers can also benefit from this technique in the classroom because it allows them to see what their students have learned about various topics through their writing samples. Teachers can look at these samples and get an idea of how well their students understand specific concepts before they begin teaching new material, so they know what topics need more focus on when teaching future lessons. It also allows teachers to see whether or not their classes are effective at helping students learn the material or if some adjustments are needed.
Final Words
Puzzles require students to take on a problem and develop strategies to solve it. It simulates real-world situations that students will encounter one day in the workplace. It exercises students’ minds and promotes creative thinking and teamwork. These are vital skills for all careers.