Playing with content seems to decrease as students age through school. Why? Middle-grade students enjoy playing with language and numbers just as much as primary-grade students. Students enjoyed doing this math problem as a warm up to get in the Fall spirit. Upon completion, students were encouraged to make their own puzzles! You can find this puzzle from Greg Tang here.
Students were eager to make their own puzzles and share them with another fifth grade class. The puzzles are not perfect and they initiated great conversations among students. Classmates were motivated to solve the puzzles made by their peers!
