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 MORE DOWNLOADS: |
| Want an easy way to add some higher-level thinking to your lessons?
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| Download this list of Challenge Questions, cut them up and place them in a bag or container. At the end of the
lesson, choose a student to pull one out and have students respond—what a great way to engage students in creative discussion!
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Download as MS Word document
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| Download as Download as PDF file
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| Download Text Message Cell Phone here
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| Want more tips?
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Select from the drop-down list
of past teaching tips.
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| Teaching Tip—Connection Puzzles |
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| Puzzles have a game-like quality about them that engage student interest. Connection Puzzles use this motivation to
encourage students to make connections between new information and previous knowledge or experience. |
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Materials
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1 magnet sheet for computer printers
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How to...
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- Use a computer to design a small text box that says "We Made Connections" (see illustration.) Print this in the middle of an 81/2 x 11 sheet of
magnetic paper. If preferred, this can be hand drawn with a permanent marker.
- With permanent marker, write each student's name on an area of the magnetic paper.
- Cut the paper into puzzle pieces, so that each student's name is on its own piece. Leave the "We Made Connections" piece whole.
- Place the "We Made Connections" piece on the board, in an area where it can be left throughout the week without being disturbed. Draw a rectangle
around it, slightly larger than 8 1/2 x 11 in.
- Place each of the name pieces randomly on the board around the puzzle area.
- Explain to students that throughout the week, if they make a connection between what they are learning and another piece of knowledge or experience,
they will be allowed to connect their puzzle piece to the puzzle. The goal is to complete the puzzle by the end of the week (or unit, chapter, etc.)
- As more and more name pieces are moved into the square it will become easier to connect them and see the holes in the puzzle. For students whose pieces
are not connected, encourage them to think of connecting concepts, events, books or examples from life outside of the classroom. Students whose pieces
have already been connected should be encouraged to continue to make connections in their minds.
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Additional Ideas
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- Blank cardboard jigsaw puzzles can be purchased from several online sources. Purchase puzzles that have enough pieces for the entire class.
- Write student names on these and attach a small piece of magnet tape to the back of each piece.
- If there is no magnetic surface in your classroom, obtain a blank cardboard jigsaw puzzle and place some sticky tack on the back of each puzzle piece.
- If you have several different classes throughout the day, obtain one puzzle for each class and have students write their names on the pieces.
Attach the pieces to the inside of a file folder using sticky tack. The folder can be opened and tacked up on the board during the class period, and
then replaced as classes change.
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