Ups & Downs

Ups & Downs

Ups & Downs (MathPickle 2022) This puzzle plays with subtraction. It is exploration for the sake of exploration. See what you discover. The day after this video was published, Gabriella Pinter from the Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of...
Colouring Ukraine (place value)

Colouring Ukraine (place value)

Coloring Ukraine (MathPickle 2022) This Feb 2022 activity is rooted in sad world events, but it simultaneously celebrates the tradition of beautiful map colouring puzzles.  Here is a map to colour (you’ll need to choose “File” then “Make a...
Three Color Triangle Puzzles (logic, algorithm)

Three Color Triangle Puzzles (logic, algorithm)

Three Color Triangle Puzzles (MathPickle 2021) This logic puzzle is inspired by the brilliant Mathologer video below. The tricks presented above are proved below.  Playing with these puzzles is good for upper elementary, but younger kids can get a lot of value from...
Rainbow Sudoku (logic puzzle)

Rainbow Sudoku (logic puzzle)

Rainbow Sudoku (MathPickle 2021 – Inspired by Amar Sodhi) In regular sudoku and pentomino sudoku numbers are given as clues. Each region needs exactly one copy of each number. That’s true whether the regions are 3×3 squares or pentominoes. In Rainbow...
Treefolk Tribes (symmetry, sorting, sequence)

Treefolk Tribes (symmetry, sorting, sequence)

Treefolk Tribes (MathPickle 2020)   This puzzle doesn’t have a strong endpoint – you’re exploring for the sake of exploring! Organizing these Treefolk based on their symmetry – whether they want you to or not 😉 Here is a pdf of the seven...