Outreach for Librarians: Puzzle Table

Alternatives to Puzzles

You could use Brain Flakes, and while you could have a specific challenge, I've found that students make their own creations.

Use your 3D printer to make puzzles.  This one was downloaded from Thingiverse.  

Celebrate National Puzzle Day on January 29th

While you may have a puzzle table out year round, you could emphasize smaller puzzles or other types of puzzles like crossword and Sudoku.  

Puzzle Table

Objective:  Students will be able to put together puzzles of various sizes and difficulty.  They may choose to do this by themselves or as a group.

Why:  Students have to use critical thinking skills to assemble a puzzle and increases their perseverance in problem solving.

Supplies:  one regular, five or six foot folding table, 4-6 chairs, a variety of puzzles – 100 – 1500 piece puzzles

How To:  Put out the puzzle with the box showing the picture.  Monitor table for pieces that dropped to the ground and for when they are finished.  You may also want to include a sign inviting students to the table as well as suggestions for doing the puzzle.

Things to Think About: 

• Most adult puzzles are either 500 or 1000 pieces, but sometimes you’ll find a 300 piece puzzle. 
• With fewer pieces, the puzzle pieces tend to be larger and easier to assemble.
• You can also put out multiple, 100 piece puzzles if you use cookie sheets to contain the puzzle pieces.  Cookie sheets can be purchased inexpensively at The Dollar Tree or ask people to donate old cookie sheets and spray paint them to clean them up.
• Start a semester with an easier puzzle and increase in difficulty.
• Alternate the difficulty of puzzles.  For example a puzzle with a similar color, nothing but candy or a repeating pattern can be very difficult.  The next puzzle should be easier.
• Alternate the types of puzzles – seasonal/holiday, animals, nature scenes, photographs vs. paintings
• Shape of puzzle pieces – Most puzzles have different shaped pieces.  Some puzzles will promote “special” shaped pieces, but some puzzles have a uniform puzzle shape, and these puzzles are actually more difficult to assemble.

Puzzles