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Random Sudoku

Grades
7 to 12
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Any Sudoku fans in your classroom? Send them to this site that provides problem-solving techniques, helpful for successfully conquering some of the most fiendish puzzles. Learn about...more
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Any Sudoku fans in your classroom? Send them to this site that provides problem-solving techniques, helpful for successfully conquering some of the most fiendish puzzles. Learn about crosshatching, slicing and dicing, and "penciling in." Discover the five rules that stress finding numbers for squares, rather than finding squares for umbers. This truly is a site for the Sudoku aficionados among us.

tag(s): puzzles (144), sudoku (10)

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Scrabble

Grades
5 to 12
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The challenge and creativity of the original board game comes alive in this virtual version. Review the available tools that can undo, redo, withdraw, sort, and even save an ...more
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The challenge and creativity of the original board game comes alive in this virtual version. Review the available tools that can undo, redo, withdraw, sort, and even save an uncompleted game. Although this "solitaire" Scrabble game misses the group interaction of the traditional version, it provides a great opportunity for creative, independent thought related to spelling and vocabulary.

tag(s): spelling (98), vocabulary (238)

In the Classroom

This "just for fun" activity can be utilized as a meaningful reward for completing class work early. Channel students to this site for some vocabulary building during down-time.

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Mankala - Roger E. Critchlow, Jr.

Grades
7 to 12
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Most students are familiar with the traditional Mankala game that uses a rectangular wooden board and stones, but this online version adds a few interesting options and variations....more
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Most students are familiar with the traditional Mankala game that uses a rectangular wooden board and stones, but this online version adds a few interesting options and variations. Read the instructions carefully! Students can play against the computer or with a partner.

In the Classroom

Add this mind-stretching game of strategy to a unit on African history and culture. A nice activity to add to a celebration of Black History Month.

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The Ultimate Puzzle Site

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4 to 12
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This collection of puzzles, riddles, brainteasers, and interactive tests challenges students to think outside of the box and improve their analytical skills while having fun. Puzzles...more
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This collection of puzzles, riddles, brainteasers, and interactive tests challenges students to think outside of the box and improve their analytical skills while having fun. Puzzles are graded by level of difficulty and the amount of math needed to arrive at a solution.

tag(s): puzzles (144), riddles (16)

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Jig Zone - jigzone.com

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1 to 12
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Make this virtual jigsaw puzzle site available for those inevitable moments of "downtime" in the classroom. Choose a topic from the gallery (preferably one that relates to your curriculum),...more
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Make this virtual jigsaw puzzle site available for those inevitable moments of "downtime" in the classroom. Choose a topic from the gallery (preferably one that relates to your curriculum), select a level of difficulty (number of pieces), and start the challege. These puzzles are not only a lot of fun, but good exercises for developing spatial skills. The pop-ups are annoying but can be blocked by Windows XP. Allow time for the site to load. Check the Frequently Asked Questions link (at the bottom of the page)for troubleshooting if you are having difficulty making the puzzles work.

tag(s): puzzles (144)

In the Classroom

Combine a brain-warming activity with a bit of review, and create your own jig-saws for students to solve! First, access the section entitled "Turn your photos into puzzles," and select an image pertinent to a specific unit and upload it to the site. Once the jigsaw puzzle has been created, have students open the puzzle on individual computers and compete to see who can get the best time putting the image back together! The best images to use would be diagrams, or model images of a particular object. This site works amazingly well for science classes were students need to be familiar with specific images. An example would be have anatomy students re-construct skeletal images, etc. A clever way to get their minds thinking!

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Word Morph - WordPlays.com

Grades
6 to 12
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This challenging, interactive word game is more than a "just-for-fun" activity. Students must use strategy and vocabulary skills to make changes to a starting word - one letter at a...more
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This challenging, interactive word game is more than a "just-for-fun" activity. Students must use strategy and vocabulary skills to make changes to a starting word - one letter at a time - and form a new word. Each word morph can be solved in 10 moves or less, but must be completed within 5 minutes. A purposeful and competitive "filler" to add to a language arts class.

tag(s): thesaurus (22), vocabulary (238), word choice (14)

In the Classroom

Use this site as a learning station for students who may finish work early, and need something productive to do to avoid bothering other students. To make it competitive, keep a record board near the computer where students can log their high scores. Competing against each other may make students more interested to play for a new minutes at a time, and less likely to disturb others in testing situations.

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SAT Preparation Center - The College Board

Grades
7 to 12
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For students approaching that ever-important College Board test, this site is an invaluable resource. Features include a "question of the day," a series of practice questions that address...more
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For students approaching that ever-important College Board test, this site is an invaluable resource. Features include a "question of the day," a series of practice questions that address math, critical reading, and writing skills, a review of the dreaded essay question, and a full-length practice test that can be downloaded and printed after completing free registration.

tag(s): college (44), test prep (69)

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Thinking Machine 4 - Martin Wattenberg

Grades
8 to 12
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Experience an unforgettable game of chess with this interactive site that pits visitors against an artificial intelligence program. After moving your chess piece, watch your opponent's...more
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Experience an unforgettable game of chess with this interactive site that pits visitors against an artificial intelligence program. After moving your chess piece, watch your opponent's thought processes evolve as a visible network on the board. This is an awesome activity for students that truly enjoy a challenge.

tag(s): chess (2), logic (161)

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Hangman

Grades
4 to 12
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Whether your students are learning how to spell the fifty states, reviewing chemistry terms, or trying out their foreign language skills, this collection of thematic hang-man games...more
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Whether your students are learning how to spell the fifty states, reviewing chemistry terms, or trying out their foreign language skills, this collection of thematic hang-man games can provide a fun way to practice! Select a topic (most are curriculum-related, a few are just for fun) and try the interactive games, or print out the blank hang-man worksheets and create your own.

tag(s): grammar review (31)

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Nrich - Cambridge University

Grades
1 to 12
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This collection of games, and articles is designed to challenge students to use their problem solving skills. Activities are organized according to UK education system levels, but click...more
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This collection of games, and articles is designed to challenge students to use their problem solving skills. Activities are organized according to UK education system levels, but click on Help for an easy conversion guide. Each problem includes a question, related pictures or diagrams, a form for students to submit their solution, and helpful hints and notes for parents and teachers. A weekly challenge is also offered. Complete the free registration to participate in a discussion forum, pose questions online, or post messages.

tag(s): problem solving (228)

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NPR Weekly Puzzle - National Public Radio

Grades
6 to 45
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The weekly word puzzle from National Public Radio is not specifically designed for students, but these puzzles can help build vocabulary and word analysis skills in secondary students....more
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The weekly word puzzle from National Public Radio is not specifically designed for students, but these puzzles can help build vocabulary and word analysis skills in secondary students. The site presents recent puzzles, along with their answers.

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Cryptography - Historical Ciphers - Trinity College, Hartford

Grades
6 to 12
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This presentation by students and faculty at Trinity College, Hartford includes discussions of some of history's more famous cipher and encryption machines, including the infamous German...more
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This presentation by students and faculty at Trinity College, Hartford includes discussions of some of history's more famous cipher and encryption machines, including the infamous German enigma machines. Along the way, there's a presentation on some of the basics of encryption. Students interested in math or computer security will find this one an interesting introduction to a hugely complex topic.

tag(s): cryptography (5)

In the Classroom

Use this site as a quick lesson during a history or statistics class, in an attempt to teach students about how some ciphers were solved and how it affected history. Peruse a few of the ciphers as a class on the interactive whiteboard, as a challenge have students try to make or solve one on their own! Students can present their ciphers on the interactive whiteboard, and try to stump their peers!

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Anyday

Grades
6 to 12
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This one is tough to categorize. Enter a day of the year, and this site will tell you about important events, births, and deaths that have happened on that day. ...more
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This one is tough to categorize. Enter a day of the year, and this site will tell you about important events, births, and deaths that have happened on that day. Try using this one to create a list of important events - covering a variety of subject areas - for an entire week.

tag(s): quiz (66)

In the Classroom

This site would make for a great creative writing project for students in a high school english class. Have students search for their birth date, and find one person on that list that they can focus their paper on. Have students research their historical person, eventually writing a analytical paper about the similarities and differences between their own life and that of their selected person. Teachers can focus more on similarities to make it more difficult and interesting - but it is a great way to get students thinking about comparing and contrasting.

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Engineering Brain Ticklers -Tau Beta Pi - Tau Beta Pi

Grades
9 to 12
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Find yourself some serious puzzlers before heading off to solve the problems on this site maintained by an engineering honor society. While several of the problems at least appear to...more
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Find yourself some serious puzzlers before heading off to solve the problems on this site maintained by an engineering honor society. While several of the problems at least appear to be solvable by mere mortals, others are clearly targeted to the pros. We offer these for secondary teachers who may be working with students interested in advanced math, logic, and physics. The site is drawn from a print publication, and answers are posted quarterly.

tag(s): puzzles (144)

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Archimedes' Laboratory Puzzles

Grades
6 to 12
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With puzzles to make, puzzles to solve, and optical illusions to observe, this interactive site puts brains and eyes to the test. The site also has a maze maker, math ...more
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With puzzles to make, puzzles to solve, and optical illusions to observe, this interactive site puts brains and eyes to the test. The site also has a maze maker, math games, word games, and tricks to perform. The "Puzzles to make" section has detailed directions and printable instructions for using these puzzles in the classroom.

tag(s): puzzles (144)

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MathsChallenge

Grades
6 to 12
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Here's a British site offering a steady diet of math problems for several different age groups. There are also regular "code" puzzles that challenge students to decrypt a message or...more
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Here's a British site offering a steady diet of math problems for several different age groups. There are also regular "code" puzzles that challenge students to decrypt a message or hidden phrase.

tag(s): cryptography (5)

In the Classroom

These problems could be used in class as extra challenges or online rewards for completed assignments.

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History of Recording Technology

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6 to 12
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The design of this privately developed site shows its age, but users will find abundant content and visuals here. It just takes a little work. The site covers the evolution ...more
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The design of this privately developed site shows its age, but users will find abundant content and visuals here. It just takes a little work. The site covers the evolution of technologies ranging from the earliest wax recordings to today's DVDs. Along the way, users can learn about the people and processes that have helped sound and video recording develop.

tag(s): inventors and inventions (80)

In the Classroom

Teachers may want to guide their students' use of this site. This site is a little text-heavy, but would be a great way to show the progression of the music industry over the modern era. Share this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector as an introduction to this unit or as review.

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Moon Illusion - Sandlot Science

Grades
6 to 12
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Why does that Harvest Moon appear so huge? This page from the Sandlot Science site offers an explanation that middle and high school students should find interesting. There's an interactive...more
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Why does that Harvest Moon appear so huge? This page from the Sandlot Science site offers an explanation that middle and high school students should find interesting. There's an interactive applet that illustrates how the phenomenon actually works. Try this one if you're studying astronomy, the solar system, or puzzles and illusions.

tag(s): moon (72), solar system (108)

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NRich Online Maths Club

Grades
6 to 12
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This is a curious math site that offers a number of challenging problems for various grade levels. Many of these focus on higher order thinking skills. The overall organization leaves...more
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This is a curious math site that offers a number of challenging problems for various grade levels. Many of these focus on higher order thinking skills. The overall organization leaves a bit to be desired, but the inquisitive can make interesting discoveries here.

tag(s): puzzles (144)

In the Classroom

Most of the articles on the site are written for teachers, not students. There are some interesting ideas on teaching strategies.

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BrainQuest - Workman Publishing

Grades
4 to 12
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Subtitled "it's FUN to be smart," this site offers a collection of games, puzzles and activities designed to challenge active minds. There are also original articles, a 2-minute quiz,...more
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Subtitled "it's FUN to be smart," this site offers a collection of games, puzzles and activities designed to challenge active minds. There are also original articles, a 2-minute quiz, and a post card feature.

tag(s): logic (161), quiz (66)

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