Grades 4–5
Shape Math Challenge
Four harder shape puzzles. In the last one you must find the circle first, even though it is on line 2.
Classroom activity · Logic puzzles and brain teasers
Math Brain Teasers
Ten math brain teasers, from the frog in the well to adding eight 8s to make 1,000.
- Grade level
- Grades 3–5
- Time
- About 25 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Logical reasoning, Problem solving, Persistence, Explaining thinking
What kids do
“Read each brain teaser carefully. Some are tricks! Write your answer on the line.”
Printed on the sheet:
- How many months have 28 days?
- A brick weighs 1 pound plus half a brick. How much does the whole brick weigh?
- What do you get if you multiply all the numbers on a phone keypad together?
- I am an odd number. Take away one letter and I become even. What number am I?
- Two dads and two sons go fishing. They catch 3 fish, one each. How can that be?
- A frog is at the bottom of a 10 foot well. Each day it climbs up 3 feet, and each night it slides down 2. On which day does it get out?
- Which three whole numbers give the same answer when you add them or multiply them?
- If 3 cats catch 3 mice in 3 minutes, how many cats catch 100 mice in 100 minutes?
Teacher tip
Let kids work in pairs and share their strategies.
How to use it
- Let kids work with a partner and explain their thinking.
- Start with an easier puzzle before the harder ones.
- Use it as a center, an early finisher choice, an indoor recess activity or a sub day page.
Watch for
Frustration on hard puzzles. Give one clue at a time as a hint.
Talk about it
- Which clue helped you the most?
- What strategy did you use?
Take it further
Post a puzzle of the week on the board.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More logic puzzles and brain teasers
Grades 4–5
Tricky Odd One Out
Square numbers, primes, planets, insects and adverbs: eight rows where the odd one out takes real thinking.
Grades 4–5
6 by 6 Sudoku Puzzles
Two 6 by 6 sudoku puzzles with the numbers 1 to 6. A step up from the 4 by 4 mini sudoku.
Grades 4–5
Logic Grid: Space Camp
Two 4 by 4 logic grids at space camp: which rocket each kid built and which planet they visited.
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