Grades 3–5
Math Brain Teasers
Ten math brain teasers, from the frog in the well to adding eight 8s to make 1,000.
Classroom activity · Logic puzzles and brain teasers
Number Pyramid Puzzles
Four number pyramids that grow from three to five rows. Add up, and sometimes subtract down.
- 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
“Each brick is the sum of the two bricks under it. Fill in every empty brick. Some puzzles make you subtract!”
Teacher tip
Show how each block is the sum of the two below it.
How to use it
- Model the first puzzle out loud, thinking through each clue.
- Give pencils with erasers. Logic puzzles need lots of fixing.
- Let kids work with a partner so they talk through their thinking.
Watch for
Kids who guess instead of reasoning. Ask them to explain each answer.
Talk about it
- What did you do when you were stuck?
- What was the trickiest part? How did you get past it?
Take it further
Have kids write their own puzzle for a classmate.
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
Shape Math Challenge
Four harder shape puzzles. In the last one you must find the circle first, even though it is on line 2.
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.
Free for teachers
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