Brain games and puzzles
Maze Maker
Design your own maze on squared paper with one true path and lots of dead ends, then swap with a friend.
Thinking sheet · Brain games and puzzles
Shape Puzzle Animals
Use only these shapes to build an animal, then build a different one with the same shapes.
- Grades
- K–3
- Time
- about 25 minutes
- Kids practice
- shape composition, spatial reasoning, flexible thinking
What kids do
“These are your puzzle pieces. Build two different animals with them!”
- Your pieces (use each one at least once)
- Animal 1
- Animal 2
- My animals are a… and a…
How to run it
- Cut the shapes from paper so kids can move them around first.
- Shapes can be big or small and turned any way.
- Compare animals made from the same pieces.
Talk about it
- Which piece was most useful?
- How did you make legs?
- Did anyone make the same animal?
Take it further
Build a robot with the same shapes.
Pairs well with
Free for home and classroom use. Print as many copies as you need.
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Free for teachers
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