Puzzles and Logic
Math class will never be the same! Puzzle Logic offers classroom teachers an extensive collection of challenging activities designed to tease the brain, tickle the intellect and stretch the problem solving skills of any student. Its seems that the human mind enjoys being puzzled, perplexed and beguiled and Puzzle Logic combines the fun and excitement of using the computer with the inherent enjoyment of puzzles to create an indispensible tool for elementary teachers. The mathematical puzzles found in Puzzle Logic promise to challenge every inch of a student's brain. Hopefully, through the use of this program, students will develop an appreciation for problem solving and look at math in a new way. Some of the solutions to the puzzles included in this software product are surprisingly simple; others are very challenging and may take a while to figure out. Since the software allows students to easily manipulate the numbers and pieces used in the puzzle, exploratory and discovery approaches are encouraged.
All of the puzzles included in Puzzle Logic have one thing in common; they are fun! The software and manual are filled with amusing mathematical magic tricks, clever games and intriguing visual challenges. Students of all abilities, ages and grade levels will be able to find challenging and interesting activities. Each activity has a set of clear instructions that are designed to help students understand the puzzle.
The kinds of puzzles presented in Puzzle Logic form a basic set of learning experiences from which a student's understanding of problem solving can be developed. Fundamental concepts related to the formal study of problem solving can be investigated and modeled using the 17 learning environments provided in Puzzle Logic. The Journal component of the program is designed to encourage students to reflect about the process of problem solving and to express those thoughts in writing.
Software and the computer technology available in many schools and classrooms enable teachers to create a classroom environment which encourages the development of critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities. The context in which these vital learning skills develop are a series of investigations which include the use of a variety of models. In an ideal situation, students would work together in small, cooperative groups and freely share their thoughts and ideas, demonstrating to their peers a viable approach for each investigation. In this kind of learning environment the problem solving experiences and critical thinking activities will relate mathematical concepts to the real world.

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