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You love math and all its delightful complexities, including those math puzzles in the daily newspaper and game apps. That’s why you became a math teacher! But how can you get your middle schoolers to appreciate math with the same excitement — and even help them learn skills at the same time?
Bring the joy of integers, operations, and expressions to your classroom with a series of math puzzles for middle school. We’ve collected our favorite math puzzle resources, along with tips for implementing math puzzles in class, to help instill a true love of arithmetic in even the most reluctant middle school mathematicians.
Middle School Math Puzzle Bell Ringers
Why wait till the end of class for the fun to begin? Using math puzzles for middle schoolers as bell ringers signals to your students that math isn’t just a line of numbers to be solved. Math may be their new favorite class when they get to start it with fascinating warm-up STEM activities for middle school.
If you’d like to use middle school math puzzles as bell ringers, consider these teacher tips:
- Add math puzzles to your beginning-of-period routine, encouraging students to get to work right away.
- Make one day of the week a puzzle-focused warm-up activity (such as “Fun Friday” or “Math Puzzle Monday”).
- Have students copy math puzzles into a designated notebook or link puzzles to a digital classroom forum.
Get math class started right with logic puzzles
Could your middle schoolers use some help with their logic skills? Help them build and hone their math and logic capabilities with a series of bell ringers based on grid logic puzzles for students of all math levels.
Logic Puzzle Bell Ringers | Digital Math Morning Work | Brain Teasers
By Acres of Learning
Subject: Math Test Prep
Sharpen logic skills and get your class settled at the same time with a set of digital logic puzzles. This engaging resource includes 31 self-checking logic problems that come in two difficulty levels — one with answers filled in, and the other with blank charts.
Excellent Extension Math Puzzles for Middle School
If you’d like to extend your math lesson with an assignment that doesn’t feel like an assignment, bring in math puzzles that kids will feel the need to finish. Extension math puzzles address key middle school math concepts, all while preparing them for applying those skills in future units.
Keep these implementation ideas in mind as you go forward:
- Review math concepts from previous units or courses as extension activities, such as adding elements of pre-algebra worksheets to your algebra curriculum.
- Add extension puzzles to your class’s homework packets or exams.
- Compile a collection of math puzzles for students to complete as make-up assignments when they’re absent.
Extend your lesson with math puzzles they’ll love
Want to see math classwork and homework start rolling in? Incorporate these math puzzles for middle school units into your weekly homework packet, and you’ll see the grades in your gradebook steadily rise.
Missing Angles Puzzle | Extension Activity | 8th Grade Math
By Smart Pug Teaching
Subject: Geometry
Standards: CCSS 8.G.A.5
Use a math puzzle resource aligned to CCSS for math to practice geometric rules, including vertical angles and angle relationships. With 95 missing angle problems, a student answer sheet, and a straightforward answer key, this no-prep activity makes a perfect classwork or homework assignment.
Beneficial Brain Breaks With Math Puzzles
Anyone who’s taught an especially complex mathematical concept or tried to hold middle schoolers’ attention in a longer block period knows the importance of brain breaks. These vital moments assist students in transitioning between parts of class or into another activity, and math puzzles for middle school could be the perfect way to do it.
To make brain breaks work in your classroom, consider these implementation ideas:
- Have math puzzles ready to go for class transitions or for students who finish their exams early.
- Offer math puzzles to groups once they’ve finished a project or have checked all their classwork.
- Make grab-and-go packets for students to grab when they’d like to take a break from their assignment.
Make math feel like a game with fun math puzzles
Can daily math practice be what they look forward to? Incorporate math puzzles into your curriculum to cover and reinforce particular math skills.
Adding and Subtracting Integers Math Activities Puzzles and Riddle – No Prep
By Misty Miller
Subject: Algebra, Numbers
Standards: CCSS 7.NS.A.1d
Available in both a digital and printable version, this pack of math puzzles for middle school encourages students to solve integer problems and solve a riddle math sheet. Students can complete these activities in math stations or at table groups, or they can take them home to complete as part of their homework.
Engaging Math Puzzles for Enrichment
When it comes to enriching your math instruction, math puzzles for middle schoolers can help you there, too. Challenge math students to take their knowledge to the next level, or foster a healthy appreciation and understanding of science in your classroom.
- Use math puzzles designed for high schoolers or college students as an extra challenge for middle schoolers.
- Start a math club for advanced math students, and introduce new math puzzles at each meeting.
- Challenge students to race each other when finishing enrichment math puzzles.
Bring learning to another level with advanced math puzzles
You won’t need to give students a standardized test to find out if they understand complex math concepts — a puzzle will do just fine! Challenge students with more advanced math activities using puzzles that bridge the gap between their current understanding and the next academic step.
Integer Operations Logic Puzzles & Challenges – Math Enrichment Activities
By Live Laugh Math
Subject: Numbers
Standards: CCSS G.NS.C.5, 7.NS.A.1, 7.NS.A.2
Put the textbooks aside and get them working with math enrichment activities that reinforce how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide integers. Designed for gifted learners and ideal for any student in need of enrichment, these four types of puzzles are great options for early finishers or additions to advanced math homework or classwork packets.
Amazing Math Puzzle Bulletin Boards
Make the lesson part of your decoration when you add math puzzles to your bulletin boards. You’ll surround students with mathematics, and pique their curiosity at the same time!
- Change out math puzzles each week and offer extra credit for students who complete them correctly.
- Allow students to bring in their own puzzle ideas to add to the bulletin board.
- Include instructions on your math test to “Complete the math puzzle on the bulletin board” as the final problem for them to solve.
Use math puzzle bulletin boards to inspire middle schoolers
With printables that allow students to complete their own versions, these math puzzles for middle school can really bring math to life in a meaningful and unique way.
Interactive Math Bulletin Board Weekly Challenge Math Logic Puzzles Enrichment
By The Desmotician
Take math practice off the page and decorate your walls instead! Using a large Magic Squares grid and matching printable worksheets, you can set up a “Take One and Solve” bulletin board for motivated students seeking to learn more with math puzzles.
Popular Math Puzzles for Any Class Setting
Need some math puzzles to add to your curriculum in a pinch? These popular math puzzles for middle school (or any other grade level!) apply mathematical and logic concepts in well-worn and interesting ways.
- Logic puzzles
- Number Pyramids
- Math crossword puzzles
- Sudoku puzzles
- Area Mazes
- Math Riddles
- Guess the Code (Mastermind)
- Dice games
Puzzle middle schoolers with creative math resources from TPT
The most skilled mathematicians (and math teachers) know that math should be fun in order to be interesting. Adding middle school math puzzles is just one way to increase engagement in class, but it’s such a versatile and intriguing addition to your curriculum that students will surely want more! Find more middle school math puzzle resources to keep them interested, and to kindle a lifelong fascination with the way math comes together.