Logic Games

In our class, we are learning that (W.A.L.T.)...

problem solvers think and try before giving up or asking for help
helpful team members talk to and work with their partners
flexible thinkers let go of one idea and move on to another
fluent thinkers generate and share lots of ideas

Here are some of our favorite games. Enjoy!

7500

The name of the game is 7500. The object of the game is to add two four-digit numbers to get a sum that is closest to 7,500 without going over.

To play 7500, one person writes two 4-digit numbers on the board. I use one color for the top number (blue), and another color for the bottom number (red). Then on their paper, players rearrange the digits in the numbers.

Digits can not change lines. Blue digits must stay on their line. Red digits must stay on their line.

Using all 4 digits in the top row, and 3 or 4 digits in the bottom row, figure out an equation with a sum that is close to 7500.

Remember, you can only use addition in this game, and your answer can't be more than 7500.When you have an answer that is close to 7500, write your equation and answer on the board. The person closest to 7500 wins.

Chess

Chess is a great game if you want to use analytical and strategic thinking. Playing chess helps us get better at focusing, visualizing, thinking ahead, weighing options, and planning.

Looking for a video of how to play chess? Check out this one... It has the basics and that's all you'll need to get started: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlTEQZ5Sy4E

Think of these when you are moving your pieces:

Pawn = The pawn is little but gets the job done thanks to pawn power! The pawn moves forward one square at a time, except when capturing or moving for the first time. On a pawn's first move, it gets excited and can move forward 1 or 2 spaces. When capturing, a pawn moves one square on the diagonal.

Rook (castle) = The rook moves up, down, side to side, I said up, down, side to side.

Knight (horse) = As the only piece that can jump, the knight moves two squares up and one square over (or two squares over and one square up).

Bishop = Bishops are smooth and sliiiiidddddde on the diagonal.

Queen = The queen is a combination of rook and bishop. The queen moves up, down, side to side, I said up, down, side to side and sliiiiidddddde.

King = The king is old. He moves slowly... one. square. at. a. time.

Sudoku

Sudoku is a logic game that uses deductive and analytical thinking. To play Sudoku, put numbers into blank spaces so that each row, column, and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9. There can be no duplicate numbers. Some Sudoku puzzles are played with colors instead of numbers, but every Sudoku puzzle has one unique solution.

Logic Puzzles

What are logic puzzles? Logic puzzles are fun! Working with clues and a grid, use your deductive thinking skills to solve a puzzle. Piece the clues together to decide what the clues are telling you. Mark your grid with "x" or "no" for items that are definitely not the answer, and "yes" for items that are. You may need to go back and read the clues a few times to figure out how everything is connected.

These websites have lots of puzzles. Some of these logic puzzles are played online, and some need to be printed.

Logic-Puzzles.org

Mystery Master

Printable Logic Puzzles

A-J-Z

The object of A-J-Z (Aces, Jumble, Zilch) is to figure out a secret number.

One player (The Number Guy) writes down a number and keeps it hidden for the entire game. Number Guy should sit at one end of the table, across from the other players so no one can see the secret number. Three digit numbers are good to start with. Four digit numbers are challenging. There should be no repeat digits in the number.

Players take turns guessing a number. When a number is guessed, everyone writes it down on their paper. In another column, next to the guess, all players write the score that the Number Guy gives for the guess. A= Ace (a digit is in the correct place) J = Jumble (a digit is in the wrong place) Z = Zilch (the digit is not in the number). For example, if the secret number is 752 and you guess 592, your score is AJZ.

Number Guy must write the score in alphabetical order. If scores are written in the order of the numbers, there's no challenge to this game. "A" is always written first, even if it's not the score for the first digit. It takes a little time to get used to scoring when you are Number Guy, but it has to be written this way. Players should look at previous guesses for clues and patterns before guessing a number.

Remember, there is one, and only one, right answer.

Mastermind is another name for Aces, Jumble, Zilch.

Krypto

The object of Krypto is to add, subtract, multiply or divide 5 numbers to reach a target number. Start the game by writing five randomly chosen single-digit numbers on the board. Then write a target number between 1 and 100 on the board.

Using all five digits and any mathematical operations, create a mathematical expression that equals the target number.

Krypto Rules
1. You must use all 5 numbers.

2. You can use any mathematical operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division).

3. You can use parenthesis.

4. You can only have one equal sign in an equation.

When you have created an equation that uses all five numbers AND equals the target number, write it on the whiteboard. Since there's usually multiple ways to reach the target number, see if you can create more than one equation.

Here's an example showing two equations that use these digits and hit the target number:

digits: 5 7 4 3 8

target number: 20

solution A: (5 + 7 + 8) x (4 -3)
solution B: (8 – 3) x (7 - 4) + 5

Mancala

Mancala is a board game that dates back to the 6th century. The object of Mancala is to gather as many stones in your store as you can. The game board looks like an egg carton with two rows of small cups, with 4 stones in each cup. The large cups at the ends the board are the stores. Your store is the one on your right.

You can choose to play from any cup on your side of the board. When it's your turn, take all of the stones from a cup and drop them one by one in the next cups moving counterclockwise. You always move to the right toward your store.

If the last stone you drop lands in your store, you get another turn. Do not drop stones in your opponent's store. Just skip that space and keep going. If the last stone you drop lands in an empty cup on your side, then you capture that stone and all of the stones on your opponent's side in the cup across from it.

When the cups on one side of the board are empty, the game is over. All remaining stones go to the store of the person whose side they are on. Count the stones.
The player with the most stones wins!