Sudoku Puzzles

Today in first grade we worked on sudoku puzzles. We did a couple together, and as they learned new strategies and formulated the logic in their minds, students were able to solve more pieces of them. A few children had done them before, but to most this was a new experience. There are still a couple puzzles that are in their packet that they can show you at home.

It is important to do puzzles like this in our STRETCH class. This is one way we are different than the neighborhood classes, because we do purposely teach thinking skills. Students practice using logic and making judgements based on certain givens. We talk out the problems and I emphasize that there is more than one way to solve the puzzles. Students are encouraged to explain their logic and method of reasoning.

Here are some links to basic beginner puzzles.
http://www.printactivities.com/Kid_Sudoku_Puzzles/Kid_Sudoku_Puzzles.html
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/sudoku_for_kids.htm