How I use KenKen in my classroom.

[Polished Apple]

I just had to come on this forum and tell everyone how wonderful KenKen has been for both my students and myself.

I start my class off with a KenKen on the front board. As my students come into class I have them work on the puzzle quietly at their desks. After a few minutes I call a student to the board and have them fill in one of the blocks. I then ask the student to explain their decision-making processes to the class. After the student explains themselves they return to their seat and I invite another student to the board. This student then has the ability to change the previous student's work (if desired) and fill in another block.

This is a great way to get my 7th grades involved and focused at the beginning of class.

[christineeckerle]

I like this idea but I teach non-college math at the local community college. I have traditional 18 year old students along with non-traditional students returning to school for various reasons. I am thinking of using KenKen in my class to help them learn their math facts. Do you have any ideas? I was thinking of using them as an extra credit assignment that would be fun while learning their facts.

[Polished Apple]

Christineeckerle,

Giving out KenKen's for extra credit sounds like a great idea. The puzzles come in all sorts of difficulties so you could assign different puzzles according to their abilities.

Did you sign up for the classroom KenKen program? The program provides you with free puzzles to give out to your class.

[chardwood]

I teach elementary gifted students. We use Kenkens to warm up at the beginning of the class period. The simple puzzles sent out through the teacher's registration are great for my younger kids-first and second graders. The more advanced puzzles are good for the older students. For cages that have a large number that is attained by multiplication, having students factor that number out and think about the possible numbers that could be multiplied is a really good exercise. LOVE these puzzles! It is very good for teaching both math skills and logical reasoning.

[rbyrne6722]

I start my class off with a KenKen on the front board.

I like the shared approach to filling in the puzzle in front of the class. I'm going to try that!

Do your students receive a paper copy of the puzzle on the front board, or do they create their own copies? What puzzle size and difficulty do you use in 7th grade? How long do you allow for the students to complete the puzzle?

My 9th graders have about 5 minutes for warm-up exercises. I hand out easy to moderate 4x4's as they come in. The strong students race to be first and can complete it correctly within 5 minutes. Not all students can solve the puzzle in 5 minutes. Do you always display the solution? Have you time to discuss problem solving and the logic involved in completing a KenKen? I've got 50 minutes and need to teach algebra too, but KenKen engages more students than solving equations.

[lsergeant]

I too use KenKen as a daily brain warmer in my gifted elementary classroom. The children work on them individually or with a group. Group solving allows them to share how they think through a given problem. They love KenKen!

[mommiemookie]

I like to use Ken Ken in my classes. I first explained how to do Ken Ken early in the year. I now photocopy a puzzle or two on the back of an exam or quiz which keeps the students occupied ( those who finish the assignment early). All of the students get to take home the puzzles after I have graded the other problems.

[Quest]

I have the shape of a mountain on a bulletin board in my room (elementary level) with zones marked for 3x3, 4x4, 5x5, etc. A student who has successfully solved a puzzle may put a mountain climber on the zone corresponding to the difficulty level. It has served to get students to work on puzzles that are more challenging than they would normally tackle so that they can climb higher.

The competition is motivating, but it also shows that it takes hard work to get to the top.

[dorothyardill]

I give each child a KENKEN folder with puzzles. When students finish their other jobs and have free time, they can choose reading or KENKEN. In the right pocket are current puzzles. The left pocket has a sticker chart that shows how many puzzles have been completed. They are eligible for Friday prize box when they complete 10 puzzles. At the begining of the year, I use my docu-cam to show the students how to do a puzzle. I give them time to complete at least one.