Puzzle: Henry Dudeney’s Pebble Game

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
photo of girl playing with pebbles on the beach

English mathematician and puzzle-meister Henry Ernest Dudeney once wrote:

“It may be said generally that a game is a contest of skill for two or more persons, into which we enter either for amusement or to win a prize. A puzzle is something to be done or solved by the individual.

    “The example that I give here is apparently a game, but, as in every case one player may win if he only play correctly, it is in reality a puzzle. The interest, therefore, lies in attempting to discover the leading method of play.”

    Below is the puzzle game as Dudeney explained it.

    Play it for fun at first, then see if you can solve the puzzle.

    Continue reading Puzzle: Henry Dudeney’s Pebble Game

    Holiday Countdown Craft

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins
    photo of calendar and hourglass timer

    Marking time is hard for children (and often for us adults, as well).

    I don’t mean telling time, which has its own difficulties. But waiting, marking time until the Big Day or Important Event arrives.

    Whether you’re counting down the days to Christmas, or the hours until New Year’s Day, or waiting for a birthday or visit to Grandma — it’s never easy to sit idly during the interim.

    Holiday Countdown

    Holiday Countdown craft bookHere’s a fun little craft that can make the waiting easier, or at least make it easier to keep track of how much longer until the time is right.

    It’s a spinning time-piece for kids to decorate and put together (with a bit of adult help wielding a craft knife).

    Holiday Countdown is a 28-page printable file includes illustrated instructions, along with countdown timers for birthday, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve celebrations, plus blank timers you can adapt to any occasion.

    Buy Now

    Mandala Version, with Video Instructions

    The ever-creative Manja designed a mandala-coloring version of the countdown timer for New Year’s Eve. Read all about it (and find the download links) on her Hattifant blog.

     
    * * *

    Are you looking for more creative ways to play math with your kids? Check out all my books, printable activities, and cool mathy merch at Denise Gaskins’ Playful Math Store. Or join my email newsletter.

    This blog is reader-supported. If you’d like to help fund the blog on an on-going basis, then please join me on Patreon for mathy inspiration, tips, and an ever-growing archive of printable activities.

    “Holiday Countdown Craft” copyright © 2024 by Denise Gaskins. Image at the top of the post copyright © BrianAJackson / Depositphotos.

    Math Games for the Holidays

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins
    Snowman Drive math party game

    Are you looking for fun ways to keep your children busy (and learning!) through the holidays? Here are two printable activity guides you might enjoy:

    Snowman Drive

    Snowman Drive math game book(My newest game activity.)

    Players roll the dice and build their creative snowman (or snowbeast). Will you make a fearless pirate or a dapper aristocrat — or a high-scoring snow spider?

    A Snowman Drive is a family-friendly party that can also serve as a fundraiser for your church, homeschool group, or organization. The Drive consists of several rounds of the Snowman Game played on a single worksheet, with prizes for the top-scoring players and overall champion.

    This activity book includes game instructions and gameboard pages for single-family or group play.

    For ages 5 and up.

    * * *
    Download a PDF preview file.
    * * *
    FORMAT: 13-page printable PDF file with your choice of 8.5″×11″ (letter size) or A4 pages.

    Buy Now

    Christmas Tree Math Games

    Christmas Tree Math Games book(Number play on a triangular hundred chart.)

    Christmas Tree Math Games features 4 easy-to-learn games and 6 additional activities for primary and middle-grade students. All you need is a set of dice and a few colorful markers.

    Math games build mental flexibility and strategic reasoning in players of all ages. And even people who hated math in school can enjoy the friendly challenge of a game.

    These are NOT the typical memory-and-speed-based math games you’ve probably seen online, but true battles of wit and skill (plus a bit of luck).

    Perfect ice-breakers for family gatherings, classroom warmups, or for launching a group game night. You’ll be surprised how much fun thinking hard can be!

    Christmas Tree Math Games includes instructions and tips for the teacher, math game pages for handouts or learning centers, plus a variety of dot-grid journaling paper.

    For ages 6 and up.

    * * *
    Download a PDF preview file.
    * * *
    FORMAT: 30-page printable PDF file with your choice of 8.5″×11″ (letter size) or A4 pages.

    Buy Now

     
    * * *

    Are you looking for more creative ways to play math with your kids? Check out all my books, printable activities, and cool mathy merch at Denise Gaskins’ Playful Math Store. Or join my email newsletter.

    This blog is reader-supported. If you’d like to help fund the blog on an on-going basis, then please join me on Patreon for mathy inspiration, tips, and an ever-growing archive of printable activities.

    “Math Games for the Holidays” copyright © 2024 by Denise Gaskins. Image at the top of the post copyright © prarinya / Depositphotos.