Mindware

MindWare has a series of puzzles entitled "Venn Perplexors" among others that can be used to promote literacy at all ages. Here is the link to samples that can be viewed: http://www.mindwarewholesale.com/SamplePuzzles/SamplePuzzles.aspx This is not a free resource unfortunately. While the puzzles surround the concept of the Venn Diagram, they can be used multiple ways in the classroom. Some are simply fun and easy - see Level A/B for elementary samples. As you move up in level to expert, they become quite challenging. These puzzles can be used for bell work, differentiation, extra credit etc. The samples are slightly misleading since they do not offer the full range of puzzles. There are perplexors where they give you just words with the ovals around some of them and you determine that they are homophones, homographs and homonyms. There are also ones with just numbers and you determine what the ovals represent - could be prime numbers or another math concept. MindWare has provided an educational yet interesting and creative way to promote literacy and critical thinking in the classroom.