Brain Break: Sudoku and KenKen Puzzles

We have been working SO hard to finish third quarter in Math Workshop.  With CGA 3 behind us and FCAT ahead, who needs a little brain break?  In December, I taught the students how to do Sudoku puzzles (we started with "light and easy" 4x4 puzzles).  These puzzles are excellent for developing logic skills, which are essential for critical thinking in problem solving (and they are fun!).

Light and Easy 4x4 Sukoku puzzle

 

Traditional 9x9 Sudoku puzzle

These addictive puzzles are great for rainy days and long rides!

This weekend, I discovered KenKen puzzles, which are related to Sudoku puzzles.   

Today I showed the students how these puzzles work.  There are also free KenKen apps (I use Ken Ken II).

As a math teacher, KenKen puzzles interest me because they are a fun way to practice basic fact operations.  Be forewarned, they are very addictive (there's a timer you can turn on or off), especially if you are competitive like me!  My best time on a 3x3 KenKen puzzle was 14 seconds.  Can you beat my time?  :-)