Puzzle-Based Learning
Puzzle-Based Learning
Mechanical Puzzles
Mechanical Puzzles
The creator of mechanical puzzles challenges the participant to apply principles (logic, math, science) and sometimes dexterity to solve a problem or series of problems through the manipulation of one or more physical mediums (metal, wood, rope, wire, etc.). Depending on the type & complexity of the puzzle -- the participant may be required to exercise several human powers: concentration & focus, determination & patience, motor skills, pattern recognition, spacial thinking, working memory, brainstorming, creative problem-solving, collaboration & social skills, resilience.
Curiosity Shoppe
Puzzle CollectionsCuriosity Shoppe
Curiosity Shoppe
'A First Look At' GuidesCuriosity Shoppe
Curiosity Shoppe
'The Research Behind' GuidesCuriosity Shoppe
Online Interactive Puzzles
Mechanical puzzles translated to digital formOnline Interactive Puzzles
Subcription site, but can play 4 levels of 18 games for free without registration (interactive)
A large collection of free puzzles -- coin, matchstick , and others (interactive)
Social Media Sites
Social Media Sites
Friends of CubicdissectionFacebookPublic Group
Puzzle Friends aka The Metagrobologist Community PageFacebookPublic Group
Nob Yoshigahara Puzzle Design Competition
Nob Yoshigara Puzzle Design Competition (wikipedia)Nob Yoshigahara Puzzle Design Competition
Compendium of Mechanical Puzzle Reviews
A listing of 'mechanical puzzle' reviews published on the Internet -- both print & video. This compilation focuses on reviews rather than 'full solves' (spoilers).This is an ongoing project which currently includes 425+ entries (of an estimated 2000).Compendium of Mechanical Puzzle Reviews
Puzzle Insight Video Festival
The videos included on the following slides are considered ‘spoilers’ since they include complete solutions to puzzles. It is an offense against the Puzzler Code to deprive puzzle lovers of the satisfaction & benefit of solving puzzles on their own. However, there are limited edition puzzles that are impossible to obtain except through auctions and at great cost. The ingenuity of such designs and the problem-solving insights of expert solvers of these puzzles can benefit the beginner & veteran alike.Puzzle Insight Video Festival
Playlist
Big 3 Key Puzzle LockCrown Iron Lock PuzzleKarakuri Antique Radio by Hiroshi IwaharaKarakuri Bad Radio by Akio KameiKarakuri Organize Crayons by Hideaki KawashimaBobLotus Puzzle by Wil StrijbosSMS Box by Brian YoungT11 by Rainer Popp
Animated solutions to interlocking puzzles presented in an artistic and geometrically insightful way.
Jigsaw Puzzles
Jigsaw Puzzles
The Curiosity Shoppe has very few traditional jigsaw puzzles in its collection primarily because of the length of time it takes to complete a puzzle and the high probability that K-6 age 'solvers' will lose pieces before they are solved. However, jigsaw puzzles have been a popular pastime for several generations and a hobby with a rich history and thriving community of designers/artists & woodcrafters. Below are links for further discovery and a look at the Curiosity's Shoppe's woefully incomplete representation of what the 'jigsaw community' has to offer.
Puzzle ParleyA biennial conference held since 1994 for puzzle collectors, cutters, and enthusiasts
Pagey Elliott Jigsaw Puzzle ExchangeSee extraordinary 'limited edition' puzzles exchanged at the Puzzle Parley conferences. These are all entries by puzzle cutters entered in the 'best of show' competition.
Pagey Elliott Jigsaw Puzzle ExchangeSee extraordinary 'limited edition' puzzles exchanged at the Puzzle Parley conferences. These are all entries by puzzle cutters entered in the 'best of show' competition.
Williams, A (2004). The jigsaw puzzle: Piecing together a history.
Father Time600 pieces17" x 54" includes a working clock mechanism
Truzzles are custom made. The purchaser selects the the 3D motif/pattern, shape of the pieces (squares or slats), the number of different piece colors (1-3 different species of wood), and the size (mini 5"x5" or large 7"x7").
A large single color slat-piece puzzle would be a difficult configuration requiring hours to complete. There are thousands of of variations of these puzzles/art-pieces that can be produced. Oh! Toys is the primary US 'Truzzle' reseller
A large single color slat-piece puzzle would be a difficult configuration requiring hours to complete. There are thousands of of variations of these puzzles/art-pieces that can be produced. Oh! Toys is the primary US 'Truzzle' reseller
Jigsaw 29Yuu Asaka
This is really a difficult 'Assembly (Packing)' puzzle. Oddly enough, this puzzle has ALL 'end' pieces - 5 of which are 'corner pieces! Note: This puzzle won a 'jury honorable mention' at International Puzzle Party 38.
This is really a difficult 'Assembly (Packing)' puzzle. Oddly enough, this puzzle has ALL 'end' pieces - 5 of which are 'corner pieces! Note: This puzzle won a 'jury honorable mention' at International Puzzle Party 38.
Jigsaw 19Yuu Asaka
A slightly less challenging 'Assembly (Packing)' puzzle than Jigsaw 29. Something strange is going on, all 19 pieces appear to be 'corner' pieces!
A slightly less challenging 'Assembly (Packing)' puzzle than Jigsaw 29. Something strange is going on, all 19 pieces appear to be 'corner' pieces!
'Mix-A-Million' is a series of boxed sets, each set including 10 different figures (7-piece puzzles) on a particular theme: birds, farm animals, people, pets, scary creatures. For example, "People" includes puzzles for 10 different occupations (e.g., businessman, chef, doctor, fireman, ninja, police) each made up of 7 pieces (head, chest, torso, left & right arm, left & right leg). The corresponding pieces for each of the 50 figures of the 5 sets are interchangeable so there are trillions of possible combinations. Available at Amazon, eBay, Walmart, etc.
Teachers: How could this be used in a classroom? Each figure's 7-pieces could be an engaging, tactile, visual way of teaching vocabulary. A 'head' piece might include a mouth, teeth, fangs, a nose, a beak, eyes, ears, hair, moustache, beard, whiskers, a hat, a mask, eye patch, etc. Because of the interchangeable heads, arms, legs, etc. from 50 different 'figures', they could provide creative writing prompts: e.g. an all-terrain Everglades swamp officer with alligator chest & torso and duck feet.
Teachers: How could this be used in a classroom? Each figure's 7-pieces could be an engaging, tactile, visual way of teaching vocabulary. A 'head' piece might include a mouth, teeth, fangs, a nose, a beak, eyes, ears, hair, moustache, beard, whiskers, a hat, a mask, eye patch, etc. Because of the interchangeable heads, arms, legs, etc. from 50 different 'figures', they could provide creative writing prompts: e.g. an all-terrain Everglades swamp officer with alligator chest & torso and duck feet.
Birds
Farm Animals
People
Pets
Scary Creatures
'Baffler' (series 1, 2, and 3) are jigsaw puzzles by Chris Yates which appear deceptively simple because of the low piece count. However the puzzle pieces are cut in odd ways with few straight edges and no images overlapping multiple pieces. They exercise one's shape recognition capabilities to the fullest.
Bindu Truss(Series 1)Chris YatesBrainwright
78 pieces, 7.5"x7.5"(4 of 7 rating)
78 pieces, 7.5"x7.5"(4 of 7 rating)
Kitchen Sink(Series 1)Chris YatesBrainwright
67 pieces, 7.5x7.5"(6.5 of 7 rating)
67 pieces, 7.5x7.5"(6.5 of 7 rating)
Nonagon(Series 1)Chris YatesBrainwright
67 pieces, 7.5"x7.5"(5 of 7 rating)
67 pieces, 7.5"x7.5"(5 of 7 rating)
Astronemer's Riddle Box(Series 3,Double Trouble)Brianwright
Chris Yates91 pieces, 8.5"x8.5"(5.5 of 7 rating)
Chris Yates91 pieces, 8.5"x8.5"(5.5 of 7 rating)
Confectioner's Delight(Series 3,Double Trouble)Brainwright
Chris Yates103 pieces, 8.5"x8.5"(5.5 of 7 rating)
Chris Yates103 pieces, 8.5"x8.5"(5.5 of 7 rating)
FlowerMandala(Series 3,Double Trouble)Brainwright
Chris Yates174 pieces, 8.5"x8.5"(7 of 7 rating)
Chris Yates174 pieces, 8.5"x8.5"(7 of 7 rating)
Escape Rooms
Board GamesEscape Rooms
Unlock!The Adventures of OzPUbl. by Asmodee(Secret Adventures)
Unlock! FormulaPubl. by Asmodee(Escape Adventures)
Unlock!House on the HillPubl. by Asmodee(Mystery Adventures)
Unlock!Island of Dr. GoorsePubl. by Asmodee(Escape Adventures)
Unlock!Nautilus' TrapsPubl. by Asmodee(Mystery Adventures)
Unlock!Squeek & SausagePubl. by Asmodee(Escape Adventures)
Unlock!Tonipal's TreasurePubl. by Asmodee(Mystery Adventures)
Doctor Esker's NotebookPlankton Games
Unsolved Case FilesWho Murdered Harmony Ashcroft
Escape the RoomStargazer's ManorThinkfun
Escape the RoomSecret of Dr. Gravely's RetreatThinkfun
Escape Room in a Box: The Werewolf ExperimentMattel
Interactive Puzzle Books
Interactive Puzzle Books
Jounal 29 Interactive Book Gameby Dimitris Chassapakis
The Librarian's Almanaqby Roy Laban
The Conjurer's Almanaqby Roy Leban & Emily Dietrich
Maze of Gamesby Mike Selinker
Beat Any Escape Room - 10 Proven Tricks and Tips (12m) - Mark Rober
Escape Room 101 - (17m) - Scott Nicholson
Puzzle Geocaching
using logic/math/word puzzles to encode GPS coordinatesusing puzzle-based caches to further challenge geocachersPuzzle Geocaching
Long, C. (2015). How to puzzle cache: Lessons, tips, tricks, and hints for solving geocache puzzles.
Geocaching.com (Eds.) (2012). Complete idiot's guide to geocaching (3rd ed.)
Cache Me If You Can!DPH Games
2-4 players, 30-120 mins.
A fun way to learn about the wide variety of challenges enjoyed by millions of geocache hobbiests.: caches, hazards, multi-caches, puzzle caches, Like real geocaching, there are plenty of surprises.
2-4 players, 30-120 mins.
A fun way to learn about the wide variety of challenges enjoyed by millions of geocache hobbiests.: caches, hazards, multi-caches, puzzle caches, Like real geocaching, there are plenty of surprises.
dog poo cache
Dasanti diversion water bottle/cache
rock cache
Hedgehogpuzzle cachecustome designed by Vasek Skopek (Czech Republic)
Ring Through Platepuzzle cachecustom designed by Vasek Skopek (Czech Republic)
The Learner's Permit
Resources to Create Specific Classifications of PuzzlesThe Learner's Permit
Creative Crafthouse
Ultimate Burr Seta kit which can be used to create over sixty 6-piece burr puzzles
Ultimate Burr Seta kit which can be used to create over sixty 6-piece burr puzzles
Myers Crafts
Puzzle Box kits - ranging from easy to complex
Puzzle Box kits - ranging from easy to complex
Wood Lock Plans
Kel Snake's 'etsy' shop of puzzle box plans and kits
Kel Snake's 'etsy' shop of puzzle box plans and kits
Houdini Brainteaser Game
a ThinkFun game with 40 different 'disentanglement' challenges
a ThinkFun game with 40 different 'disentanglement' challenges
Karakuri Group
Puzzle box 'work kits' from the esteemed Karakuri Creation Group. Guides are in Japanese only.
Puzzle box 'work kits' from the esteemed Karakuri Creation Group. Guides are in Japanese only.
Exploring Math Through Puzzles
a book by Wei Zhang with step-by-step instructions for creating over 50 puzzles
a book by Wei Zhang with step-by-step instructions for creating over 50 puzzles
The Puzzling World of Polyhedral Dissections
a book by Stewart Coffin subtitled 'Hundreds of 3-D Puzzles to Build and Solve. Here's the link to the 'out of print' online version
a book by Stewart Coffin subtitled 'Hundreds of 3-D Puzzles to Build and Solve. Here's the link to the 'out of print' online version
Wooden Puzzles: 20 Handmade Puzzles & Brain Teasers
a book by master woodworker Brian Menold with step-by-step instructions for creating 20 puzzles. See his amazing creations: WoodWonders
a book by master woodworker Brian Menold with step-by-step instructions for creating 20 puzzles. See his amazing creations: WoodWonders
The World's Best Paper Puzzles
a book by Jerry Slocum & Jack Botermans providing a brief history of puzzles and how to reproduce them
a book by Jerry Slocum & Jack Botermans providing a brief history of puzzles and how to reproduce them
The Learner's Permit
'Puzzle Box' Kits Available to Curiosity Shoppe 'Puzzle Box Specialists'The Learner's Permit
The Learner's Permit
Instructables.com Links to DIY Puzzle CreationThe Learner's Permit
The Learner's Permit
thingiverse.com Links to DIY Puzzle Creation: 3D-Printer FilesThe Learner's Permit
