Math is not just about numbers and problems. Math is more of a language that allows use to communicate ideas and test them. If math is the language than operations and numbers are word that we use in this language. Puzzles allow use to explore the bounds of our minds and explore challenges that are part of this language. There was a recent study of children between the ages of two and four that found that students who were frequent puzzle solvers were able to solve simple puzzles quicker and more accurately than those who were not. Puzzles lead to divergent thinking and help students make better sense of the world around them. Adults that regularly tackle puzzles have shown to have improved memory skills. Jigsaw puzzles have shown to help improve visual-spatial reasoning among the elderly. Studies have shown that keeping active with puzzles can delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Your students will practice their simple addition skills and review number words with the puzzles and games on these worksheets. Students will have fun as they complete crossword number puzzles, a number word search, and addition mazes (students must choose the numbers that add up to the given sum). There are also trail math activities that are super fun to work on as you try to determine the path of the integers or in this case sums. Students will practice simple mathematical skills to solve puzzles. Activities include crossword number puzzles, a number word search, and addition mazes.