Mind-Stretchers

Updated April 11, 2002

This is a collection of sources for games, puzzles, and contests which encourage students to think in new or different ways. Some are cooperative projects; others are for individual use.

SETI - The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence at Home - Here's a site that's a challenge just to understand! Your PC can become part of an international listening project. This site offers information, a screen-saver, and software to become a part of the project. From the scientists at U.C.'s Berkeley campus.

Here Comes the Millennium - All Grades - TeachersFirst's own guide to resources for and about the millennium. We've selected these to help you show students where we've been and where we're going. There are starting points for history, science, and personal experience.

All Experts - Grades 6-12 With Supervision - Here's a site with offers "experts" in specific fields and issues, but use it with caution. The site includes some categories which probably aren't appropriate for younger children, and there seem to be no specific criteria for the volunteer "experts." Students interested in specific science or history topics should be able to get interesting information, but validity could be an issue. If in doubt, try a few queries yourself.

Anagram Generator - Grades 4-8 - This little site generates anagrams from words or lists of letters. It's a great starting point for word games and related activities.

Block Corner - Grades 4-8 - This one's confusing at first. With a little trial and error, though, students will discover that they can use simple programming commands to build their own tower of blocks. Great for experimentation.

Brain Binders - Grades 4 - 8 - This is a collection of instructions for puzzles involving paper folding. The site includes patterns which you can download and print.

Brain Teasers - Houghton Mifflin Co. - Math, gifted: grades 3+ - This site posts a weekly brain teaser for each of several levels. Bookmark it for your students to try, challenge advanced students with higher levels, or post the teasers as the Question of the Week, then check for the answers in a week. Archives allow you to find many past problems as well.

Brain Teasers from Pick Your Brain -

Bogus Birds - This is one of several Why Files presentations on scientific hoaxes. The nice touch is that the information is presented so that students need to check their critical thinking to see why there's a problem with this bird-lover's exhibits. A great challenge for thinking skills or a discussion of scientific research.

Chess for Kids - Grades 4-12 - Don't let the origins of this Thinkquest site fool you; this is a fully developed instructional site about chess from two students who have mastered the game. More importantly, they've been able to describe strategies and chess information in terms that are clear and understandable. There are levels for all abilities from beginner to expert. Well worth a visit.

ChessKids - Grades 4-12 - This site promotes chess, school chess clubs, and chess competitions. It offers free templates and other materials which can simplify running a chess club. There are instructional sections as well, but the focus is on getting students involved with the game.

ChessWise - Grades 4+ - Here's an entire site devoted to chess, from entry level to serious competitor. There's a whole range of tutorials and simulations, as well as links to some commercial products and services. Worth a look if you have students who are into chess, or if you're after a strategy game site.

Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors' Program - Grades 4-12 - The National Science Teachers' Association offers this competition for science students at various levels. The site offers entry information, resources, and examples. If you're looking for more than a simple science fair, check this one out.

CNBC Student Stock Tournament - Grades 6-12 - It's back! - This is a seasonal stock market simulation contest sponsored by CNBC. Students work in teams to create and manage a fictitious portfolio over several months. The contest has extensive teacher help, excellent documentation, and serious prizes. Worth a look for middle or high school business, economics, or special interest programs.

Cryptic Manor Puzzle Solvers - Grades 6-12 - Here's a collection of math puzzles, magic squares, and the like presented by the cryptographers at the National Security Agency. This is a nice collection of interactive math activities that require some real thought. These puzzles are surprisingly kid-friendly, though some of the screen interface is a little rough. Well worth a visit.

Did You Know - Grades 6-12 - This site offers a constantly changing, eclectic collection of information. While the content is grouped into several categories, the specific subjects can vary widely. However, there is surprising depth to the materials that are included, making the site a great place for "browsing" for an interesting report topic or classroom activity.

Dr. Matrix' Mind Games - Grades 6-12 - One of a number of "thinking games" sites, this one offers a selection of puzzles, along with explanations of their solutions. Review the material before using it, to be sure that the content fits for your students.

Droodles - Grades 4-8 - The Exploratorium offers a new twist on an old favorite. Droodles are a combination of a riddle and a doodle, and this site lets students solve the riddles and draw their own on-screen. Besides being fun, the site helps build memory, drawing, and thinking skills.

Educated Guess – Grades 6-12 - Students from around the world are coming together to compete against one another in a game that challenges students to make their best educated guesses about future events in the categories of politics, economics, and the natural world. Students examine Internet resources and then make decisions based upon what has already occurred and what the experts predict. Special Features include a resource guide for teachers. Games are separated by subject and the site is very colorful and easy to use!

Enchanted Mind Puzzles - Grades 4-8 - This collection of Java-based puzzles should be sufficient to challenge even the most devoted of your "puzzle people." There are computer-based versions of Mastermind, Rubik's cube, and nearly a dozen other thinking and reasoning games. Each offers its own set of logic and mathematical challenges. Great site for students who need an extra challenge.

The Enigma Device - Grades 6-12 - Here's a puzzle to challenge even the most adept word workers. This daily puzzle from WordZap lets players unscramble a phrase using letter substitution. It sounds simple, but the process is more complex than one might imagine. Great site for "out of the box" thinkers.

Etymologic - Grades 10-12 - Here's a challenge for even the best wordsmiths. Etymologic is a multiple choice quiz which asks players to determine the origin of a series of words. Many of these would challenge a well-read adult, so save this one for the students who really love this stuff! The quizzes are nicely designed and teach reams of information about the origins of words both common and rare.

EveryRule - We don't usually include metalists in TeachersFirst, but this one's too good to omit. The authors have collected sources for rules to hundreds of sports, playground, and board games. It doesn't include everything (we couldn't find dodgeball) but if you're looking for the rules, this is a good place to start.

Fallacies of Logic - Grades 6-12 - This student-created ThinkQuest site offers an introduction to rhetoric and logic, and includes a selection of quizzes and puzzles designed to illustrate logical fallacies. This is a great place to jump-start students' reasoning power and higher order thinking skills. The site also categorizes various fallacies, making it easier to discuss their application in "real world" settings like advertising and communication.

The "Farmer's Boat" Puzzle - Grades 4-8 - Here's a simple animated version of the classic puzzle involving the farmer who needs to move the grain, the chicken, and the fox across the river safely. See how quickly your students can figure out a solution that doesn't result in anyone getting eaten! Requires Flash.

FIRST Competition - Grades 4-12 - Created by inventor Dean Kamen, this competition encourages students in different age groups to team up and tackle challenges in robotics, physics, and engineering. The site offers detailed instructions as well as information on previous competitions - including some examples. If you have students who are serious competitors, this would be a great challenge.

Forgotten Inventors - Grades 5-8 - A few inventors become famous. Many are forgotten, though their inventions remain important. Here's a site that chronicles some of the forgotten creative minds that gave us inventions still in common use today. This is a good site for "inventor report" research.

GO! - Here's a Dutch site full of information about the deceptively simple oriental game. There are listings of competitions, rules, and all manner of resources for players. If you're a go fan, this site is for you.

Grand Illusions - Grades 6-12 - Here's a collection of surprisingly devlish illusions, mind-games, and other tricks to stump curious students. Most of these require little or no equipment, making them great for quick, indoor activities. If you have students who need an extra challenge, send them here.

The Grey Labyrinth - Grades 6-12 - Here's a collection of visually impressive math and logic brain-busters to challenge your class puzzlemasters. The collection changes from time to time, and the game-quality graphics make the site especially attractive to those who have grown up on video games.

Headbone.com - Grades 4-8 - Internet skills/all subjects - Teach the use of the Internet with activities in the Head Bone Derby. A teachers’ guide explains it all. An optional contest adds even more motivation. The site also includes a continuously changing set of games to play, mostly for kids’ entertainment, but safe and appropriate, according to the web site’s explanations.

History of the Horse - Grades 4-8 - Horse-lovers can be found at most grade levels, and this site from the International Museum of the Horse contains information on the roles that horses have played in work, war, and sport down through the centuries. It would make a great starting point for a research project, and the content could be used in a variety of social studies contexts.

How Stuff Works - Grades 4-8 - Here's a site that does what it says: provides explanations of how commonly encountered machines and devices work. There are diagrams, text, and whatever it takes to show a curious student what makes something tick. Great site for "kitchen science" projects, for getting budding inventors started, or to simply explain why things work the way they do.

Illusionworks - Grades 8-12 - Here's a site dedicated to explaining perceptual and optical illusions - pictures that your head and your eyes can't agree on! The explanations sometimes overwhelm, but the content is sufficiently visual that most students could understand the reasoning. In any case, the puzzles are fun.

Ingenious Inventions - Grades 8-12 -- Ever wonder who invented a can opener or where Levi’s originated? Look no further, this site chronicles The American Experience through famous inventions and their not-so-famous inventors. Ideal site for American History teachers looking for an interesting approach to understanding history. Plan a "famous inventors day" and have your students come dressed as their favorite inventor (or invention!).

The Invention Dimension - Take a look at M.I.T.'s ongoing exploration of inventors and their inventions. There's a new inventor featured each week, along with features, resources, and additional information on how inventing takes place. A "must-see" for the inquisitive at any level.

Internet Anagram Server - Grades 9-12 - Here's a site that has automated the creation and deciphering of those tricky anagrams. It's a lot faster than rearranging the Scrabble tiles, and a lot more fun to play with. A great place to send a student who's a great wordsmith and wants a challenge.

KidsPsych - Grades K-2 - There's more to this one than meets the eye. This site offers a set of interesting Flash games for children age 2 to 9, along with descriptions of how each game tests and develops logic or thinking skills. Early childhood or primary teachers may find them useful for "computer time." Parents can talk with their children while they play these games together.

The Last Word - Grades 4-12 - Here's a site which offers answers to imponderables such as, "Why is the ocean blue?" The site includes a search engine, a "Question of the week." and a list of questions and issues from past issues. The site is published by the British periodical New Science.

Virtual Math Manipulatives - Grades 3-12 - This is a collection of really elegant "virtual manipulatives" created with funding from the National Science Foundation. These manipulatives are Java applets, so they may take a minute to load on a dial-up connection. They provide students with a challenging online way to reinforce math concepts in many content areas.

Mindbreakers - Grades 6-12 - This is a puzzle and riddle collection from the Netherlands. It's less graphically elegant than some, but the challenges are still there.The Magic Cube - Solve the famous rotating cube puzzle using this Java simulation.

MENSA Workout - It's not an IQ test, but this Mensa challenge includes problems and questions designed to challenge thinkers at all levels.

Odyssey of the Mind - Interdisciplinary/gifted: K-12 - Odyssey of the Mind explains their international competitions for all levels, gives explanations and clarifications of this year’s contests, and links to state and local level contests. Use the contest for science/drama and many more disciplines.This program is renowned for excellent creative problem solving competitions. There is a cost for entering the competitions.

Othello Online - Here's a nice interactive implementation of the classic reversi game from a British "maths" site. This game is one that players of wide-ranging abilities can enjoy. See if you can beat the computer at this one!

Optical Illusions - Grades 4-12 - This little collection of optical illusions is nestled into another site, so the navigation can be a little confusing. For the persistent, though, there is a nice set of illusions, mostly foreground background reversals and the like. They're a good illustration of the odd relationship between the mind and the senses.

PuzzleMaker - Grades 4-12 - Here's every teacher's dream: a site that helps you make your own puzzles and word games. There is a selection of almost a dozen different formats, each of which can be customized to meet your specific needs. This one is a real find for the creative teacher who is pressed for time.

Puzzlequest - Grades 4-12 - This collection - part of an extensive site from Australia's Questacon museum - includes lots of optical illusions and deceptively simple puzzles designed to challenge perceptual abilities, logic, and higher-order thinking skills. It's a great place to send that student who's always ready for the next challenge.

Quia - Learning Activities - Teachers - This site lets teachers create web-based learning activities, quizzes and puzzles for their students. A selection of templates and pre-drawn utilities lets teachers adapt web interactivity to their individual content. There are also samples of activities created by other teachers. This one's really different, and it may be just what you need to motivate your students.

The Revolutionaries - The Tech Museum created this site to profile more than a dozen pioneers and leaders in high-technology industries. The interviews focus on the unorthodox ways in which many of these people learned and achieved success. Though some of the site's headlines would suggest otherwise, the overall result is a site which supports education and encourages innovation.

The Rube Goldberg Site - Grades 4-8 - This one's mostly for fun. A retrospective on Rube Goldberg's wacky inventions, this site includes examples of how present-day engineering students devise 20-step ways of accomplishing simple tasks. Good "idea site" for students getting used to invention and problem solving.

Sandlot Science - Grades 4-8 - In a nice combination of art and science, this site offers a collection of optical and spatial illusions suitable for a wide range of grades. More importantly, it include explanations of why the various illusions occur. Good site for the curious, or to illustrate optical and perceptual illusions.

Ted & Floppy's Games - Grades K-4 - We're not usually into teddybears, but this site uses a collection of undeniably cute critters to introduce a nice collection of math and logic games for the very young. Several of these are simple enough for primary students, yet challenging enough for older users. If you teach the young ones, try this. From a small company in New Zealand.

ThinkQuest - All subjects, Computer, Gifted: 7-12 - This site introduces and gives past winners of an international contest for student created web sites as end products of collaborative research and creative work by students in multiple locations. The site gives tips for creating web sites for those just starting out. Students age 12-19 work via the Internet and under the guidance of a coach to create original and high quality web pages on topics as varied as the Himalayas or a tutorial for the computer language C++. Use this contest as the ultimate technology based interactive teaching tool for interdisciplinary study or as the culmination of a major research project. Search the student-produced products for excellent teaching materials in your subject area. Also available is ThinkQuest Junior.

ThinkQuest Junior - All subjects, Computer, Gifted: gr. 4-6 - This site introduces the new junior version of ThinkQuest, an international contest for student created web sites as end products of collaborative research and creative work by students in multiple locations. The site gives tips for creating web sites for those just starting out. Students via the Internet and under the guidance of a coach to create original and high quality web pages on topics as varied as the Himalayas or a tutorial for the computer language C++. Use this contest as the ultimate technology based interactive teaching tool for interdisciplinary study or as the culmination of a major research project. Search the student-produced products for excellent teaching materials in your subject area. Watch after 1998 for student winners to be included in this site. The junior contest debuts in 1998.

ThinkQuest Finalists - Grades 4-12 - Looking for challenges for students who can't get enough. This collection of finalists' projects from the 1998 Thinkquest competition offers a wide range of content and other diversions for students of all ages. The site is a very mixed bag, but all the projects listed have already been selected as among the best student work. Turn 'em loose!

Tic Tac Toe in 3D - Grades 3-12 - This is a Java-enabled version of the classic 3D tic-tac-toe puzzle. The site plays against you, so there's a constant challenge. Winning requires the ability to think several steps ahead!

The Ultimate Puzzle Site - Grades 6-12 - Another Dutch site, with puzzles sorted by type, (with and without math). You may want to preview for level of difficulty to avoid student frustration.

Useless Knowledge - Grades 6-12 - While the title is probably a misnomer, this site offers a strangely captivating collection of trivia, factoids, and other information served up in a way that keeps users asking for more. There are daily word and fact selections, as well as quizzes and other games to challenge students' knowledge of off-beat facts. Great site for energetic brains, or well-read students who want to show how much they know.

Virtual Fish Tank - Grades 4-8 - This one's a cross between education and entertainment, but the business of furnishing your own fish tank lets students pick fish based on a series of environmental conditions, then see how the various fish interact with one another. You'll need the Flash plug-in, but the content is great.

What's in a Logo? - Computer Education - Grades 6-8 - Here's a one-week unit that lets middle schoolers decide what makes a good logo, then create their own logo and advertising campaign for a product of their choice.

Wognum Art’s brainteaser on-line puzzle (Sweden) Gifted: gr 3+ - This visual thinking puzzle becomes increasing difficult, but gives hints when your students get stuck. More puzzles are to be added. Great as a "filler"on your classroom computer or springboard for student-created puzzles.

Word WhirlWind - Scramble the on-screen words, then rearrange them to make poetry, phrases, etc. Great for creative brainstorming.

Your Genes - Your Choices - Grades 6-12  - The American Association for the Advancement of Science offers this site to introduce some of the issues raised by genetic research. Based on issues raised by the Human Genome Project, the site offers a set of "what if..." case studies designed to start discussions of issues related to genetic research. What can genetic testing reveal? Who should know the information? Does the fact that we can clone an animal mean that we should? Lots of great discussion starters here, along with sound scientific explanations.

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