Tanglers

What is a Tangler? Many of the Tanglers are logic problems, and some are math word problems. Clues to the answer are on cards that are distributed to the group of 3–6 students. No one student has enough information to solve the puzzle alone. Students must share their information and work cooperatively to reach a solution. Cooperative problem-solving puzzles (complete with answers) require groups of 4–8 students to interpret and understand a sequence of written information—some of which is irrelevant. Some tanglers are fictional; others present interesting factual information about historical, geographical, or scientific content. You’ll have one lesson plan for presenting the tanglers and one to help students write their own. It’s a great way to integrate thinking skills into your content area. Your students will begin to write their own tanglers using content from grade level curriculum. Students will be eager to make use of their research skills to find the paradoxes that make good tanglers.