I LOVE the Tarsia puzzle software from Hermitech Laboratory. Puzzle designs range from having 16 to 24 pieces and anywhere from 15 to 30 different equations. The software has a great equation editor so it’s really easy to type in math expressions. I usually have students work in pairs to complete the puzzles and they must do all their work on a piece of paper to pass in along with the finished puzzle. Sometimes I shrink the puzzle pieces so that the finished puzzle can be taped to an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper, other times I give them poster board.
I have used Tarsia puzzles to have students practice:
- Solving equations
- Solving inequalities
- Multiplying binomials
- Factoring trinomials
- Solving quadratic equations by factoring
- Properties of Exponents
Solving Equations
Solving Quadratics by Factoring:
Growing Exponentially 