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Publications and Tools for Education Why Picture Puzzles? Takena, shy and thoughtful, enters my class, stands before the cryptic cartoon on bulletin board, and stares. Moments later, a boisterous Trevor enters, pauses, then blurts, “Oh, I think I get it. . . No, wait. What’s the chicken about?” Soon Lemar comes in, and speaks under his breath to himself, “Those are right turns. Hold on, is that supposed to be a hat, or is that a duck?” Then, from the back of the room Takena’s quiet voice says, “I got it, and I’m not telling! Go figure it out on your own.” My students, now primed with a spirit of expectancy and playful competition, are ready to begin class. This scene typifies the beginning of a class when I open with visual word puzzles. Also known as rebus puzzles, these pictorial brain-teasers are probably older than the hieroglyphics. Students seem naturally drawn to these puzzles, eager to struggle over the translations, when other more traditional activities hold less interest. The use of visual word puzzles in the classroom can - · encourage creative problem solving · engage the interest of “hard to reach” students · integrate verbal skills with social studies content · introduce or review key concepts and vocabulary · challenge flexible thinking · encourage playful risk taking I discovered the magic of rebus puzzles when looking for new tricks to engage visual learners with whom other activities fell short. I knew from recent research (and from common sense) that students who enjoy learning learn better. I also knew that students do better in classrooms where individual learning styles are honored as strengths. Not surprisingly, I found that visual learners were unusually adept at solving the rebuses. The puzzles in this book are rich in content, and are aligned with learning outcomes from the Ohio Proficiency Test required for high school graduation. Students enjoy picture puzzles as they learn problem solving skills and reinforce concepts needed for passing required tests.
How to Use Picture Puzzles for Proficiency1. Use as an attention getter at the overhead projector for class openings 2. Post on the bulletin board as a “puzzle of the day” 3. Give to cooperative learning teams to “prime the pump” for creative problem solving activities 4. Use as mnemonic devices for remembering vocabulary 5. Reduce and duplicate for tests and handouts 6. Bring closure to lessons 7. Start students with #1 “The Star Spangled Banner” picture puzzle. Since students may already have memorized this song, the puzzle will be easier for them to solve.
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