problem solving for year 7

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Year 7 New Starter Investigations and Activities

This list contains a number of  mathematical investigations, practical problems and problem solving activities appropriate for use to assess  new year seven students' mathematical capabilities and to provide a stimulating start to their mathematical experience at secondary school.

GAIM Activities: Investigations

Quality Assured Category: Mathematics Publisher: Nelson Thornes

40 open-ended investigations encouraging students to apply and extend their mathematical knowledge.

I particulary like investigation:

9 consecutive sums in which students have to add consecutive numbers to make as many different results as possible. It is interesting to see whether students ask whether zero and negative numbers can be used. What happens if the answer is yes? Extend the investigation to ask what happens if consecutive even numbers are used? What happens if consecutive odd numbers are used? 

8 Polyominoes  There are lots of investigations that can be done using tetrominoes. Find some here http://stem.org.uk/rx7vc  , http://stem.org.uk/rx98h  , http://stem.org.uk/rx9r2

12 number chains  in which students explore the number chain produced when students produce the next number in the chain by taking halve the number if it is even or by adding 1 if it is odd. The investigation can be extended by asking students to think of their own rules.

I have described just three, there are many more to choose from.

GAIM Activities: Practical Problems

40 practical mathematics activities encouraging students to apply their mathematical knowledge to real-life situations.

I particularly like activity

22 School Holidays  in which students plan when the school holiodays should be next year given the condition that they have to be at school for 190 days.

37 Reaction Times which is a good practical activity to get students moving around the classroom and meeting their class mates.

38 Painting a classroom : an activity to encourage students to work in groups.

These are just three, there are many activities to choose from.

SMILE Cards

Quality Assured Collection Category: Mathematics Publisher: SMILE

The SMILE Cards contain thousands of activities, games and practical activities for students of all abilities. Spend a little time browsing.

Shape Activities for Students Aged 11-13

Quality Assured Category: Mathematics Publisher: BEAM Education

A selection of resources, published by BEAM, for teachers of mathematics. They include challenging problems and puzzles, open-ended investigations, cross-curricular activities and resources to practise and consolidate students' mathematical understanding.

Good ideas for Probability

Quality Assured Category: Mathematics Publisher: Polygon Resources

A number of practical activities to investigate probability. I like:

21- dice (page 8 of the pdf) a practical activity in which students generate data by comparing the outcomes from rolling different dice.

Horse Race  (page 4 of the pdf) in which two dice are rolled to produce a horde race. What happens if the activity id extended to using the difference between the dice instead of the sum?

Snap in which students record the instances of snap and no snap when cards from a variety of packs of cards are used.

Bowland Maths: Assessment Tasks

Quality Assured Collection Category: Mathematics Publisher: Bowland Charitable Trust

Bowland Maths includes over thirty tasks designed to help assess students’ achievements and progression against key processes. To help with this assessment, each task contains sample work, and a 'progression table' showing how students’ work on the task can provide evidence of their progress with the four key processes: representing, analysing, communicating and reflecting.

These materials are also ideal for formative assessment that concentrates on providing the types of rich feedback that have been proven to help students improve their reasoning

Resourceaholic

Ideas and resources for teaching secondary school mathematics

• Blog Archive

30 August 2018

Year 7 maths activities.

8 comments:

I can't tell you how many times you've posted a set of resources which are exactly what I need for the following week :D Also a great reminder of the awesome Colin Foster's activities. Thanks for all the hard work you put in - it's very much appreciated!

Thank you! I'm so pleased it's helpful.

Thank you :-)

These are great! The link to the number mazes task appears to be broken however. Any idea where I could find an alternative copy of these?

Hi. Frustratingly, it looks like all of Erich Friedman's puzzles have now been removed from the Stetson website, so I will remove this activity from the blog post. But if you still want to use them, I did download some (but not all) last year: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mV1s6550uQacr1IMqRMLeM5_F2Btw9xm/view?usp=sharing

Hi Jo! Just FYI, Erich Friedman's puzzles are now available again at his github site: https://erich-friedman.github.io/ Also, for future cases of dead links, it's worth knowing about the Wayback Machine at the internet archive: https://archive.org/ You can find snapshots of websites in their past forms there, even after links go broken.

If you would like something a bit different for Year 7 to consolidate multiplication why not check out my workshop on the slide rule presented at #mathsconf26 (at 13:56mins to 23:31mins). https://completemaths.com/mathsconf/26. They'll learn something about the slide rule and practise multiplication at the same time. Does require them to be able to fold paper in half accurately! I know you love the slide rule. Thank you for another great Gems post. Jenny

Year 7 Algebra Worksheets Pdf

This page offers free Year 7 Algebra Worksheets Pdf with answer keys attached on page two. Educators and parents as well as students will find it easy to print and test their year 7 algebra skills here.

Expansions factorisations

Expansions factorisations printable math worksheet

Print here >

Linear equations

Linear equations printable math worksheet

Logs printable math worksheet

Order of operations

Order of operations printable math worksheet

Quadratic formular

Quadratic formular printable math worksheet

Remainder theorem

Remainder theorem printable math worksheet

Simultaneous equations

Simultaneous equations printable math worksheet

Subject of formula

Subject of formula printable math worksheet

Financial arithmetic

Financial arithmetic printable math worksheet

Converting decimals to fractions

Converting decimals to fractions printable math worksheet

Converting fractions to decimals

Converting fractions to decimals printable math worksheet

Converting fractions to percents

Converting fractions to percents printable math worksheet

Converting percentage to decimals

Converting percentage to decimals printable math worksheet

Decimal addition

Decimal addition printable math worksheet

Decimal division

Decimal division printable math worksheet

Decimals multiplication

Decimals multiplication printable math worksheet

Decimals subtraction

Decimals subtraction printable math worksheet

Pre algebra adition decimals

Pre algebra adition decimals printable math worksheet

Pre algebra adition decimals 3

Pre algebra adition decimals 3 printable math worksheet

Pre algebra adition decimals2

Pre algebra adition decimals2 printable math worksheet

Adding fractions

Adding fractions printable math worksheet

Equivalent fractions

Equivalent fractions printable math worksheet

Fractions addition

Fractions addition printable math worksheet

Fractions multiplication

Fractions multiplication printable math worksheet

Fractions simplification

Fractions simplification printable math worksheet

Fractions subtraction

Fractions subtraction printable math worksheet

Impropper fraction comparisons

Impropper fraction comparisons printable math worksheet

Circumference area

Circumference area printable math worksheet

Complementary supplementary angles

Complementary supplementary angles printable math worksheet

L shapes perimeter area

L shapes perimeter area printable math worksheet

Perimeter area of squares

Perimeter area of squares printable math worksheet

Surface area of complex figures

Surface area of complex figures printable math worksheet

Triangle perimeter area

Triangle perimeter area printable math worksheet

Volume of cylinder

Volume of cylinder printable math worksheet

Linear inequalities

Linear inequalities printable math worksheet

Absolute values

Absolute values printable math worksheet

Add divide multiply intergers

Add divide multiply intergers printable math worksheet

Adding integers

Adding integers printable math worksheet

Comparisons

Comparisons printable math worksheet

Integer equations

Integer equations printable math worksheet

Ordering intergers

Ordering intergers printable math worksheet

Cm mm scale

Cm mm scale printable math worksheet

Metric system converting scales

Metric system converting scales printable math worksheet

Us metric system

Us metric system printable math worksheet

Decimal number patterns

Decimal number patterns printable math worksheet

Mixed decimal number patterns

Mixed decimal number patterns printable math worksheet

Mixed decimal number patterns2

Mixed decimal number patterns2 printable math worksheet

Mixed patterns

Mixed patterns printable math worksheet

Number patterns

Number patterns printable math worksheet

Number patterns higher

Number patterns higher printable math worksheet

Greatest common factor

Greatest common factor printable math worksheet

Least common multiple

Least common multiple printable math worksheet

Number system

Number system printable math worksheet

Percents of numbers

Percents of numbers printable math worksheet

Ratio percent decimals fractions convertions

Ratio percent decimals fractions convertions printable math worksheet

Ratios printable math worksheet

Powers printable math worksheet

Powers exponents

Powers exponents printable math worksheet

Scientific notation 2

Scientific notation 2 printable math worksheet

Scientific notation 3

Scientific notation 3 printable math worksheet

Scientific notation 1

Scientific notation 1 printable math worksheet

Square roots

Square roots printable math worksheet

Number problems

Number problems printable math worksheet

Pre algebra adition

Pre algebra adition printable math worksheet

Pre algebra division decimals

Pre algebra division decimals printable math worksheet

Pre algebra multiplication addition

Pre algebra multiplication addition printable math worksheet

Pre algebra subtraction 1

Pre algebra subtraction 1 printable math worksheet

Probability

Probability printable math worksheet

Sets printable math worksheet

Triangle sides pythagorean theoream 6

Triangle sides pythagorean theoream 6 printable math worksheet

Triangle sides pythagorean theorem 1

Triangle sides pythagorean theorem 1 printable math worksheet

Triangle sides pythagorean theorem 2

Triangle sides pythagorean theorem 2 printable math worksheet

Triangle sides pythagorean theorem 3

Triangle sides pythagorean theorem 3 printable math worksheet

Triangle sides pythagorean theorem 4

Triangle sides pythagorean theorem 4 printable math worksheet

Triangle sides pythagorean theorem 5

Triangle sides pythagorean theorem 5 printable math worksheet

Triangle sides pythagorean theorem 7

Triangle sides pythagorean theorem 7 printable math worksheet

Percents and ratios

Percents and ratios printable math worksheet

Coordinate geometry

Coordinate geometry printable math worksheet

Coordinates 1

Coordinates 1 printable math worksheet

Coordinates 2

Coordinates 2 printable math worksheet

Coordinates 3

Coordinates 3 printable math worksheet

Data on graph

Data on graph printable math worksheet

Graphing linear equations

Graphing linear equations printable math worksheet

Graphs locate in x y

Graphs locate in x y printable math worksheet

Ploting graphs

Ploting graphs printable math worksheet

Table of data 1

Table of data 1 printable math worksheet

Table of data 2

Table of data 2 printable math worksheet

Table of data 3

Table of data 3 printable math worksheet

Year 7 Algebra Printables

As a student in year 7, you should be prepared to work on algebra topics. The subject is not too difficult, but it can be a bit difficult for some students. Here are some worksheets for your year 7 maths students. These will include learning how to graph points, compute slopes, complete function tables, solve quadratic equations and more. Herein are some worksheets to help you along the way. The thunbnails will give you a preview of what is inside. (Click on the links above)

There are many types of algebra practice sheets for year seven students. The KS3 level contains questions on solving equations, expanding brackets, finding x-intercept, and simplifying expressions. Other algebra practice sheets are helpful in assessing students' knowledge of the subject. They will help them become more confident when dealing with mathematical problems. These worksheets are a great way to improve their knowledge and improve their grades.

You can also find a large number of introductory algebra problems. For example, you might want to practice the Riemann sum and product of roots. There are also worksheets on the TI-83 graphing calculator. You might also want to practice completing the square or solving rational equations. There are many resources online that can help you with algebraic problem solving. You can also find worksheets for solving quadratic equations and more.

Using these worksheets is a great way to ensure your child knows what they are learning and is able to apply it in real life. There are a variety of printable versions of these worksheets for grade seven students. You can also find a worksheet for finding the dimensions of geometric shapes. If you are a teacher, you should use these resources to support your teaching. It is a good idea to try out these test sheets with your students.

You can find these worksheets from many different websites. You can find them online, and you can find free examples of them in a textbook. You can find many examples of these worksheets by searching the web. If you are a student, these worksheets are especially helpful for your math lessons. You can practice with these worksheets and test your knowledge of math ahead of any exam.

There are several free worksheets for year 7 students to help you learn about different aspects of algebra. You can also download a math teaser book to help you get started. You can also download a free ebook for the Year 7 Algebra course. A student can find the worksheets that they need to learn about the subject in various ways.

There are worksheets for adding and subtracting integers, multiplication and division of fractions, and evaluating exponents. You can also find algebraic identity worksheets, which will help you identify complex expressions. All these worksheets are free and easy to use. The maths games you can find on math4children.com will help you master the subject and get the most out of it. This is also a great time for your students to learn more about the subject they have just completed in a fun way.

These worksheets are available in a variety of formats. For instance, you can download a version which prints with low ink usage. Take out your calculator, roll up your sleeves, and start practicing algebra skills you just learned.

After using these worksheets, please reach out to us with any feedback and suggestions. We also plan to expand different sections of our website and you are always welcome to chip in your idea. 

We offer PDF printables in the highest quality.

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Access the materials by looking at topics - Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Geometry, Trigonometry, algebra, Decimals, Division and more.

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Year levels.

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Expected level of development

Australian Curriculum Mathematics V9 : AC9M7M04 and AC9M7M05

Numeracy Progression : Understanding geometric properties: P6

At this level, students identify corresponding, alternate and co-interior angles on parallel lines crossed by a transversal (a line that intersects two or more parallel lines). They apply this learning to geometrically prove that interior angles of a triangle sum to 180, and then extrapolate to all convex polygons.

It is important for students to construct parallel lines using a protractor and ruler, providing an opportunity for them to understand what it means for lines to ‘point in the same direction’. Students should know that parallel lines never intersect. This is where the concept of a transversal can be introduced, with students discovering that the angles formed at each line will always be identical. It is crucial students see that this concept is the nature of parallel lines. Ask questions so that they can explain ‘why’, using their new knowledge.

Constructing perpendicular lines with compasses is an excellent independent activity for students. ‘Who can figure out a method to construct two perfectly perpendicular lines without a protractor?’ For context and engagement, students could first learn how Ancient Greeks made mathematical discoveries using only a compass and straight-edge, without the measuring tools we have today. The activity can conclude by cementing the fact that perpendicular angles always intersect at a right angle.

Introduce students to formal geometric proof, investigating the interior angle sum of a triangle, with a focus on the reasons why it is true. Discuss what is important as justification. Connect the interior angle proof for triangles to other polygons. With concrete materials students can construct a range of polygons using only triangles and record the number of triangles it takes to construct polygons with varying numbers of sides. Conclude the reasoning by stating the angle sum formula for all convex polygons.

Diagrams are vital to help students recognise corresponding, alternate, and co-interior angles. Presenting examples of parallel lines drawn at different orientations ensures students can recognise these angles in a range of contexts. To support understanding, it is recommended that students learn via hands-on activities such as measuring angles or using dynamic geometry software.

Highlight the value of logical and consistent labelling when constructing or working with diagrams involving angles and lines to help solve or model problems. Practise naming angles and segments from labelled diagrams as well as labelling diagrams themselves. Using the correct symbols and notation should be regarded as essential to correctly solving problems.

Teaching and learning summary:

• Identify and classify angles as corresponding, alternate or co-interior on parallel lines crossed by a transversal.
• Construct parallel and perpendicular lines using their properties, compasses, protractors, and a ruler, or geometry software.
• Connect and build on students’ prior knowledge of angles and related areas.
• Develop students’ vocabulary of terms relating to angles and geometry.
• Label and interpret diagrams involving lines and angles and use mathematical notation to name different elements.
• Challenge students to use their vocabulary and notation when solving problems or providing justification for a solution.
• Recognise the conditions for lines to be parallel and perpendicular.
• Demonstrate how to construct angles, parallel lines and perpendicular lines.
• Prove the interior angle sum for triangles using parallel lines and alternate angles. Expand this theorem to polygons in general.

• recognise and classify angles according to their properties
• understand and use the correct vocabulary and notation associated with geometry
• solve problems using the properties of angles, parallel lines and the interior angle sum
• explain and justify their solutions with correct notation and vocabulary
• recognise lines as parallel and perpendicular
• construct angles and parallel lines using compasses and a ruler
• use dynamic geometry software to construct angles and shapes.

Some students may:

• have difficulty distinguishing between corresponding and co-interior angles as they are both on the same side of the transversal. Memory tricks and plenty of practice are vital
• have difficulty identifying parallel lines when they are drawn at orientations other than vertical or horizontal or accepting that lines are parallel if they are labelled with arrows but don’t look perfectly aligned
• be overwhelmed with the new notation, vocabulary, and naming conventions
• experience difficulties determining what constitutes adequate reasoning when writing a proof
• confuse the upper and lower scales when measuring angles using a 180°-degree protractor
• associate 360 as being ‘full’ or ‘complete’ and think that the angle sum is always 360.

To help with these challenges, create interesting rules like 'corresponding angles make an F shape' or 'co-interior angles make a C shape'. Ensure students confirm that the lines are parallel before identifying angles as corresponding, co-interior or alternate and reinforce that the relationships only apply in this case.

The Learning from home activities are designed to be used flexibly by teachers, parents and carers, as well as the students themselves. They can be used in a number of ways including to consolidate and extend learning done at school or for home schooling.

Learning intention

• I can identify and determine the purpose of parallel and perpendicular lines in our physical world.
• I can prove the interior angle sum for a triangle.
• I will understand and use the correct vocabulary and notation associated with geometry.

Why are we learning about this?

No matter where you look you are bound to find parallel and perpendicular lines. We use their properties to make our buildings strong and sport fields fair. Understanding these properties, and the angles they form, means we can harness their power too.

Grab your camera and free up some storage, we’ve got lots of photos to take!

• Find as many examples of parallel and perpendicular lines as you can around your home, garden, or neighbourhood.
• Snap a photo of each.
• Once you’re happy with the album you’ve put together, find a pen and paper, or your laptop.
• For each photo try and explain why the parallel or perpendicular lines are present there, and what value they provide. For example, why is your phone screen framed by two sets of parallel lines, one set perpendicular to the other? Yes, you’re right, they make a rectangle. But why is that a good choice for a phone screen? Why not have slanted sides?

• By adding only a single line to this diagram that creates a pair of parallel lines, can you prove that all angles in a triangle must add up to 180°.
• To achieve this, you will need to carefully label the angles so you can refer to them in your reasoning.
• Ask yourself, does the proof I’ve provided have adequate reasons to justify it? Hint: can you connect a set of angles that form a straight angle with the angles inside the triangle?

Success criteria

• I can identify parallel and perpendicular.
• I recognise the conditions for lines to be parallel and perpendicular and describe why they are valuable in our world.
• I understand and use the correct vocabulary and notation associated with geometry.

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Teaching strategies.

A collection of evidence-based teaching strategies applicable to this topic. Note we have not included an exhaustive list and acknowledge that some strategies such as differentiation apply to all topics. The selected teaching strategies are suggested as particularly relevant, however you may decide to include other strategies as well. 

Worked examples

A worked example is not just a pre-worked question that is given to the students. There are several types of worked examples and ways of using them.

Concrete, Representational, Abstract (CRA)

The CRA model is a three-phased approach where students move from concrete or virtual manipulatives, to making visual representations and on to using symbolic notation.

Explicit teaching

Explicit teaching is about making the learning intentions and success criteria clear, with the teacher using examples and working though problems, setting relevant learning tasks and checking student understanding and providing feedback.

Mathematics investigation

By giving students meaningful problems to solve they are engaged and can apply their learning, thereby deepening their understanding.

Teaching resources

A range of resources to support you to build your student's understanding of these concepts, their skills and procedures. The resources incorporate a variety of teaching strategies.

Angles and parallel lines

In this lesson, students will engage in various activities to explore angles between parallel lines in a navigational context.

Parallel lines and angle sum of a triangle

This resource focuses on drawing representations of solid objects and gives detailed explanations of the curriculum content, with worked examples and assessment questions.

Introduction to plane geometry

This module is for teachers who wish to consolidate their content knowledge on the topic of two-dimensional geometry.

Alternate interior angles

First of a series of lessons that explore angles and parallel lines using dynamic geometry.

Parallel lines & related angles

This resource contains multiple activities that demonstrate the properties of angles and parallel lines together with assessment.

Relevant assessment tasks and advice related to this topic.

By the end of Year 7, students can apply knowledge of angle relationships and the sum of angles in a triangle to solve problems and apply this to other shapes and the size of unknown angles. Students can explain their thinking and reasons.

Parallel lines and the angles in a triangle

In this activity students find the missing angle in a triangle and identify angles on parallel lines.

Alternate interior angles assessment activity

In this activity students identify and find the size of alternate angles.

Supplementary angles

In this activity students are shown what constitutes a supplementary angle and answer a series of questions to demonstrate their understanding.

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Year 7 Mastery - Selecting the Most Appropriate Method (Addition and Subtraction Problems)

Subject: Mathematics

Age range: 11-14

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

6 January 2020

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Worksheet on how to select the appropriate method to solve a variety of problems. The final half page of problems are more challenging. Answers included too.

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Multiplication and Division KS1

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More From Forbes

How wordle and other games can improve your leadership skills.

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By Dominique Harroch

Research suggests that word games and puzzles have measurable cognitive benefits.

Are you one of the millions of people who start or end their day with brain teasers or puzzles? It turns out this is a fantastic way to help you become a great leader. In today's fast-paced business world, the qualities that define strong leaders and successful entrepreneurs extend beyond traditional skills and knowledge. The ability to think critically, solve complex problems, and remain mentally agile are just as crucial—and these are precisely the skills honed through the daily practice of solving puzzles like The New York Times’ Wordle, Connections, Crossword, and Spelling Bee games.

While hundreds of thousands (and in the case of Wordle, millions) of people enjoy playing these games every day, they are not just a source of entertainment. They are also powerful tools for sharpening the mind, enhancing strategic thinking, and fostering the persistence and creativity necessary for leadership and entrepreneurial success.

8 ways games help strengthen your leadership skills

Engaging in these very popular word puzzles can be a daily exercise in developing the cognitive and problem-solving skills that are essential for anyone looking to lead or innovate in their field. Here’s how these games hone qualities essential for entrepreneurs.

1. They teach you to gather information to make an informed decision

In a business environment, just as in the game Wordle, solutions can be right in front of you, hidden in plain sight. Wordle is a popular daily word puzzle where players have six attempts to guess a five-letter word. Players use feedback clues to refine their choices and work towards identifying the correct word. Wordle combines elements of logic, deduction, and vocabulary skills.

These brain game puzzles teach you to pay attention to clues, a skill that is invaluable in managing teams, projects, and even crises. Just as you must use deductive reasoning based on the letters you’ve chosen in order to determine the correct word, leaders must analyze the data, feedback, and environment around them to make informed decisions. In the Wordle game, sometimes you have the right letter in the wrong space. As a leader, you may have great team members who are in the wrong role or simply do not belong in your organization. Recognizing these relationships in the big picture are important to a successful team.

2. They challenge you to take a different perspective–and a break, if necessary

The Spelling Bee game from The New York Times challenges players to create as many words as possible from a set of seven letters. The game gives you the option to scramble the letters to see them from different perspectives.

Finding all the possible words in a Spelling Bee puzzle can be time-consuming and frustrating, much like solving a real-world business problem. The game reinforces the importance of persistence, teaching leaders that the best solutions usually require time and repeated effort.

Often, the most obvious words aren't immediately visible. You can shuffle the letters, rearranging your perspective, and suddenly, what was seemingly hidden comes into view. This is akin to problem-solving in leadership. When faced with a challenge, the first solution isn't always the best or most creative. By taking a step back and "scrambling" your approach, you can often find innovative solutions that weren’t initially apparent.

Sometimes, you just need a break. By waiting a few hours and revisiting the puzzle, words and solutions become obvious. In business, too, you may just need some time in between the issue and the solution. How often does a new idea come to you in the shower or the middle of the night? New perspectives can help you solve problems that may seem overwhelming at first.

3. They force you to focus on the important things and avoid distraction

In puzzles, just as in leadership, solutions aren't always clear at first. Wordle, for instance, involves a process of elimination—removing wrong guesses to hone in on the right word. Similarly, effective leaders must sift through data, discard irrelevant information, and focus on what truly matters. This process sharpens your ability to discern patterns, understand relationships, and make better decisions. Like playing a game, leading a business to success requires leaders to eliminate distraction and focus on key goals.

4. They encourage creative problem-solving

The New York Times game Connections challenges players to find relationships between seemingly unrelated words. In this game, players are presented with a grid of 16 words, and their task is to group the words into sets of four based on shared themes or connections. The connections can be straightforward or subtle, requiring players to think critically and draw associations that aren't immediately obvious.

The Connections game forces you to think about relationships between ideas, words, and thoughts in new ways. This mirrors the creative and strategic thinking required in leadership. Leaders must be able to connect seemingly disparate ideas, identify underlying patterns, and communicate these connections to inspire and guide their teams.

More from AllBusiness :

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5. They push you to be more time-efficient

The Mini crossword offered by the The New York Times , unlike the other puzzles, has a timer on it and challenges solvers to complete the puzzle in under 45 seconds. Speed matters in many work environments, so training your brain to work on clues quickly is as valuable as making space for thinking through solutions over a longer period of time.

These exercises also foster adaptability and the capacity to approach problems from various angles while doing so in as efficient a way as possible. Leaders who engage in regular mental exercises like Wordle, Spelling Bee or Connections are often better equipped to handle uncertainty, adapt to changing circumstances, and think on their feet.

6. They introduce new vocabulary words

Crossword puzzles often contain a wide range of vocabulary, subjects, and ideas challenging individuals to expand their mastery of all of these areas. A strong vocabulary provides leaders with the ability to communicate more effectively in both written and verbal forms.

In the business world, clear and concise communication is essential when pitching new business ideas, building a strong team, and resolving conflicts. By consistently solving crossword puzzles, individuals can improve their vocabulary and enhance their communication skills, leading to better problem-solving outcomes.

7. They have measurable cognitive benefits

There is scientific evidence supporting the value of puzzles and brain games for enhancing cognitive abilities, which can be particularly beneficial for leadership and business performance. For instance, a study published in PLOS ONE in 2022 found that brain training games significantly improved executive functions, working memory, and processing speed in healthy young adults. These cognitive skills are crucial for leaders who need to make quick decisions, adapt to new situations, and manage complex tasks efficiently​.

Another study published in Heliyon in 2023 highlighted that puzzle games can significantly enhance memory and concentration levels in older adults, bringing their cognitive performance on par with younger individuals. This research supports the idea that regular engagement with brain games can maintain and even improve cognitive flexibility, a key attribute for effective leadership in dynamic environments​.

An article in Psychology Today discusses how games, including crosswords, Sudoku, and logic puzzles, engage both imaginative association and memory and have long been suggested as a way to exercise the brain. These cognitive processes are essential for leaders, as they enhance the ability to see patterns, solve complex problems, and think outside the box. The article suggests that regularly engaging in such puzzles can improve mental agility, which is crucial for leaders who need to adapt to unexpected challenges and make quick, informed decisions​.

These studies collectively underscore the value of brain games in bolstering the cognitive functions necessary for effective leadership.

Puzzle-solving is fun, but it also has serious benefits

While it may initially seem like a stretch to connect a daily Wordle, Spelling Bee or crossword habit to leadership prowess, the parallels are clear (as well as the research). Both require attention to detail, a willingness to explore different angles, and the ability to make connections that aren’t immediately obvious. So, the next time you find yourself stuck on a word puzzle, remember—you’re not just playing a game, you are training your brain to be a better, more effective leader.

About the Author

Dominique Harroch has acted as a Chief of Staff or Operations Leader for multiple companies where she leveraged her extensive experience in operations management, strategic planning, and team leadership to drive organizational success. Her background spans over two decades in operations leadership, event planning at her own startup, and marketing at various financial and retail companies. She can be reached via LinkedIn .

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Chemistry Education Research and Practice

Metacognitive problem solving: exploration of students’ perspectives through the lens of multi-dimensional engagement.

Solving chemical problems entails content knowledge and mastery of problem-solving processes. However, students sometimes lack metacognitive processes required for problem solving in chemistry. This study investigated how first-year chemistry students engaged with the metacognitive problem-solving scaffold Goldilocks Help. Data was collected from an activity, which involved students reflectively comparing their problem-solving attempts to an expert solution. These comparative reflections (N = 373) were thematically analysed to investigate scaffold engagement in three dimensions: cognitive, emotional, and behavioural. Finding showed that scaffold use, coupled with self-reflection, allowed students to identify flaws in their solutions that were either problem specific or related to their problem-solving skills. Students were able to propose improvement strategies, such as posing prompting questions to themselves and finding multiple alternatives for evaluating an answer. Students, who initially lacked structured problem-solving skills, found that scaffolding helped them to slow down metacognitive processes that would otherwise be rushed through or engaged with on a surface level. Students’ resistance to the scaffold was due to fear of making a mistake or viewing the scaffold as requiring extra time and effort. Within a semester, many students demonstrated an improvement in successful and structured problem solving but some required more practice to internalise the scaffold. Our findings also indicated that students’ reflections on problem solving became more sophisticated as a result of continued exposure to the scaffold and iterative opportunities to compare their work to expert solutions, to self-assess, and to reflect. Further research on reflective writing in chemistry education should focus on the ipsative nature of such assessments, i.e. processes focussing on students’ own progress, growth, and improvement, compared to their previous performance, while recognising the power relations operationalised in course-embedded reflections. From the teaching practice perspective, having an awareness of students’ thoughts, emotions, and actions can help instructors differentiate between levels of student capabilities, mindsets, and needs for extra support, allowing teaching efforts to be directed at promoting metacognitive and structured problem solving.

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K. Vo, M. Sarkar, P. J. White and E. Yuriev, Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. , 2024, Accepted Manuscript , DOI: 10.1039/D4RP00096J

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