MathGames

===Games in the Mathematics Classrooms: There is an App for that! ===  From Edutopia (5/7/2014) Puzzle apps are fantastic tools for training students to be creative mathematical thinkers. In addition, well-designed puzzle apps align perfectly with the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice:


 * Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
 * Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
 * Use appropriate tools strategically.
 * Look for and make use of structure.
 * Look for regularity in repeated reasoning.

5 Qualities of a Good Puzzle App
The list above does not even scratch the surface of all the good apps that are out there. For those of you who want to go beyond this list, visit middle school math teacher Tom Cutroffelo's great blog about puzzle apps. In general, here are some things to look for when identifying good puzzling apps:

1. Depth of the Underlying Mathematics
The most effective math games are those with a rich mathematical structure. Take the Rubik's Cube, for example. Students may not be aware of it, but this puzzle demonstrates advanced mathematical principles in action (group theory and permutations).

2. Interactive and Fun
Not all problems in recreational mathematics can be made interactive. A lot of math apps are quite static and no more exciting than pen-and-paper versions of the same puzzle. Teachers should try to select apps that are inherently interactive and contain colorful animated graphics.

3. Visual
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">The great thing about many of the apps in our list is that the patterns and structures within the games are made visually apparent. Let’s use the Rubik's Cube once again as an example. (<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Cube does exist on the App Store even though I didn't list it above.) What mathematicians love about the Cube is that its complex structure is revealed through the manipulation of colors or shapes. The Cube brings the abstract mathematics of permutations to a concrete level appropriate for small children. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline;">NineGaps

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Easy to Learn, Hard to Master
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">The games listed below all ramp up smoothly and allow the player to quickly achieve basic proficiency. They then challenge the player to apply those skills to solve harder levels of the same problem. Avoid puzzles that get too hard too fast or don't provide enough opportunities for intuitive breakthroughs. ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Good Puzzling Apps Operate on Multiple Levels === <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Puzzles with deep mathematical structure tend to appeal to all age groups. They also have more longevity because they are linked to overarching mathematical principles as opposed to a single piece of the syllabus. For example, elementary school students might simply try to solve one face of the Rubik's Cube, while middle schoolers might try to solve the whole cube. High schoolers can begin to investigate the mathematics behind the cube (elegant <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">curriculum kits are distributed and sold by Seven Towns Ltd., the makers of the Rubik's Cube), while college students can take <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">entire courses on the mathematics of the Cube.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Classic Games

 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Engel's Enigma (Free)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iOS
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Android alternate version not so good
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Tower of Hanoi !! (Free)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iOS
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Android alternate version
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Master Mind Code Breaker (Free)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iOS
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Android alternate version
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Set Pro (The Set Game)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iOS ($4.99)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Android (Free): alternate version not so good

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gamified Puzzles

 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Cut the Block: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iOS only ($0.99)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Move the Turtle: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iOS only ($2.99)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Slice It! (Free)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iOS
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Android

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Number-based Puzzles

 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">3b3b: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iOS only ($0.99)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">KenKen
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iOS (Free)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Android (Free)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Nine Gaps: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0099ff; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">iOS only ($0.99)

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Addition Blocks (iOS/Android/Mac/Web) and Multiplication Blocks (iOS/Android/Mac/Web) specifically address Math Fluency standards in the early grades. Both are puzzle apps (not speed drills!) have been described as a cross between Tetris and Candy Crush.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dragon Box, which is a puzzle way of teaching kids about the basics of algebraic formulas. Your goal is to isolate the dragon (x) on one side of the screen. I found it incredibly addictive.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are some additional apps to check out:
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Mortal Coil
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Stickets
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Frogiz
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Chemin
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Go Round
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">FlowDoKu
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">BlockSwipe
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Qwhizzle
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Akari 3D
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Twin Beams
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Arrow Command
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Vaccine Case
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Vubu
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Blockwick
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">NineOut
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Spin Mix