The power of puzzles

 

With the beginning of a new school year comes many firsts for children. They meet new friends, build their social circle, discover new abilities and of course, learn. But before students of any age can comfortably open up to new people and classroom ideas, they need to be accustomed to their surroundings. The "puzzle piece classroom" is an intriguing way for students to express their emotions and personality without simply speaking in front of the class and introducing themselves. This idea can be used as an "ice-breaker" or as I find more useful, as a way to instill the idea of teamwork within the class. This idea can be incorporated into any age classroom and encourages self expression and exploration of classmates. Each student is given a puzzle piece that they are able to design any way they desire. Each piece represents a member of the classroom, their ideas, interests, culture, and hobbies. As a whole, the class must assemble the puzzle. They learn to work as a team from the very beginning and quickly realize that without a single piece to the puzzle, it cannot be completed. The same concept applies to the classroom; without a student, the classroom cannot flourish or proceed together.