“Winston Breen finds puzzles everywhere, even on pizzas, and solving them is what he does best. But when his sister uncovers mysterious wooden strips with words and letters that even Winston can’t figure out, the entire family is obsessed. It turns out the strips are part of a scavenger hunt that a town patriarch set up for his children. If all four sets are put together, they will lead to a ring worth thousands of dollars.”

Text – The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin
Audio – Winston Breen 1.1 & Winston Breen 1.2

Have you ever tried to blow bubbles in the cold?  Have you wondered what would happen if you did?  Hope you are dressed warm.  Let’s make some predictions and give it a try.

Play Frozen Bubbles!

Learn more – The Science Behind Bubbles

Let’s use this time of year to keep our logic in check. Choose from the following activities to keep your brains active.

• Factory Balls is a problem solving game that emphasizes logic and sequential reasoning. Your job is to create a design that matches the customer’s order!
• Blocky Christmas Puzzle  is a fun game that challenges you to move some blocks around the screen.  As you move through the levels, new obstacles are added and your own block becomes magnetic – which can be helpful and irritating at the same time.

Don’t forget to study your words and practice analogies!

WordMasters List #1 – 4th Grade

Analogy Practice – Analogy Game – Beginner

Just like you, snowflakes are unique.  Let’s try a few different ways to make them.

Challenge #1 – Try Hopscotch

Challenge #2 – Try Code.org with Anna and Elsa
Challenge #3 – Make a Six-Pointed Snowflake

This week is Computer Science Education Week.  Computer Science Education Week is held this week in honor of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (December 9, 1906). Coding helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic and creativity.

Let’s CODE!

1. Let’s start with Minecraft! Minecraft is back for the Hour of Code with a brand new activity!

   

2. Now try another coding activity here.  There are plenty!

It is time to get those creative juices going again! Mrs. McBride is offering an opportunity to put your skills to work. Find out more details for this month’s challenge here – The Paper Mache Gift Challenge.

Solve the logic puzzle by filling in all of the squares in the game grid. Use the clues and your deductive reasoning to solve these online logic games:

• Pet Mix-Up
• Foot Race
• Toy Cars
• Pony Snacks

Are you an expert? Try these logic grids on PuzzlersParadise.

It is time to get those creative juices going again! Mrs. McBride is offering an opportunity to put your skills to work. Find out more details for this month’s challenge here – The Turkey Disguise Challenge

• What is home?
• What makes a place a home?
• Do we need a home? Why or why not?
• Is being home about a place outside of us, or about something inside us?
• Can we be at home anywhere?
• Do homes change?
• Can a home become no longer a home?Does home mean the same thing to all people?