Project Based Learning Electives provided by the Berrien Springs Virtual Academy
Logic and Critical Thinking through Puzzle Analysis
Fall 2024
- Instructors' Names: Rob Kerr (primary instructor), Marty Klubeck
- phone: 269-362-5046
- email: rob@funlearningcompany.com
- Fun Learning Company Website
- Location: STEAMWORKS: 606 Carrol St, Suite B, Buchanan MI 49107
- Grades 5+
- Additional registration at site required: No
Logic and Critical Thinking through Puzzle Analysis
Wednesdays 1-2pm, contact instructor for start date
Learn strategy, logic, critical thinking, and problem-solving through games! We will use fun, educational, games to build critical thinking and tactics. This course will introduce a variety of topics in graph theory, logical deduction, pattern recognition, and theory of mind. Games vary from year to year (this course may be taken for two years in a row). Past games include Set, Clue, Bananagrams, Catan, Mastermind, Ticket to Ride, Election Night, and more. Along with each game, we will have further puzzles and discussions, reflecting on which strategies work well and why, as well as bonus “puzzle of the week” (typically a riddle or brain teaser). We will analyze the games we cover -- including breaking down how the rules affect the optimal strategy, and how adding/removing rules affects game play. Students will then apply their skills to examine the strategy and rules of a game they choose; including choosing a new rule to add, predicting its effect, and recording their results playing with the new rule. In the second semester, we’ll cover more about how to create and publish your own game, learning from two instructors who have both published small games.
Puzzles, Logic and Critical Thinking Syllabus
*Please note: it is important to make as informed a decision as possible when choosing your student's Community Resource classes. Most locations will allow a student to drop a class after one meeting, at no charge if it wasn't a good fit for the student, but not all. Some classes plan ahead based on the number that have signed up and have purchased materials, hired teachers, etc. and there might be a fee for class time or materials given to the student if the student drops after one or two meetings. The school cannot pay for classes that students do not complete, so choose wisely; if you do not take the class off of your student's schedule by the deadline, you may be asked to pay for the class time incurred prior to dropping the class.
Teacher of Record: Becky Howard K-8 and Mark Ring 9-12
