Book Hook: Games

Bob Watson of Coshocton has completed 80 puzzles since last spring. Puzzle Warehouse increased its sales from 1000 a day to nearly 10,000 a day. Other puzzle makers report that their sales increased 300-400% during the pandemic. Perhaps you are one of those who joined the puzzle craze. (I was!)

What caused such a change? The need for screen breaks? The cost? The relaxation? The ability to listen while you work?

Everyone has a different reason, but at TeachingBooks, you’ll find—if you haven’t already—that there is a free puzzle on every book page. Simply type the title you want to see and look for the puzzle piece on the left below the share tools.

After you click on the puzzle piece, a new window will pop open. Turn on the sound, choose the number of pieces you want, and solve the puzzle.

Not only is it fun, but you also sneak in a bit of learning—how words connect, title vs. author or illustrator, and thinking about visual imagery components.

 

 

 

But wait there’s more… For any list, you can create a concentration (matching) game. Choose your list. Look for Play Concentration and click. 

You can also type games in the search box which will take you to the new Games Collection. Students will find them on their own in For Students/Games. 

How can you use Concentration? 

• Promote your syllabus, Battle of the Books, or genre lists. 

• Create a list with the title: Guess the Theme? Allow students to guess the theme after they have matched all the cards. 

• Have a timed contest. Allow your students to race you.

• Use your library scanner to create a list of books you just received. Create immediate interest by promoting the game of New to Our Library titles.  

How can you use Puzzlemaker? 

• Bell Ringer: Encourage students to search for their favorite titles on their devices. 

• Guess the Title: Set up the puzzle in advance. Have students put the puzzle together to guess which book it is. 

• Book Discovery: Use the Puzzle Maker Page to allow students to select their own criteria to find a book. (It’s a great way to introduce them to the power of searching for their interests.)

My post for next month? Fall Sequels and Companions. Here’s a peek: 

What happened to Peter and Pax and where are they now? What new challenges will Mia face at the Calivista Hotel? Where is Billy Miller? Has anyone seen the Underwear Dragon?  

Find out next month in my back-to-school September post. 

About the contributor: Deborah Salyer is a long-time lover of children’s and YA lit. Her seminars and workshops have created piles of books to be read on nightstands from the east to west coasts. She’s also the CA Implementation Specialist for TeachingBooks and a senior presenter at BER.org, What’s New in Children’s Books, K-6.