Making your own jigsaw puzzle is a fun way to incorporate math (visual-spacial skills) and art.  Jigsaw puzzles involve lots of kid fun — drawing, coloring, pasting and cutting.

(And, save your recycled cereal boxes this week because you’re going to need them.)

1. Observe something about fall or Halloween.  Look out the window, look around your yard, look at your Jack-O-Lantern — and draw what you see.
2. Color. Don’t leave any white space.  (Believe me, it’s a lot easier when you’re putting the puzzle back together if there’s no white space!)
3. Glue your picture onto the back of a cereal box or some other thin cardboard box.
4. Let dry.
5. Is this a craft?
6. Free cut into medium pieces.  If your child is preschool age, trace the lines for him or her to cut — making the puzzle less than ten pieces.  (Laminate if you’re really inspired.)=
7. I’m not really crafty.  This is just artistic math.
   
8. Solve your puzzle.  Have fun.  Be impressed.  Store in a baggie.
9. Math.  Do not get any ideas about me being crafty.
   

P.S.  Don’t forget to enter to win The Jimmies DVD and CD — it rocks!

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Tag(s): Fall Activities, holidays, math and art