Puzzle

High school (ages 12+)
Sports & Games

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/puzzle

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary cognitive functions engaged?Visual-spatial reasoning, memory, problem-solving, pattern recognition, and executive functions
2. What is the neuroplasticity impact?Stimulates the formation of new neural connections and strengthens existing pathways
3. Who made the first jigsaw puzzle and when?John Spilsbury made the first modern jigsaw puzzle in the 1760s by cutting maps into pieces.
4. How do puzzles help my brain?Solving puzzles uses many parts of the brain, helps you think better, remember more, and can keep your mind sharp as you grow older.

Neuroplasticity: The brain's capacity to alter its structure and function in response to experience.
Visual-Spatial Reasoning: The ability to mentally manipulate and understand the relationships between objects in space.
Deductive Reasoning: A logical process where a conclusion is based on the concordance of multiple premises that are generally assumed to be true.