Block 'n' Roll
How it works
Imagine that you have a block made of 2 cubes connected together. The block can move around a square grid as follows:
- If the block is standing up, it can tip over so it is lying down
If the block is lying down:
- It can roll on its side
- It can stand up
The block starts out standing up on a specific starting square, and the goal is to move the block (only using the 3 types of moves described above) so that it is standing on a specific target square.
In this activity, students explore a variety of different puzzles with different starting and ending squares. Later, they explore puzzles with new rules that make things a bit more challenging: There are certain squares the block can't stand up on, and other squares the block can't touch at all (regardless of whether it is standing up or lying down).
Why we like this activity
It’s fun! Students enjoy trying to solve the puzzles.
It helps students to develop algorithmic and spatial reasoning.
It requires students to engage in mathematical habits of mind:
- Finding and using strategies to solve the puzzles
It has a low floor and a high ceiling: Students can start solving puzzles by trial and error, but as the puzzles get more challenging, it's useful to develop more effective strategies!
This activity was inspired by the game Bloxorz.