The Puzzle Center is by far my most popular center! Even more popular than any computer center I have. I had expected the kids to think it's fun but perhaps not nearly as exciting as some of the other centers I have. That is not the case at all! I have a 5 kid limit due to the space around the table and everyone races to get to the puzzle center!
This has been a really good community/collaborative center. The kids in each class work together on the puzzle but they are also working together with students at all grade levels to complete the puzzle. I even have teachers joining in to add a piece or two.
Set up:
My Puzzle Center has the puzzle, instructions, and any books that go along with the puzzle's theme. This puzzle is a two sided U.S. and World map so I set out my states books.I bought the puzzle mat from A.C. Moore that looks similar to this. It comes with a cardboard tube and elastics. This allows me to roll up the puzzle on Thursdays if it's not done. There's another library teacher in my school on Fridays for K-1st and she does not do centers, so I clean up the puzzle at the end of my week and put it back out on Mondays.
The kids love to see what the new puzzle is about. Right now I have a Harry Potter puzzle going on but I have done different animals, pirates, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid and the kids have been jazzed about each and every one.
Where I get puzzles:
I had a few puzzles at home since I enjoy doing them myself. I also dug through my parents' basement since I was sure there were some puzzles from when I was a kid (and there were!). I found a few good deals at The Christmas Tree Shop, Target, and the Dollar Tree. However, the BEST place I've found to get puzzles is Savers, a thrift store chain in my area. Every puzzle I've bought there has had all it's pieces, and the puzzles are $.69 to $2.99ish. I've bought a few really nice Melissa and Doug puzzles and even a few brand-new, never been opened puzzles there. Such a good deal!
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