Rubik's Cubes, Impossible Objects, Puzzles?

D

DeadManWalking

Joined
Apr 3, 2004
Messages
442
I have a weird request.

I'm actually a teacher by trade and I'm looking for some odds and ends like Rubik's cubes, impossible objects, puzzle objects, etc.

Believe it or not just playing with these things can improve one's deductive reasoning and spacial skills, not to mention they can keep students from making noise and getting in trouble!

I figure toy stores would have them, but I'm really looking for something EVIL that will drive people mad trying to solve it. I'm mediocre at puzzles myself but I realize their value.
 
I wouldn't call it evil, but I've got a Rubik's globe. It's the same sort of puzzle as the Cube, but it's a globe with the map of the Earth on it. I've never jumbled the pieces because I was afraid if I did, putting them back in place would boost my mental ability so much, I'd be too smart for my own good.

If ya want it, e-mail me your address info at ebhausman@juno.com and I'll send it to you. Strictly in the interest of driving other people mad.
 
Those Chinese wood puzzles that end up in a solid shape :mad:

They drive you nuts.
 
Rubik´s cube is tough and interesting, to solve it from scratch takes time, patience, order, you have to be methodic and smart, you have to device a nomenclature, do a lot of experimenting, write down all steps and moves, it can take days, weeks or months. Most people will get tired and look up the solution, then think they are good at it because they can solve it fast, when actually they never solved it.

I suggest you try it, learn to disassemble and putting it back together by partially rotating one side and prying off a piece, do a couple of moves and see where everything goes, write it down, after some trying and thinking you´ll find ways to move things on one part without affecting another one, start by making one side right (the first one is easy, let´s call it the top), then work on the other sides and the bottom. It can drive you mad but can be a rewarding experience.
 
What about tanagrams? Originally from China but lots of variations available. If you buy one and you can use it as a template to make one for each student out of cardboard.
 
Do you have what I call a WIFE/ GIRLFRIEND? Damn hard puzzle to solve! But once you figure it out, you can say that you went through a tough one! :D
 
on a more serious note...the world record for solving the Rubik's is 19 seconds.....yikes!

Back in the fifth grade, I could do it in under 3 minutes, and now, one-and-a-half....but I use the slower old school method. the fast guys use the intuitive method and get to spend time checking out the cube, planning their moves. Brilliant puzzle, and brilliant solutions to it.


I passed by a lady at the store the other day who had some "impossible" puzzles....I'll go by and check again - see what she's got. :D
 
Sakugenken said:
What about tanagrams? Originally from China but lots of variations available. If you buy one and you can use it as a template to make one for each student out of cardboard.
Click to expand...

Those I already have. Perfect for Geometry. They can be used to demonstrate several postulates as well as scale.

bama_lou said:
Do you have what I call a WIFE/ GIRLFRIEND? Damn hard puzzle to solve! But once you figure it out, you can say that you went through a tough one!
Click to expand...

Good night they're 15 most of them... let them run free before they start to worry about such things lol.

Lots of great ideas guys... can't act on your suggestions at the moment but that's a lot of good responses.
 
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