Toothpick Squares

Have your children find the smallest number of toothpicks to make a square in a challenging toothpick square game.

What You'll Need:

• Toothpicks
• Paper
• Pencil

How to Play Toothpick Squares:

Step 1: Find the smallest number of toothpicks your children can use to make a square. That's easy: four. But what's the smallest number of toothpicks they can use to make two squares with a connecting side? Or three squares with connecting sides? What about four squares?

Step 2: Have them make a chart with two columns. In the first column they should list the number of squares they are going to make with toothpicks -- with connected sides. In the second column they should list the smallest number of toothpicks they can use to make those squares.

Step 3: Now have them make the toothpick squares, and record their findings on the chart. After constructing several toothpick squares, see if they can find a pattern in the numbers they recorded.

For another toothpick math game, keep reading to learn how your kids can make shapes out of toothpicks.

For more great math exercises and math instruction, check out:

• Addition Problem Solving Articles
• Column Addition Articles
• Adding Large­ Numbers Activity