Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link].
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Table of Contents
Page 1 Cover
Page 2 Table of Contents
Page 3-5 Lesson Plans
Pages 6-38 33 Printable Lessons
Page 39-50 Answer Keys
Page 51-53 Posters
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Lesson Plans
Objective: Explain to your students that the goal of this activity is: to solve problems using toothpicks
Poster: Post all three posters as you work through this packet (located at the end of this packet) for students to see.
The purpose of these posters (from the word “post”) is to guide your students in their work. Let me explain…
A quick look at this design often results in an incorrect answer. There are three types of ac-
Most students will identify four squares, failing to notice that tion a student may perform:
there is a large square as well as the four little squares. The add, subtract, or rearrange.
same is true for triangles. I use the terms “add,” “re-
move” and “move.”
Toothpicks: Students need toothpicks for this activity. Why? We work better with something in our hands, to manipulate
(hence the education term, manipulatives), much easier for the mind to grasp than abstract visualization. Think of long
multiplication without the white board to help you. Imagine having to describe it in words. Not easy!
Why toothpicks? In the old days, matchsticks were used for this activity, but I prefer NOT to use them for very obvious
reasons. I really don’t want to get called into the principal’s office to explain why my kids are catching things on fire in the
restroom.
What kind of toothpicks? There are two types of toothpicks: the round kind and the flat kind. I always buy the flat kind.
Why? They are stackable (like Popsicle sticks), forming a neat stack, so they don’t roll off the desk as often. The round
kind, typically found in restaurants in parts of the country where beef is served more frequently, tend to roll across the
desk and onto the floor. And they’re too pointy. Imagine your students poking each other in jest, ha-ha, and again, having
to explain to the principle why students are stabbing each other on the playground using the weapons that YOU supplied.
Find the flat kind and avoid the issues.
Be careful about explaining what students can’t do (like build a toothpick pea-shooter with a straw and shooting them at
each other). If you give them the idea, then they just might build it (against your wishes).
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Printable Handouts: Here are three of my thirty-three handouts (see below).
Now, you are ready for lesson one. Let’s go. Make copies and hand them out.
I ALWAYS have my students work in pairs/partners (except for tests). They prefer it, and so do I. Here are several rea-
sons: 1) Two minds are better than one, as there is a greater chance of one student correcting the other and getting it
right. 2) Socialization, talking, language, content-based discussion and problem solving. We are a social species. This idea
of silence in the classroom is ridiculous, unproductive, and creates negative feelings towards schooling. 3) Turn-taking
instead of the “every man for himself” approach of yester-year’s schooling. 4) I need half as much paper/printing. There
are lots of good reasons to assign work to partners and very few negatives. My students get used to this format quickly
each year. It’s every day, not a novelty. And I demand that they focus. I listen as I move around the room, aware of what
they are saying and making sure that their talk is related to the work. And here is a trick I picked up: if THEY are watching
YOU, then they aren’t working.
Talking is NOT a privilege. It is a right and must be nurtured by us, the teachers and parents.
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Your solution: Do you want your students to use words? or pictures? or arrows to show Add, Remove or Move? Model
for them exactly what you want them to do in the first few lessons and they’ll do exactly that in the rest.
Add: draw a plus sign (+) to show an added toothpick.
Remove: draw an X on the drawing on the left to show a deleted toothpick.
Move: use an arrow, from the drawing on the left to their drawing on the right to show a moved toothpick.
There are three formats that this lesson can take:
Teach several lessons to the whole class, in the class. Take your time. Be the guide on
Whole-class the side and let them tell you how it is done.
Homework After a few lessons have occurred in class, then assign this as homework.
Centers Or, place this activity in a learning center.
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #1
Remove two toothpicks to leave two
squares. Your Solution
Problem #2
Move three toothpicks to leave three
squares. Your Solution
Problem #3
Remove two toothpicks to leave two tri-
angles. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #4
Move six toothpicks to make fifteen
squares. Your Solution
Problem #5
Remove four toothpicks to leave three
triangles. Your Solution
Problem #6
Add five toothpicks to make four squares.
Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #7
Move two toothpicks to make four trian-
gles. Your Solution
Problem #8
Remove four toothpicks to make two
squares. Your Solution
Problem #9
Remove six toothpicks to make five
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #10
Move two toothpicks to make one trape-
zoid. Your Solution
Problem #11
Move two toothpicks to make six squares.
Your Solution
Problem #12
Move three toothpicks to make the fish
swim the other direction. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #13
Move two toothpicks to make seven
squares. Your Solution
Problem #14
Remove four toothpicks to make five
squares. Your Solution
Problem #15
Remove three toothpicks to leave a trap-
ezoid and a rhombus. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #16
Add four toothpicks to make eight trian-
gles. Your Solution
Problem #17
Move five toothpicks to make six trian-
gles. Your Solution
Problem #18
Add two toothpicks to make nine squares.
Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #19
Remove one toothpick to make three
squares. Your Solution
Problem #20
Move three toothpicks to leave two
squares. Your Solution
Problem #21
Add one toothpick to make eight squares.
Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #22
Move three triangles to make five trian-
gles. Your Solution
Problem #23
Move two toothpicks to leave four squares.
Your Solution
Problem #24
Remove six toothpicks to leave three
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #25
Move four toothpicks to leave five
squares. Your Solution
Problem #26
Remove three toothpicks to leave three
triangles. Your Solution
Problem #27
Add one toothpick to make seven
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #28
Move one toothpick to make a square.
Your Solution
Problem #29
Move four toothpicks to make ten
squares. Your Solution
Problem #30
Move three toothpicks to leave three
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #31
Move four triangles to make one triangle.
Your Solution
Problem #32
Remove four toothpicks to leave four
squares. Your Solution
Problem #33
Move one toothpick to form an even num-
ber. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #34
Move four toothpicks to make four
squares. Your Solution
Problem #35
Move two toothpicks to leave four squares.
Your Solution
Problem #36
Move four toothpicks to make four trian-
gles. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #37
Remove two toothpicks to leave three
triangles. Your Solution
Problem #38
Remove eight toothpicks to leave four
squares. Your Solution
Problem #39
Add two toothpicks to make eight
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #40
Move two toothpicks to leave three
squares. Your Solution
Problem #41
Add four toothpicks to make ten squares.
Your Solution
Problem #42
Remove five toothpicks to leave one pen-
tagon. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #43
Remove eight toothpicks to leave three
squares. Your Solution
Problem #44
Remove one toothpick to make two trian-
gles. Your Solution
Problem #45
Move two toothpicks to make four
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #46
Add two toothpicks to make five trian-
gles. Your Solution
Problem #47
Move two toothpicks to make eleven
squares. Your Solution
Problem #48
Remove two toothpicks to leave three
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #49
Move two toothpicks to make three
squares. Your Solution
Problem #50
Move four toothpicks to leave three
squares. Your Solution
Problem #51
Move two toothpicks to make four
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #52
Add five toothpicks to make NINE.
Your Solution
Problem #53
Add eight toothpicks to make five
squares. Your Solution
Problem #54
Remove four toothpicks to leave three
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #55
Add four toothpicks to make thirteen
squares. Your Solution
Problem #56
Move two toothpicks to make three trian-
gles. Your Solution
Problem #57
Remove four toothpicks to leave two
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #58
Remove three toothpicks to leave three
rhombi. Your Solution
Problem #59
Remove five toothpicks to leave three
squares. Your Solution
Problem #60
Move three toothpicks to leave four
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #61
Remove eight toothpicks to leave two
squares. Your Solution
Problem #62
Remove four toothpicks to leave two tri-
angles. Your Solution
Problem #63
Add three toothpicks to make a letter of
the alphabet. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #64
Add four toothpicks to make five squares.
Your Solution
Problem #65
Add four toothpicks to make nine single
squares. Your Solution
Problem #66
Remove two toothpicks to make three
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #67
Add two toothpicks to make nine squares.
Your Solution
Problem #68
Add eight toothpicks to make ten little
triangles. Your Solution
Problem #69
Remove two toothpicks to leave four
squares.. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #70
Move two toothpicks to leave four
squares. Your Solution
Problem #71
Move two toothpicks to get three more.
Your Solution
Problem #72
Add two toothpicks to make twelve
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #73
Move four toothpicks to make three
squares. Your Solution
Problem #74
Add two toothpicks to make five trian-
gles. Your Solution
Problem #75
Add four toothpicks to make fourteen
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #76
Remove four toothpicks to leave four
rectangles. Your Solution
Problem #77
Move two toothpicks to make the house
face the other direction. Your Solution
Problem #78
Move four toothpicks to make three
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #79
Add four toothpicks to make ten trian-
gles. Your Solution
Problem #80
Move two toothpicks to leave five
squares. Your Solution
Problem #81
Remove three toothpicks to leave one
triangle. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #82
Add four toothpicks to make six triangles.
Your Solution
Problem #83
Remove six toothpicks to make two
squares. Your Solution
Problem #84
Remove two toothpicks AND move one
toothpick to make six squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #85
Add eight toothpicks to make twenty-one
squares Your Solution
Problem #86
Remove three toothpicks to form the op-
posite. Your Solution
Problem #87
Remove three toothpicks to make three
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #88
Add one toothpick to make this one more.
Your Solution
Problem #89
Move two toothpicks to make nine
squares. Your Solution
Problem #90
Move three toothpicks to leave four
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #91
Move four toothpicks to make five
squares. Your Solution
Problem #92
Move four toothpicks to make three tri-
angles Your Solution
Problem #93
Remove five toothpicks to make three
squares. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #94
Move two toothpicks to make a triangle.
Your Solution
Problem #95
Remove four toothpicks to make four
squares. Your Solution
Problem #96
Remove six toothpicks to leave one trian-
gle. Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Toothpick Problem-solving
Problem #97
Move four toothpicks to make three
squares. Your Solution
Problem #98
Remove five toothpicks AND move two
toothpicks to make one hexagon. Your Solution
Problem #99
Remove six toothpicks to make TEN.
Your Solution
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Solutions
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Problem #1 Problem #2 Problem #3
Problem #4 Problem #5 Problem #6
Problem #7 Problem #8 Problem #9
1: One large square and one little square.
3: One large triangle and one little triangle.
4: Four micro squares (1/4 of a little square) inside each little square.
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Problem #10 Problem #11 Problem #12
Problem #13 Problem #14 Problem #15
Problem #16 Problem #17 Problem #18
11: Five little squares and one large square (composed of four little squares)
12: This is possible. Honestly.
13: Three little squares and four micro squares (inside one little square).
16: Four little triangles and four large triangles (each composed of two little triangles).
17: Five little triangles and one large triangle (composed of two little triangles).
18: Five little squares and four micro squares (inside one little square).
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Problem #19 Problem #20 Problem #21
Problem #22 Problem #23 Problem #24
Problem #25 Problem #26 Problem #27
21: Six little squares and two large squares (composed of four little squares each).
22: Four little triangles and one large triangle (composed of four little triangles).
23: Three little squares and one large square.
24: One little square; one medium square; one large square (outside edges).
25: Four little squares and one large square (composed of four little squares).
27: Three little squares (composed of two rectangles each) and four micro squares (inside
one little square).
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Problem #28 Problem #29 Problem #30
Problem #31 Problem #32 Problem #33
Problem #34 Problem #35 Problem #36
29: Two little squares and eight micro squares (four inside each of two little squares).
33: Four (4) is an even number.
34: Three little squares and one large square.
36: Three little triangles and one large triangle.
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Problem #37 Problem #38 Problem #39
Problem #40 Problem #41 Problem #42
Problem #43 Problem #44 Problem #45
39: Four little squares and four micro squares (inside one little square).
41: Six little squares and four micro squares (inside one little square).
43: Two little squares and one large square (on the outside edges).
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Problem #46 Problem #47 Problem #48
Problem #49 Problem #50 Problem #51
Problem #52 Problem #53 Problem #54
47: Three little squares (each composed of four micro squares) and eight micro squares.
50: Two little squares and one large square (on the outside edges).
51: Three little squares and one large square.
53: Four little squares and one large square (composed of four little squares).
54: Two little squares and one large square.
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Problem #55 Problem #56 Problem #57
Problem #58 Problem #59 Problem #60
Problem #61 Problem #62 Problem #63
55: Five little squares and eight micro squares (four inside the upper two little squares).
56: Two little triangles and one large triangle (composed of two little triangles).
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Problem #64 Problem #65 Problem #66
Problem #67 Problem #68 Problem #69
Problem #70 Problem #71 Problem #72
65: “Little” is the key term. There are nine little squares.
66: Three little squares (composed of two rectangles each).
67: Four little squares and four micro squares (inside one little square).
68: “Little” is the key word here. There are now ten little triangles.
71: “Three more” than two is five (5). 3+2=5.
72: Six little squares; four micro squares; two large squares (each composed of four little
squares).
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Problem #73 Problem #74 Problem #75
Problem #76 Problem #77 Problem #78
Problem #79 Problem #80 Problem #81
74: Four little triangles and one big triangle (composed of four little triangles).
75: Nine little squares; four medium squares (composed of four little squares each); one large
square (composed of nine little squares).
79: Eight little triangles and two large triangles (composed of four little triangles each).
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Problem #82 Problem #83 Problem #84
Problem #85 Problem #86 Problem #87
Problem #88 Problem #89 Problem #90
84: Two little squares and four micro squares (four inside the left little square).
85: Five little squares and sixteen micro squares (four inside each of four little squares).
86: A minus sign (-) is the “opposite” of a plus sign (+).
88: Six (6) is “one more” than five (5).
89: Five little squares and four micro squares (inside a little square).
90: Three little squares and one large square.
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Problem #91 Problem #92 Problem #93
Problem #94 Problem #95 Problem #96
Problem #97 Problem #98 Problem #99
91: Four little squares and one large square (containing four little squares).
92: Two little triangles and two large triangles.
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
How many squares?
One large square Four little squares
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
How many triangles?
One large triangle Four little triangles
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]
Remove three toothpicks to make one triangle.
Add four toothpicks to make five squares.
Move two toothpicks to make three more.
Toothpick Problem-solving is created by the Gifted Guru at [Link]