Tanglers: Cooperative Problem-Solving Puzzles

A Tangler is a puzzle that must be solved by a team. Groups of 3-6 students read and interpret clues in order to find the correct solution—but no one has all the information needed to find the answer on their own. In order to succeed, everyone must contribute. Players must share the information they have with teammates, and eliminate irrelevant clues, as they work together to reach a conclusion. Some Tanglers are fictional; others include interesting historical, geographic or scientific information. includes a lesson plan for using the puzzles, and another to help students create original puzzles of their own. Students can write Tanglers using based on their curriculum—a great way to integrate thinking skills into any content area. Students can also practice research skills as they search for the details that will make for an intriguing puzzle.