When I ordered the logic game Chocolate Fix from ThinkFun (affiliate link), I thought it would be great to set out as a center for my kindergarten, first, and second graders. What I discovered is that the levels of this game, a little like Sudoku, can challenge kids all the way through fifth grade, and perhaps into middle school. My students loved it.
If you’ve never played, there are three types of “candy” pieces- I called them “strawberry,” “dark chocolate,” and “milk chocolate.” The newer version has “white chocolate.” On each page of the spiral-bound flipbook is a challenge. Fill the tray with the pieces shown, then add the other pieces according to the clues given. You must consider and carefully examine all of the clues, paying attention to color and shape.
The fact that even my older students were challenged by the increasing levels made me think about using this logic puzzle as a warm-up activity or transition activity. So, I did a little online shopping and found someone who cuts foam shapes to order. I purchased enough for a class set, then marked grids on paper plates so that each student would have a “tray” for solving the puzzles.
I found this activity engaged students in grades 2 – 5. Since I was in a pull-out program, it was a great starting activity and also worked well after recess or lunch. I’d set the materials out on their desks, and the students would join in solving puzzles as they came in and sat down. It was easy to display each challenge by placing the flipbook under my document camera. My kids definitely raced to be the first one to find the solution, so we eventually began keeping track of levels and sometimes having table competitions. I was surprised it was a favorite even with my fifth graders.
Other ideas: One year, I added magnets to the Chocolate Fix pieces and created a grid on the whiteboard. This became a station activity for my younger students. You could also add magnets to foam or cardstock shapes for this center. A lot of bang for the buck with this logic activity.
I also incorporated this type of puzzle into our 5th grade Think-a-Thon. The clues were placed out in a field, and student teams raced to complete their grids. So much fun!
I highly recommend getting as many “box” versions as you can afford for your classroom! Even if your students stay with you for multiple years, it remains a puzzle they enjoy!
You can find many more logic games and puzzles by using the search term “logic” on this site. If you are finding things you can use, consider subscribing to receive updates about once or twice a month.
What was the company or people you found to cut the shapes?
Thanks for your question, Sherri. I have not been able to find the company I used, but there are several sellers on ETSY who may be willing to do a custom order. I’m checking with one now and I’ll email you if they say they can do it. I believe you can also use a regular die cut machine to cut thin foam sheets, so if your school has one, you could ask about that. It would be quite a task to cut them out by hand. It would be hard to ask even a willing parent volunteer to do that! You’d need about 90 of each shape in three colors which is 270 shapes in all.
I have this game and LOVE IT!! I use it with the “Chocolate Caper Mystery” that I do with my 4th graders. I too cut out square circle and triangle shapes so everyone could “play” at the same time. I did NOT think about using a plate to put the pieces on, great idea!!!
How fun! I’ve never done that mystery but I’ll have to look into it. Thanks for taking the time to share that in a comment here!
Hello-
I don’t have the game yet- I ordered it. What colors of foam do I need to get? Pink, brown, and white?
Thank you.
Marian, the colors you order depend on the game you ordered. The version you ordered probably has white, so you could use a beige color for those pieces. The one I had was an older version which had kind of a caramel chocolate (tan) and a dark chocolate. If you look in the picture of the students playing with magnetic pieces on the whiteboard, you can zoom in and see those colors. Hope this helps and I hope you enjoy using the game with your class!
If I order the newer game with white, pink, and brown pieces, what specific pieces (quantity and shapes) of foam would each student need to play individually from the displayed flipbook? Thanks!
Thanks for your question. If you buy the thin foam sheets from a craft store, or have the pieces cut for you (I found someone on ETSY to cut them for me), you would need 9 pieces per student – 3 of each shape in each of 3 colors (1 white square, 1 white triangle, 1 white circle, 1 pink square, 1 pink triangle, 1 pink circle, and 1 of each shape in the brown). So, if you have a class of 15, you would need a total of 135 pieces. I hope this helps!
Would you share your ETSY contact for custom pieces?
Unfortunately, that shop owner is no longer on ETSY. I continue to look for someone who can cut these shapes. I know the hobby stores sell thin foam sheets that are perfect, but to cut over 100 shapes by hand is too much for most of us. I’m wondering if a CNC machine could cut the shapes. Obviously, they could easily be done on cardstock and laminated, but these would be thin and not as easily manipulated. I wish I could be of more help.