Exploring Sudoku

Since you showed an interest in joining this new SIG, I assume you already do Sudoku puzzles like, I estimate, 10% of American adults. Most of us solve these puzzles as a pastime or, maybe, hobby, though I'm not sure there's a difference. I did Sudoku for nine years before realizing, over a period of several weeks in 2014, that Sudoku had more potential as a "tool" to train logical thinking skills, particularly in children whose malleable minds were developing. As a retired educator, I introduced Sudoku as an after school program in a local elementary school. For two years I taught it as a volunteer once a week to 2nd-4th graders, during which time I realized I had been correct--kids loved it and were capable of learning Sudoku. Later I experimented with forming small teams of 3 or 4 kids, and then understood that this doubled the benefits. Solo Sudoku developed logical thinking skills but team solving added valuable social skills. And kids preferred working on teams, a novel experience for elementary children. Before COVID prevented our entrance into schools in 2020, we held three annual Children's Team Sudoku Tournaments that attracted 25 teams from ten local elementary and middle schools. 

Now I am actively engaged in persuading educators that Sudoku is potentially much more than a pastime. We need to use Sudoku as a "tool" to maximize its power for developing human minds so they perform with better decision making and problem solving. If you care about educating children, any help would be appreciated. 

Thanks for your interest.

I'd appreciate your thoughts and participation in this SIG. Other ideas are very welcome. As Mensans, I'm sure you have some.

Jerry Martin

Grass Valley, California

    Edie Peterson