Math Monday: How Many Squares?

Starting off Monday with a brain warm-up, we presented the How Many Squares? puzzle.
At first, the kids started busily counting their papers and both stopped in their tracks when they realized there was more than meets the eye!

Miss C liked to show her process by leaving little ticks where she had counted.
Miss O skipped straight to writing down her answer.

 Rectangles

I then challenged them to create a shape puzzle for each other (or me!)
The single rule; use only one shape.

 Squares x A Lot!

Miss C was all snickers when she handed me her graph paper!
My answer: Squares x A Lot!

You can virtually do this sort of puzzle with any shape and even turn it into a work of art (surprise!)

EXPAND ON MATH
Math Class Needs A Makeover. Brilliant Ted Talk on how to encourage students to create the problem rather than find the formula  
https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_meyer_math_curriculum_makeover?referrer=playlist-things_to_do_to_make_steam_lea