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By Dave and Michelle Youngs This month's Puzzle Corner activity is a one-person game with a fascinating
history that goes back thousands of years and spans three continents. Dominic
Olivastro, in the book Ancient Puzzles, notes that archeologists found
three curious etchings on the roof slabs of the ancient Egyptian temple at Kurna
which date back to around 1400 BCE. Olivastro conjectures that these etchings,
which are very different from the heiroglyphics and symbols in the rest of the
temple, were carved by ancient stonemasons as a form of entertainment. One of
these etchings, a five point star, represented a board for a common game of
the day. While the masons carved no instructions for playing the game, Olivastro
points out that this game has survived and is still played in Greece today,
and that it is highly likely that this game is one of many that the ancient
Greeks "borrowed" from Egypt. Olivastro also points out that the Spanish, who
probably learned the game from the Greeks, took it with them to Mexico during
the colonial period. In time, this game spread to Native Americans throughout
North America. It is fascinating to realize that as you and your students work
on this game, you will be trying to solve a puzzle that has been around for
about 3400 years.
Each student will need nine pennies and a copy of the student sheet for this
puzzle. If you do not have enough pennies for the whole class, beans, buttons,
or other small objects will also work. The challenge in this puzzle is to get
as many pennies on the star as possible. A penny can be placed on the star by
beginning on an empty point (as identified by a number) and moving two spaces
along a straight line to another empty point. Pennies may jump over other pennies
if necessary, as long as they begin and end on an empty point.
While it is fairly easy to get six pennies on the star, seven is a bit harder,
eight is difficult, and nine is the ultimate challenge. Students should be
encouraged to find and record as many solutions as they can which get at least
seven pennies on the star. You may want to have extra copies of the solutions
sheet for those students who discover more than six solutions.
The ultimate challenge of nine pennies on the star may prove to be a difficult
task for some of your students. This particular puzzle, however, has the
advantage of being a good model for alternative methods of solution. If students
are repeatedly unsuccessful at getting nine pennies on the star and are growing
frustrated, you may want to suggest that they attempt a method other than trial
and error, such as working backwards. Hopefully some students will think of this
method on their own and discover its usefulness as a problem-solving technique.
Worksheet
I hope you and your students enjoy playing with this ancient puzzle. |
