Strategy: Magic Squares

Source (APA):
Vacca, R. T., & Vacca, J. A., (1999). Content Area Reading (6th ed.). New York: Addison-Wesley Education Publishers, Inc..

Source (APA):
Richardson, J. S., & Morgan, R. F., (1994). Reading to Learn in the Content Areas (2nd ed.). Belmont, California: Wadsworth Publishing Company, Inc..

Purpose:
The main purpose of the magic squares is to reinforce and extend the student’s contextual knowledge of content area terms. This is a technique that reinforces word meanings. It is a vocabulary activity of matching terms with definitions that comes alive with the added dimension of magic squares. Magic squares is a motivational device that uses special arrangements of numbers that when added across, down, or diagonally always equal the same number.

Overview:
The teacher constructs an activity sheet that has two columns. One column has the content area terms and the other column has the definitions. Students are instructed to match the terms with the definitions by putting the number of a definition in the proper space (denoted by the letter of the term) in the magic square answer box.” If the match ups are correct their numbers will total the same for each row across and each column down. This total forms the “magic number.” Students may do this activity individually or in small groups.

Uses:
Magic squares are most often used for math problems but may easily be adapted for a vocabulary puzzle activity. It can be used successfully in elementary and secondary grades as well as in post secondary classrooms. This activity provides great opportunities for small group interaction. Magic squares is useful in the elementary grades to integrate vocabulary in a matching activity with simple addition skills needed for determining the magic number.