Magic SquaresMagic Squares date back over 4,000 years to ancient China and have existed throughout history and in many different parts of the world. The magic lies in the fact that when the numbers in each row, column, and main diagonals of the square are added together, the sum is always the same. These number puzzles have fascinated some of the world's most brilliant thinkers, including the eighteenth century American Benjamin Franklin. He studied and composed some amazing magical squares, even going so far as to declare one square “the most magically magical of any magic square made by any magician.”Magic Squares provide an engaging way to develop mental math skills. You can use them as a Math Center activity or as a warm-up at the beginning of math sessions to build mental math skills. Following are a few examples: Magic Squares Addition 3x3 Magic Square 4x4 Magic Square 5x5 Magic Square Magic Triangles Magic Squares (decimal addition) Magic Squares (adding fractions) Books about Magic Squares
Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares highlights Franklin's lifelong knack for inventions and chronicles his achievements as a publisher, scientist, writer, and patriot, as well as showing how he amused himself during meetings of the Pennsylvania Colonial Assembly by creating magic squares. The final pages in the book provide instructions on how to make your own magic square. Use this as a math read aloud to introduce Magic Squares in Grades 2-5.
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Before Sudoku: The World of Magic Squares  Fans of Sudoku may not know that it is a recent offshoot of the Magic Square. Filled with lots of original number puzzles to solve, this book will delight anyone who loves a challenge. Return from Magic Squares to Home Page |
