ClassTools.net: Create interactive flash jigsaw tools / games for education

Jigsaw Diagram: Overview

The Jigsaw template is designed to allow students to make connections between various factors in an engaging manner.

The "pieces" of the jigsaw can have text written into them. When they are dragged next to each other, they "snap" into place.

The pieces can be colour coded as appropriate.

Sample Lesson Plan using the Template

This template works particularly well as a consolidation exercise. In the sample template above, students are provided with a range of factors which help to explain why the Industrial Revolution occurred in the United Kingdom.

Their job is to spot connections between the factors, and piece together the jigsaw in a way that makes sense to them. They can edit each piece with words like "so..." and "because..." to clarify their logic. In addition, they can colour-code each piece of the jigsaw as an extension activity (e.g. blue=political, red=social, green=economic and so on).

Other Ideas for the Template

A more ambitious technique would be to get the students to come up with their own factors. They could then come up to the front of the class and add their factor into a "piece" by typing it in. Once all the ideas have been exhausted, the template could be saved to the network, then each student opens it up and pieces it together as they deem appropriate.