Work on logical reasoning and colors with this Easter Jelly Bean Sudoku unplugged coding activity for preschoolers to 5th graders!
We love jelly beans, so activities that involve candy are some of our favorite!
These jelly bean sudoku puzzles are great for kids of all ages. You’ll even find two different blank Sudoku grids to make your own puzzles!
Computational Thinking Concepts
Computational thinking is a new way of problem solving that involves thinking about a problem in a way that can be solved by using computing tools like logic, decomposition, abstractions, algorithms, patterns, data collection and analysis, and simulation or modeling.
Computational thinking can be used to solve problems in almost all areas of our lives and helps kids develop some pretty great life skills that can apply to a variety of situations.
A computational thinker approaches problems by:
- Experimenting and playing to solve a problem that might have more than one possible solution
- Working together with others to reach a common goal
- Persevering when faced with a difficult problem
- Finding and fixing errors in complex problems
- Designing and making solutions for open-ended problems
- Understanding their own strengths and weaknesses
You’ll also love: Preschool STEAM Easter Sequences Coding with Jelly Beans
Teach Logical Reasoning
Logical reasoning is the ability to analyze and make predictions about things or explaining why something is the way that it is.
Jelly Bean Sudoku is a spin-off from Sudoku, which is a great way to emphasize the concept of logical reasoning by explaining why an object (number, letter, or in this case jelly bean) cannot go in a certain space.
Due to the rules of the puzzle, kids can speak to why each block cannot contain certain jelly bean colors, which helps them to identify the solution.
How to Play Jelly Bean Sudoku
This activity is most effective when it is modeled by an adult or older sibling before starting. For example, solve one block space and explain why the square can’t certain jelly bean colors.
Repeat the process for columns and rows as well as squares. Use the following rules to reference when modeling your logical reasoning.
- Each jelly bean can only appear once in each row
- Each jelly bean can only appear once in each column
- Each jelly bean can only appear once in each 2X2 or 3X3 block (depending on the worksheet you are using).
Use an Algorithm to Solve Your Jelly Bean Sudoku Puzzle
An algorithm is a series of instructions to solve a problem. Begin with teaching the rules of classic Sudoku.
You can turn these rules into an algorithm that automates how you are solving each square. Repeat your algorithm over and over again.
Think about how this process starts with a series of steps and evolves into a program that is written for a computer to automate a task. Sudoku like a robot!
2. Check row for Easter egg colors or jelly beans
3. Check column for Easter egg colors or jelly beans
4. Check box for Easter egg colors and jelly beans
5. Determine answer
Check out: Easter Ten Frames Jelly Bean Math Activity
Use Decomposition to Simplify Easter Sudoku Puzzle
Decomposition is the process of breaking down a complex problem into smaller, easier to solve, pieces.
Focus on each 2X2 or 3X3 block. Try to solve each square by using the jelly beans in the block and following rule #3.
Another way to use decomposition (my personal favorite!) is to work on one jelly bean color at a time.
For example, start with the green jelly beans and work your way through the rest of the colors.
Preschool Jelly Bean Sudoku
Use jelly beans to solve this jelly bean Sudoku puzzle with your preschool through 3rd grade kiddo. Remember to model the logical reasoning process. For example, solve one block space and explain why the square can’t be certain ornaments.
Repeat the process for columns and rows as well as squares. Use the following rules to reference when modeling your logical reasoning. The workbook comes with a blank sudoku sheet, two different puzzles, and an answer key.
Jelly Bean Sudoku for 3rd Grade to 5th Grade
Use jelly beans to solve these Easter Sudoku puzzles. This unplugged coding workbook is made for kids in 3rd grade through 5th grade and can also be used by younger experienced Sudoku players.
Remember to model the logical reasoning process. For example, solve one block space and explain why the square can’t be certain jelly beans. Repeat the process for columns and rows as well as squares.
This workbook contains a blank grid for you to make your own jelly bean Sudoku puzzles, three pre-made puzzles (easy, hard, expert), and an answer key.
The Jelly Bean Sudoku Unplugged Coding workbook has three different Easter Sudoku puzzles!
PIN THIS IMAGE TO SAVE JELLY BEAN SUDOKU PUZZLES FOR LATER!
Easter STEAM Activities
Check out these awesome Spring and Easter STEAM activities that are the perfect way to incorporate Science, Tech, Engineering, Art, and Math into the season!
Easter Egg Algorithm Art Unplugged Coding Activity
In programming algorithms are used to create solutions to problems that can be reused, like when sorting or searching for something.
This Easter egg algorithm art activity introduces basic coding skills by giving kids a set of rules and steps to follow to create unique designs for each egg!
Easter Egg Sudoku Logical Reasoning Puzzle
Sudoku is a great activity to strengthen logical reasoning skills and decomposition skills while working with a simple algorithm, or a series of instructions for solving problems.
This Easter Egg Sudoku activity is a way to introduce kids as young as preschool to the rules and the use of logical reasoning to solve a problem.
Free Printable Easter Worksheets for Kids
There may still be snow on the ground here in Wisconsin, but Spring is quickly approaching! To celebrate, here are some free Easter worksheets for kids!
These worksheets include a few different exercises for kids of different learning levels.
Toddler Rainbow Color Recognition Storybook Activity
This toddler rainbow color recognition activity is a great way to incorporate a fantastic book about colors with a tangible color recognition fine motor activity!
This activity is a great way to have some Spring, St. Patrick’s Day, or Summer fun and it reinforces color matching as well as supports fine motor skills.
Color by Hexadecimal Rainbow Coding Activity
Color-by-number activities are a great way to introduce basic coding skills by following a key code, matching pieces and patterns to create an image, and executing an algorithm or series of steps to complete the activity!
This Color by Hexadecimal Rainbow is an excellent activity to introduce hexadecimal color coding other to young kids with a recognizable and well-known object!
Preschool STEAM Easter Sequences Coding with Jelly Beans
We love jelly beans and always try out the really weird flavors just for fun, so I made these sequence coding worksheets to work on pattern recognition with my toddler who is absolutely a future engineer and kid coder!
Grab these Easter Sequences Preschool Unplugged Coding Activity worksheets to practice sequencing today and finish writing sequences with jelly beans!
Hexadecimal Color by Number Easter Eggs
Do you remember doing color-by-number activities when you were a kid? I loved following the key to color different sections of an image to reveal cool patterns or images! My kids love color-by-number activities including pixel coloring images.
This Hexadecimal Color-by-Number Easter Egg worksheet is a great introduction to how HTML color coding works and other basic coding skills!
How to Make a Recycled Plastic Water Bottle Sun Catcher
Are you ready for an awesome recycled art project that you can do with your kids?? Then you are in the right place! You can make a recycled plastic water bottle sun catcher with some plastic water bottles and permanent markers!
Finding Pi with Math Sun Catchers
The goal of this activity is to explore the number Pi and prove that it is a mathematical constant by making math sun catchers out of perler beads for a fun math + art STEAM activity!
Springtime Squeegee Painting Art Activity
Are you looking for a fun Spring craft that your kids will be crazy about??!! This Springtime squeegee butterfly art activity is the perfect way to make a Spring craft with a neat sensory experience!
Spring Logic Word Puzzle
We love to put our logical thinking to the test and work on logic puzzles! This Spring logic word puzzle activity is a way for kids to use logical thinking and pattern matching paired with spatial recognition and spelling.
Recycle Your Old Crayons into Suncatchers!
Repurpose crayons into beautiful sun catchers from crayon shavings! Use crayon shavings to make Easter Egg sun catchers with this repurposed crayon activity perfect for Easter and Earth Day!
Meet Toni, the Maker Mom behind Our Family Code
Hey there, I’m Toni! I’m a software engineer and Maker Mom that finds my joy in unleashing my children’s curiosity by exploring STEAM concepts with my fantastic five!
When I’m not chasing toddlers or raising tweens, you can find me tearing things up and putting them back together over here at Our Family Code.
I am the owner and content creator of multiple educational websites designed to increase access to STEAM & STEM education with a focus on teaching computer science and coding to kids of all ages!
You can also find out more about me by visiting ToniGardner.com!
