Resources

Thinking About Thinking: Problem-Solving Tool
While students work on a task, they can use the Problem-Solving Tool to help them persist and to examine their thinking.

Thinking About Thinking: Self-Reflection Tool
After students have finished a task, they can use the Self-Reflection Tool to consider their approach and to reflect on their process and progress.

The Towers of Hanoi is an ancient puzzle that is a good example of a challenging or complex task that prompts students to engage in healthy struggle. Students might believe that when they try hard and still struggle, it is a sign that they aren’t smart. Teachers and parents can help students understand that struggle is a normal part of learning, and persisting in the face of a challenging task grows new connections in the brain, and over time, makes difficult tasks easier.

Students can use the Problem-Solving Tool and Self-Reflection Tool as they work on this problem to help them to persist and to reflect on their experience.

Congratulations! You moved all of the rings to the right rod. Can you do it in fewer moves? Click the reset button to try again.

Remember, you can never put a larger ring on top of a smaller ring. Try a different move.

Congratulations! You moved all 5 rings to the right rod. Is it possible to solve the puzzle in fewer moves? How do you know? Click the reset button if you want to try again.

Drag all the rings from the left rod to the right rod using the smallest number of moves you can.

Nice job! You completed the 3-ring puzzle in 7 moves. That is the fewest moves for 3 rings! Now use what you learned to try solving the puzzle with 4 or 5 rings.

Nice job! You moved the 3 rings to the right rod. Can you do it in fewer moves? Click the reset button to try again, or use what you learned to solve the puzzle with 4 or 5 rings.

Nice job! You completed the 4- ring puzzle in 15 moves. That is the fewest moves for 4 rings! Now use what you learned to try solving the puzzle with 5 rings.

Nice job! You moved the 4 rings to the right rod. Can you do it in fewer moves? Click the reset button to try again, or use what you learned to try solving the puzzle with 5 rings.

One strategy for solving complex problems is to first solve a simpler version of the problem. Your final task is to move all five rings from the left rod to the right rod in the fewest number of moves. But first you can solve a simpler version of the problem by using the dropdown menu to try it with fewer rings.