The United States Puzzle is an accurate map of the United States. This 500-piece puzzle is shaped like the United States and the individual states are actually groups of pieces that form the shape of the state overlaid with the state’s flag. Although a map puzzle is a great technique to teach US geography, I would not recommend this puzzle to do the job. Because the pictures are so complex, students need to concentrate more on the intricate puzzle design and lose focus on the geography aspect.

• Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
• Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
• Presents educational concepts accurately
• Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
• Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
• Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
• Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)

• Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
• Visually appealing to children in the target age range
• Adults would enjoy playing with a child
• For electronic games, gives positive or encouraging feedback
• Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
• Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option

• Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
• Student should be able to use independently after first use
• Student graduates to the next level or topic only after meeting a benchmark
• Can effectively understand and monitor student's progress (email report or in product)
• Does not require excessive set-up time after first time use
• Can be fun as a single player game
• Multi-player game which fosters collaboration or cooperation
• Well-made for the cost
• For electronic games, can play without sound
• For electronic games, allows user to save work
• For electronic games, voice/sounds are appealing and pronounces words properly
• Provides options to play in languages other than English/Good for ELL
• Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
• Overall - Easy to use

• Attention
• Visually distracting with too many pictures, problems or moving objects
• Fine Motor Skills
• Assembly is difficult or product may break or fall apart easily
• Visual Discrimination
• Visually distracting with too many pictures, problems or moving objects
• Visual Motor Speed
• Assembly is difficult or product may break or fall apart easily