The worksheet titled "Find the Sum for the Rows and Columns in a Grid: Replace-the-Picture Puzzle" is a fun way for students to practice beginning algebraic concepts. Each puzzle features a grid. Some boxes are filled with numbers, and other boxes are filled with pictures. Students have to figure out the sum for each column and row, which all have the same answer. Based on that clue, they can figure out the value of each image.

The farthest right-hand column and lowest row both have all the digits filled in so students can find the answer for all the columns and rows. That way they can work backwards to figure out what number each picture represents.

Every puzzle contains a grid with the images on the left side of the page and the same puzzle without the pictures on the right side of the page. That gives students the ability to write their answers in the blank boxes. There's also a place at the bottom where they write the number value for each image.

Lower grade level puzzles are simpler featuring a grid of 9 boxes and just 1 or 2 pictures. Puzzles get more difficult at higher grade levels with grids that feature up to 36 boxes and up to 5 images.

Even very young students can practice algebraic concepts by figuring out the missing addends in simple equations. Puzzles can be an especially effective way to practice when you use pictures instead of letters in equations that are missing digits. For example, students could figure out that the picture of a carrot equals 2 in an equation like 3 + ____ = 5.

You can challenge student thinking by introducing multiple images, which means solving for multiple missing addends. Using a grid where each row and column equals the same number can help students use their problem-solving skills to figure out what numbers are missing and where they go.

Other puzzles can help students practice these concepts. For example, Tarsia puzzles can help students identify missing addends. It can also be fun for students to come up with their own picture equations and give them to another student to solve.