Laser Maze Jr.

Laser Maze Jr. - A logic puzzle with a laser beam

I recently blogged about the one-person logic game Laser Maze. This is the Junior version of that game made by the same company, ThinkFun. Laser Maze Jr. includes 40 challenges rated easy, medium, hard and super hard (10 of each). After you solve each challenge turn on the laser. If you are correct it will be directed from piece to piece until it lights up the rocket(s) so they can safely return to earth. All solutions are given in the instruction book.

All pieces are plastic and most of them have mirrors that will reflect and direct the laser beam, depending on how you orient the pieces as you place them. The laser is attached to the game grid and you activate it by turning a knob.  Laser Output is 1mW MAX OUTPUT at 635-670 nm. Class II laser product. Takes two AAA batteries.

Pieces and how they work.

If you would like to read more about one-person logic puzzles, check out my post What's in Your Therapy Box? Logic Puzzles Edition. 

Object:
Line up the pieces on the challenge card so the the laser beam has an unbroken path and lights up the rockets.  

Set up:
Place the game grid on a flat playing surface. Choose a challenge card and slide it into the game grid. You can see the challenge cards on the left of the game grid in the image above. You can see the bottom of the red challenge card sticking out from under the game grid. It slides into the game grid so you can see where all the pieces go as you are setting up. Add the tokens onto the grid in the places that are indicated on the challenge card. Be very careful that you match the orientations that are indicated on the pattern card. The pieces that are shown on the part of the challenge card that is sticking out are the pieces you will have to finish the challenge. It is up to you where to place them. In the image above you will see three pieces on the challenge card.

Play:
Place the pieces that are indicated on the challenge card onto the grid in an order that will direct the laser beam to light up the rocket(s).

Challenge cards. One for each level of difficulty.

Solutions for the above challenge cards.

If you are interested in reading more about logic puzzles, check out my post on What's in Your Therapy Box? Logic Puzzles Edition.  

Try this:

• Play with the pieces on the grid before trying to solve a challenge. Let the individual put one piece down and move it around until he can make the laser hit it. Then have him add a second piece and move it around until he can make the laser hit both of them. Add a piece at a time to understand how it works.
• Examine each token before starting and understand its purpose before starting any challenges.
• Play a game while the individual looks on. Think aloud to teach the reasoning process. Once successful, take the puzzle apart and let the individual do it.
• Set up a game following the solution of a puzzle. Leave off the last piece and let the player figure out where to put it. Then do the next challenge and leave off the last two pieces, then three, etc., until the player is finishing the challenges independently.
• Work on spatial relations, visual discrimination, visual closure, manual dexterity, executive functioning skills, planning and logical thinking skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: Game grid with laser, 40 challenges, 11 game tokens (2 rocket targets, 5 satellite mirrors, 3 space rock blockers, 1 beam splitter), instruction book with solutions
 
If you are interested in purchasing this item or just want more information, click on the image below.