Secret Santa Logic Puzzle Distance Learning Activity

This Clue-by-Clue mystery logic puzzle or logic grid with a Christmas twist helps students practice critical thinking skills. Five friends have a Secret Santa party. But who gave what to whom? This logic activity is perfect to practice critical thinking and logic skills such as evaluating evidence, deducing, and mathematical reasoning. Can your students follow the clues to figure out which gift everyone got? And who their Secret Santa was?

And in this activity, students are given the clues one by one in manageable chunks. That helps them think deeply about each clue and practice their critical thinking skills. The Google Forms format means they can go back and forth as much as they like, reading and re-reading clues.

There's also a link to a Puzzle Solving worksheet so students can track their deductions and use process of elimination to figure out who did it! Download, print, export, or copy and use the worksheet in Google Docs directly (Google Account required for copying and using online).

Students can access it at home or in school, alone or as a class, making this a highly flexible mystery game. Use it as a warmer, a close reading exercise, a lesson on thinking skills, or even a brain break.

This product in Google Forms form includes the initial situation, a link to a Puzzle Solving Worksheet 5 clues (each with an optional space to jot down notes), 5 optional hints that walk students through the puzzle, a series of questions for students to show their solution, and finally the solution itself. Note that you have to SEND the form to students by clicking on the SEND button in the top-left corner. Then students will see the clues one by one. DO NOT Share the Master Doc!

You can also change the settings under "settings" to add points, track student responses by email, and more. You can see responses under responses tab!

This version is meant to be done ONLINE in Google Slides:
The printable PDF version is a separate product that you can find here: Secret Santa Puzzle PDF Puzzle

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Enjoy this? Check out my entire Mystery Section with more clue by clues in different formats. I also have activities to help students write their own mysteries and more! You can also find activities that reference holidays in the Holiday Section.

And please leave a review. It helps others find this resource and gives me valuable feedback when creating new ones!