Large Maze for Ages 8-10 — Set 869217
Which way is shorter? In this large 16×12 maze, an 8- to 10-year-old compares two possible routes at a junction, predicts the better one and then tests the guess.
1 A4 page · for home and classroom use
Maze: large (ages 8+)
How to use this worksheet
- At the first junction with two options, ask your child to trace both corridors lightly with a finger for a few squares.
- Have them predict which option leads to the exit more directly and explain why.
- Test the prediction with a pencil; if that corridor ends in a dead end, the other option becomes the route.
- Finally, count the squares on the correct path.
What this worksheet teaches
Comparing options trains estimation and reasoning: children weigh two possibilities before committing, then check against the result. Because the maze has only one route from entrance to exit, they also discover that the shortest way is simply the one without detours into dead ends.
Play idea
Play route auction: you and your child each bet on a different corridor at a junction. Whoever picked the corridor that stays on the correct path wins the round; play at three junctions and count the rounds.
Questions and answers
Questions from parents
If there is only one path, what is there to compare?
The options at each junction: with a single correct path, your child tests which corridor continues to the exit and which one ends in a dead end.
Why is a 16×12 maze good for comparing routes?
The large grid has many long side corridors, so predictions are genuinely hard and testing them teaches something new each time.
How do we measure the length of the path?
Count the squares the finished line passes through from the entrance to the exit; it is a simple way to see how long the route is.