Lesson of the Day: ‘Here’s How Those Hot Jigsaw Puzzles Are Made’

Feb 25, 2024

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In this lesson, students learn about the steps involved in creating jigsaw puzzles — and why, by design, it is a time-consuming process.

By Shannon Doyne

Find all of our Lessons of the Day here.

Featured Article: “Here’s How Those Hot Jigsaw Puzzles Are Made”

The coronavirus has sent puzzle businesses racing as demand surges past levels seen at Christmas.

In this lesson, you will learn how jigsaw puzzles are made and why companies that create them see the sudden surge in interest in their products as a “double-edged sword.”

How are you spending your time at home these days? What new hobbies have you discovered? What familiar pastimes have you found yourself pursuing now that you have more time?

Have you worked on or completed a jigsaw puzzle in the past several weeks? If so, where did you find the puzzle?

Read the article, then answer the following questions:

1. What are three steps in the manufacturing process that make the creation of jigsaw puzzles time-consuming? How do you think social distance measures at the factory may also slow down the process of making enough puzzles to meet the current demand?

2. Thomas Kaeppeler, president of Ravensburger, a German puzzle maker, in North America, is quoted as saying that the company strives for “an immersive image” when choosing what to use on its puzzles. What is an immersive image? Give a few examples of images that might fit the criteria.

3. Why are so many people working on puzzles these days? What are some of the benefits of this pastime? How likely are the people who discovered, or rediscovered, a love of jigsaw puzzles to become lifelong puzzle solvers? Why do you say that?

4. One employee at a puzzle company described the sudden surge in demand as a “double-edged sword.” What does he mean by this? What are the potential benefits and detriments for jigsaw puzzle companies, in the near and slightly more distant future, of more people wanting to purchase their products?

5. Suppose a person cannot find a jigsaw puzzle but wants a similar experience. What other activities do you think come close to replicating what it is like to work on a puzzle? How are they similar? How are they different?

Take a look at the offerings in the related article “16 Aesthetically Pleasing Puzzles and Games to Play at Home.” Which of the jigsaw puzzles featured in the article appeals to you the most? Why? What about the card games? And the other games?

Which of the puzzles or games seem designed for more than one person to participate? How might they help people who are sheltering together feel more connected? Which offerings might be appealing to people who are living alone during this time? Why do you say that?

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