Save The Turtle Puzzle

Save The Turtle Puzzle is an educational maze puzzle game designed to teach children aged 4-8 years about the environmental impact of plastic pollution on marine life, particularly sea turtles. This innovative educational toy, which earned recognition with an Iron A' Design Award in the Toys, Games and Hobby Products Design category, combines entertainment with environmental awareness through a carefully crafted wooden maze system. The puzzle consists of four interchangeable square pieces and a frame, measuring 220 x 220 x 5 millimeters, complemented by a comprehensive instruction booklet and miniature wooden pieces representing turtles, bottles, and plastic bags. The game's design incorporates 24 distinct quiz challenges where children must guide a turtle token through various maze configurations to reach safety while avoiding plastic hazards, effectively demonstrating how marine debris threatens sea turtle survival. Manufactured from durable MDF wood, the puzzle emphasizes environmental consciousness through its plastic-free construction, though future iterations aim for complete eco-friendly or recyclable materials. The design features strategic elements such as sea-themed stickers to help younger players identify similar-looking maze pieces, and includes two difficulty levels to accommodate different age groups and skill levels. Through repetitive play and problem-solving, the puzzle reinforces critical environmental messages while developing spatial awareness and fine motor skills. Research conducted during the product's development demonstrated its effectiveness in helping children retain information about marine pollution and inspiring them to share this knowledge with adults, contributing to broader environmental awareness.

Author: Adam Dawson

Keywords: environmental education, marine conservation, wooden puzzle, children's games, sustainable toys, educational play

SOURCES:
https://competition.adesignaward.com/98043

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