7th Grade · Ages 12–13
The Slowest-Two Year
Twelve is when a child can be shown that the sensible plan — always take the cheapest next step — is a trap with a name.
- 1 Hard Thing
- 5 days · 105 minutes
- 3 unmarkable questions
Ready?
7th Grade · The Bridge at Night
Twelve is when a child can be shown that the sensible plan — always take the cheapest next step — is a trap with a name.
Full screen — no distractions
Where this goes
The ladder
The same idea, three times, roughly a year apart. This is what depth looks like from the outside.
This year
Four walkers, 17 minutes.
Next year
Any number of walkers, and the rule for deciding which pairing to use.
The year after
Greedy algorithms and why they fail — the same idea that runs inside a satnav.
What lives on the desk this year
- Index cards, one per person in the puzzle
- A whiteboard you can wipe without guilt
- A timer
- A folder of plans that did not work, kept on purpose
- A list of problems you intend to come back to
The rest of 7th Grade
One hard thing a day is the sharp end. It sits on top of an ordinary year.
Last updated: September 2026