Making Maths: Rolypoly

Stage: 1 and 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

You will need:


  • a few cardboard rolls (for example from the middle of toilet rolls, kitchen rolls etc.)
  • paint
  • paper

What to do:

1. Paint a stripe around the roll, then roll it across the paper.


Roll with stripePaper with stripe
Not very impressive?

2. Well, now try painting a sloping ring around the roll.

Roll with sloping ring
What do you think will happen when you roll it across some paper?
Try it and see whether your predictions were correct!

3. Investigate painting different stripes on the roll. Can you picture what will happen when it is rolled across the paper?

You could ask a friend to work out how you painted your roll in order to produce the mark on the paper!

This activity features in our December 2008 Advent Calendar .


The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice. More information on many of our other activities can be found here.
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NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.