This selection of tasks have Teachers' Resources which outline how teachers can put into practice a Complex Instruction approach in their classrooms - a teaching approach that has been promoted by Jo Boaler. These resources offer further details about the approach and its merits.
problem
It's a fence!
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
In this challenge, you will work in a group to investigate circular
fences enclosing trees that are planted in square or triangular
arrangements.
article
Developing good team-working skills
Group work depends on effective team work. This article describes
attributes of effective team work and links to "Team Building"
problems that can be used to develop learners' team working skills.
article
Group-working skills
This article for teachers suggests a range of activities to help children get better at working in groups.
article
Group-worthy tasks and their potential to support children to develop independent problem-solving skills
In this article for teachers, Jennie Pennant outlines how group-worthy tasks support the development of children's problem-solving skills.
problem
Sorting the numbers
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
Complete these two jigsaws then put one on top of the other. What
happens when you add the 'touching' numbers? What happens when you
change the position of the jigsaws?
list
Developing group-working skills
This collection of activities offers an opportunity for you to focus on improving children's group-working skills. Read the articles to find out how group tasks help to develop children's problem-solving skills and our reasons for selecting these particular tasks.
list
Developing group-working skills related content
Developing group-working skills related content.
problem
Counting cogs
Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
Which pairs of cogs let the coloured tooth touch every tooth on the other cog? Which pairs do not let this happen? Why?
list
Getting better at group work upper primary
Working on a problem in a group gives you chance to discuss your ideas and further your thinking. Three or four brains are usually better than one! These activities will help you improve your group-working skills.
problem
Planning a school trip
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
You are organising a school trip and you need to write a letter to parents to let them know about the day. Use the cards to gather all the information you need.
list
Upper primary group-worthy tasks
Although almost any NRICH activity could be tackled in a group, these upper primary activities have been created specifically with group work in mind.
problem
Two clocks
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
These clocks have only one hand, but can you work out what time they are showing from the information?
problem
Fingers and hands
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
How would you count the number of fingers in these pictures?
problem
Sort them out (2)
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Can you each work out the number on your card? What do you notice?
How could you sort the cards?
problem
Growing rectangles
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
What happens to the area and volume of 2D and 3D shapes when you enlarge them?
problem
Seven squares - group-worthy task
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
Choose a couple of the sequences. Try to picture how to make the next, and the next, and the next... Can you describe your reasoning?
problem
Efficient cutting
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
Use a single sheet of A4 paper and make a cylinder having the greatest possible volume. The cylinder must be closed off by a circle at each end.
problem
Close to triangular
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Drawing a triangle is not always as easy as you might think!
problem
Partly painted cube
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Jo made a cube from some smaller cubes, painted some of the faces of the large cube, and then took it apart again. 45 small cubes had no paint on them at all. How many small cubes did Jo use?
problem
Painted cube
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Imagine a large cube made from small red cubes being dropped into a pot of yellow paint. How many of the small cubes will have yellow paint on their faces?