Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
Using a loop of string stretched around three of your fingers, what different triangles can you make? Draw them and sort them into groups.
What shapes can you make by folding an A4 piece of paper?
We have a box of cubes, triangular prisms, cones, cuboids, cylinders and tetrahedrons. Which of the buildings would fall down if we tried to make them?
Make a chair and table out of interlocking cubes, making sure that the chair fits under the table!
Can you make five differently sized squares from the tangram pieces?
Can you make a rectangle with just 2 dominoes? What about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7...?
Explore the triangles that can be made with seven sticks of the same length.
Have you noticed that triangles are used in manmade structures? Perhaps there is a good reason for this? 'Test a Triangle' and see how rigid triangles are.
Try continuing these patterns made from triangles. Can you create your own repeating pattern?
Arrange your fences to make the largest rectangular space you can. Try with four fences, then five, then six etc.
Can you create more models that follow these rules?
Can you see which tile is the odd one out in this design? Using the basic tile, can you make a repeating pattern to decorate our wall?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of Wai Ping, Wah Ming and Chi Wing?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this junk?
Can you recreate this Indian screen pattern? Can you make up similar patterns of your own?
What happens to the area of a square if you double the length of the sides? Try the same thing with rectangles, diamonds and other shapes. How do the four smaller ones fit into the larger one?
Take 5 cubes of one colour and 2 of another colour. How many different ways can you join them if the 5 must touch the table and the 2 must not touch the table?
Looking at the picture of this Jomista Mat, can you decribe what you see? Why not try and make one yourself?
Using different numbers of sticks, how many different triangles are you able to make? Can you make any rules about the numbers of sticks that make the most triangles?
Kaia is sure that her father has worn a particular tie twice a week in at least five of the last ten weeks, but her father disagrees. Who do you think is right?
Follow the diagrams to make this patchwork piece, based on an octagon in a square.
If you'd like to know more about Primary Maths Masterclasses, this is the package to read! Find out about current groups in your region or how to set up your own.
This practical problem challenges you to create shapes and patterns with two different types of triangle. You could even try overlapping them.
Have a go at drawing these stars which use six points drawn around a circle. Perhaps you can create your own designs?
Watch this "Notes on a Triangle" film. Can you recreate parts of the film using cut-out triangles?
This problem focuses on Dienes' Logiblocs. What is the same and what is different about these pairs of shapes? Can you describe the shapes in the picture?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of Mai Ling and Chi Wing?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this shape. How would you describe it?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of the candle and sundial?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of the workmen?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of these rabbits?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of Little Ming and Little Fung dancing?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of the chairs?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of the lobster, yacht and cyclist?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of Little Fung at the table?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of Little Ming playing the board game?
Kimie and Sebastian were making sticks from interlocking cubes and lining them up. Can they make their lines the same length? Can they make any other lines?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of these people?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of the child walking home from school?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of these clocks?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this telephone?
Ideas for practical ways of representing data such as Venn and Carroll diagrams.
In this challenge, you will work in a group to investigate circular fences enclosing trees that are planted in square or triangular arrangements.
This challenge invites you to create your own picture using just straight lines. Can you identify shapes with the same number of sides and decorate them in the same way?
Can you lay out the pictures of the drinks in the way described by the clue cards?
Take a rectangle of paper and fold it in half, and half again, to make four smaller rectangles. How many different ways can you fold it up?
The ancient Egyptians were said to make right-angled triangles using a rope with twelve equal sections divided by knots. What other triangles could you make if you had a rope like this?
Our 2008 Advent Calendar has a 'Making Maths' activity for every day in the run-up to Christmas.
This practical activity challenges you to create symmetrical designs by cutting a square into strips.
How can you make a curve from straight strips of paper?