Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
Sara and Will were sorting some pictures of shapes on cards. "I'll collect the circles," said Sara. "I'll take the red ones," answered Will. Can you see any cards they would both want?
Can you make five differently sized squares from the tangram pieces?
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?
Using a loop of string stretched around three of your fingers, what different triangles can you make? Draw them and sort them into groups.
Explore the triangles that can be made with seven sticks of the same length.
Make a chair and table out of interlocking cubes, making sure that the chair fits under the table!
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.
These pictures show squares split into halves. Can you find other ways?
Can you make a rectangle with just 2 dominoes? What about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7...?
Watch this "Notes on a Triangle" film. Can you recreate parts of the film using cut-out triangles?
Cut a square of paper into three pieces as shown. Now,can you use the 3 pieces to make a large triangle, a parallelogram and the square again?
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?
What shapes can you make by folding an A4 piece of paper?
Try continuing these patterns made from triangles. Can you create your own repeating pattern?
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 make the most extraordinary, the most amazing, the most unusual patterns/designs from these triangles which are made in a special way?
Can you recreate this Indian screen pattern? Can you make up similar patterns of your own?
NRICH December 2006 advent calendar - a new tangram for each day in the run-up to Christmas.
Looking at the picture of this Jomista Mat, can you decribe what you see? Why not try and make one yourself?
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?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of Wai Ping, Wah Ming and Chi Wing?
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.
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?
This practical problem challenges you to create shapes and patterns with two different types of triangle. You could even try overlapping them.
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of Little Ming playing the board game?
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 the child walking home from school?
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 Mai Ling and Chi Wing?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of the workmen?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of the candle and sundial?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of these clocks?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of these people?
Have a go at drawing these stars which use six points drawn around a circle. Perhaps you can create your own designs?
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?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this telephone?
Can you make the birds from the egg tangram?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this brazier for roasting chestnuts?
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 outline of this junk?
We can cut a small triangle off the corner of a square and then fit the two pieces together. Can you work out how these shapes are made from the two pieces?
How can you make a curve from straight strips of paper?
Make new patterns from simple turning instructions. You can have a go using pencil and paper or with a floor robot.
This practical activity challenges you to create symmetrical designs by cutting a square into strips.
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?
In this challenge, you will work in a group to investigate circular fences enclosing trees that are planted in square or triangular arrangements.
This is a simple paper-folding activity that gives an intriguing result which you can then investigate further.