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Resources tagged with Practical Activity similar to Symmetrical Semaphore:

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Challenge level: Challenge Level:1 Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:3

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Broad Topics > Using, Applying and Reasoning about Mathematics > Practical Activity

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Making Maths: Indian Window Screen

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Can you recreate this Indian screen pattern? Can you make up similar patterns of your own?

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Making Maths: Snowflakes

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

It's hard to make a snowflake with six perfect lines of symmetry, but it's fun to try!

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Turning Granny

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

A brief video looking at how you can sometimes use symmetry to distinguish knots. Can you use this idea to investigate the differences between the granny knot and the reef knot?

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Making Maths: Five-point Snowflake

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Follow these instructions to make a five-pointed snowflake from a square of paper.

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Notes on a Triangle

Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Can you describe what happens in this film?

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Rolling Triangle

Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

The triangle ABC is equilateral. The arc AB has centre C, the arc BC has centre A and the arc CA has centre B. Explain how and why this shape can roll along between two parallel tracks.

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Building Patterns

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Can you deduce the pattern that has been used to lay out these bottle tops?

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Attractive Rotations

Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Here is a chance to create some attractive images by rotating shapes through multiples of 90 degrees, or 30 degrees, or 72 degrees or...

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Triangle Shapes

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

This practical problem challenges you to create shapes and patterns with two different types of triangle. You could even try overlapping them.

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Stringy Quads

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

This practical problem challenges you to make quadrilaterals with a loop of string. You'll need some friends to help!

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Let's Reflect

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Where can you put the mirror across the square so that you can still "see" the whole square? How many different positions are possible?

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Masterclasses Information

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

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.

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Making Tangrams

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Here's a simple way to make a Tangram without any measuring or ruling lines.

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Jomista Mat

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Looking at the picture of this Jomista Mat, can you decribe what you see? Why not try and make one yourself?

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Seven Flipped

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

Investigate the smallest number of moves it takes to turn these mats upside-down if you can only turn exactly three at a time.

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Making Maths: Birds from an Egg

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Can you make the birds from the egg tangram?

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Triangles to Tetrahedra

Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

Starting with four different triangles, imagine you have an unlimited number of each type. How many different tetrahedra can you make? Convince us you have found them all.

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Advent Calendar 2006

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

NRICH December 2006 advent calendar - a new tangram for each day in the run-up to Christmas.

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Cutting Corners

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Can you make the most extraordinary, the most amazing, the most unusual patterns/designs from these triangles which are made in a special way?

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Sticks and Triangles

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

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?

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A Patchwork Piece

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Follow the diagrams to make this patchwork piece, based on an octagon in a square.

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Sea Defences

Stage: 2 and 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

These are pictures of the sea defences at New Brighton. Can you work out what a basic shape might be in both images of the sea wall and work out a way they might fit together?

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It's a Tie

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

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?

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World of Tan 4 - Monday Morning

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of Wai Ping, Wah Ming and Chi Wing?

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World of Tan 25 - Pentominoes

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of these people?

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World of Tan 26 - Old Chestnut

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this brazier for roasting chestnuts?

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World of Tan 27 - Sharing

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of Little Fung at the table?

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World of Tan 24 - Clocks

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of these clocks?

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World of Tan 22 - an Appealing Stroll

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of the child walking home from school?

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World of Tan 20 - Fractions

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of the chairs?

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World of Tan 21 - Almost There Now

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of the lobster, yacht and cyclist?

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World of Tan 28 - Concentrating on Coordinates

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of Little Ming playing the board game?

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World of Tan 29 - the Telephone

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this telephone?

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Shaping Up

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Are all the possible combinations of two shapes included in this set of 27 cards? How do you know?

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Making Cuboids

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Let's say you can only use two different lengths - 2 units and 4 units. Using just these 2 lengths as the edges how many different cuboids can you make?

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World of Tan 6 - Junk

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this junk?

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Two Squared

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

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?

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Making Maths: Stars

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Have a go at drawing these stars which use six points drawn around a circle. Perhaps you can create your own designs?

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Counting Counters

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Take a counter and surround it by a ring of other counters that MUST touch two others. How many are needed?

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Conway's Chequerboard Army

Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Here is a solitaire type environment for you to experiment with. Which targets can you reach?

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Fractional Triangles

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Use the lines on this figure to show how the square can be divided into 2 halves, 3 thirds, 6 sixths and 9 ninths.

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Paper Curves

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

This is a simple paper-folding activity that gives an intriguing result which you can then investigate further.

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Fit These Shapes

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

What is the largest number of circles we can fit into the frame without them overlapping? How do you know? What will happen if you try the other shapes?

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Bryony's Triangle

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Watch the video to see how to fold a square of paper to create a flower. What fraction of the piece of paper is the small triangle?

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The Numbers Give the Design

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Make new patterns from simple turning instructions. You can have a go using pencil and paper or with a floor robot.

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Straight to Curves

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

How can you make a curve from straight strips of paper?

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Drawing Celtic Knots

Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Here is a chance to create some Celtic knots and explore the mathematics behind them.

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It's a Fence!

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

In this challenge, you will work in a group to investigate circular fences enclosing trees that are planted in square or triangular arrangements.

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Four Layers

Stage: 1 and 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

Can you create more models that follow these rules?

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3 Sets of Cubes, 2 Surfaces

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

How many models can you find which obey these rules?


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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