Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
In this article for teachers, Bernard uses some problems to suggest that once a numerical pattern has been spotted from a practical starting point, going back to the practical can help explain. . . .
Make an equilateral triangle by folding paper and use it to make patterns of your own.
You could use just coloured pencils and paper to create this design, but it will be more eye-catching if you can get hold of hammer, nails and string.
A game to make and play based on the number line.
Make a clinometer and use it to help you estimate the heights of tall objects.
Make a spiral mobile.
It might seem impossible but it is possible. How can you cut a playing card to make a hole big enough to walk through?
Make your own double-sided magic square. But can you complete both sides once you've made the pieces?
Follow these instructions to make a three-piece and/or seven-piece tangram.
How is it possible to predict the card?
Make some celtic knot patterns using tiling techniques
This package contains hands-on code breaking activities based on the Enigma Schools Project. Suitable for Stages 2, 3 and 4.
Can you order pictures of the development of a frog from frogspawn and of a bean seed growing into a plant?
This article for pupils gives an introduction to Celtic knotwork patterns and a feel for how you can draw them.
Use the tangram pieces to make our pictures, or to design some of your own!
Time for a little mathemagic! Choose any five cards from a pack and show four of them to your partner. How can they work out the fifth?
Can you make the birds from the egg tangram?
How can you make a curve from straight strips of paper?
As part of Liverpool08 European Capital of Culture there were a huge number of events and displays. One of the art installations was called "Turning the Place Over". Can you find our how it works?
Using these kite and dart templates, you could try to recreate part of Penrose's famous tessellation or design one yourself.
Generate three random numbers to determine the side lengths of a triangle. What triangles can you draw?
Make a cube with three strips of paper. Colour three faces or use the numbers 1 to 6 to make a die.
Make a ball from triangles!
These models have appeared around the Centre for Mathematical Sciences. Perhaps you would like to try to make some similar models of your own.
Make a mobius band and investigate its properties.
Galileo, a famous inventor who lived about 400 years ago, came up with an idea similar to this for making a time measuring instrument. Can you turn your pendulum into an accurate minute timer?
Did you know mazes tell stories? Find out more about mazes and make one of your own.
Exploring balance and centres of mass can be great fun. The resulting structures can seem impossible. Here are some images to encourage you to experiment with non-breakable objects of your own.
Surprise your friends with this magic square trick.
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.
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.
Ideas for practical ways of representing data such as Venn and Carroll diagrams.
How many differently shaped rectangles can you build using these equilateral and isosceles triangles? Can you make a square?
Have a go at drawing these stars which use six points drawn around a circle. Perhaps you can create your own designs?
This article for students gives some instructions about how to make some different braids.
An activity making various patterns with 2 x 1 rectangular tiles.
Are all the possible combinations of two shapes included in this set of 27 cards? How do you know?
Investigate the smallest number of moves it takes to turn these mats upside-down if you can only turn exactly three at a time.
This is the second in a twelve part introduction to Logo for beginners. In this part you learn to draw polygons.
Can you describe what happens in this film?
More Logo for beginners. Learn to calculate exterior angles and draw regular polygons using procedures and variables.
Can you puzzle out what sequences these Logo programs will give? Then write your own Logo programs to generate sequences.
Logo helps us to understand gradients of lines and why Muggles Magic is not magic but mathematics. See the problem Muggles magic.
What happens when a procedure calls itself?
Draw whirling squares and see how Fibonacci sequences and golden rectangles are connected.
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.
A description of how to make the five Platonic solids out of paper.
I start with a red, a green and a blue marble. I can trade any of my marbles for two others, one of each colour. Can I end up with five more blue marbles than red after a number of such trades?
Here is a solitaire type environment for you to experiment with. Which targets can you reach?
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.