Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
How does the time of dawn and dusk vary? What about the Moon, how does that change from night to night? Is the Sun always the same? Gather data to help you explore these questions.
What shape would fit your pens and pencils best? How can you make it?
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?
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.
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?
This article for students gives some instructions about how to make some different braids.
Make a spiral mobile.
Build a scaffold out of drinking-straws to support a cup of water
Can Jo make a gym bag for her trainers from the piece of fabric she has?
This article for pupils gives an introduction to Celtic knotwork patterns and a feel for how you can draw them.
Design and construct a prototype intercooler which will satisfy agreed quality control constraints.
Make some celtic knot patterns using tiling techniques
Make an equilateral triangle by folding paper and use it to make patterns of your own.
Ideas for practical ways of representing data such as Venn and Carroll diagrams.
This package contains hands-on code breaking activities based on the Enigma Schools Project. Suitable for Stages 2, 3 and 4.
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.
These models have appeared around the Centre for Mathematical Sciences. Perhaps you would like to try to make some similar models of your own.
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?
What shape and size of drinks mat is best for flipping and catching?
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?
Exploring and predicting folding, cutting and punching holes and making spirals.
It might seem impossible but it is possible. How can you cut a playing card to make a hole big enough to walk through?
What shapes should Elly cut out to make a witch's hat? How can she make a taller hat?
More Logo for beginners. Now learn more about the REPEAT command.
Learn about Pen Up and Pen Down in Logo
How is it possible to predict the card?
More Logo for beginners. Learn to calculate exterior angles and draw regular polygons using procedures and variables.
Write a Logo program, putting in variables, and see the effect when you change the variables.
An activity making various patterns with 2 x 1 rectangular tiles.
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?
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?
Where can you put the mirror across the square so that you can still "see" the whole square? How many different positions are possible?
Use the lines on this figure to show how the square can be divided into 2 halves, 3 thirds, 6 sixths and 9 ninths.
Can you puzzle out what sequences these Logo programs will give? Then write your own Logo programs to generate sequences.
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.
Looking at the picture of this Jomista Mat, can you decribe what you see? Why not try and make one yourself?
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.
A description of how to make the five Platonic solids out of paper.
This practical problem challenges you to create shapes and patterns with two different types of triangle. You could even try overlapping them.
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?
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?
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.
Here is a solitaire type environment for you to experiment with. Which targets can you reach?
Follow the diagrams to make this patchwork piece, based on an octagon in a square.
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?
Can you make the birds from the egg tangram?
Here's a simple way to make a Tangram without any measuring or ruling lines.
Investigate the smallest number of moves it takes to turn these mats upside-down if you can only turn exactly three at a time.
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?