Being Collaborative - Secondary Teachers

Being Collaborative is part of our Developing Mathematical Habits of Mind collection.

Good thinkers collaborate and communicate. They work productively with other people, valuing different points of view. They are willing to change their mind when presented with convincing arguments. They know when to seek help, when to support others, when to speak up and when to compromise.

How do we help our students to become better at collaborating mathematically?

These problems are ideal to work on with others. If you encourage your students to work in pairs or small groups and share ideas, they may learn to recognise that two heads can be better than one.

You can browse through the Number, Algebra, Geometry or Statistics collections, or scroll down to see the full set of problems below.

Being Collaborative - Number

Number problems to work on with others.

Being Collaborative - Algebra

Algebra problems to work on with others.

Being Collaborative - Geometry

Geometry problems to work on with others.

Being Collaborative - Statistics

Statistics problems to work on with others.

American Billions

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

Play the divisibility game to create numbers in which the first two digits make a number divisible by 2, the first three digits make a number divisible by 3...

What's it Worth?

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level

There are lots of different methods to find out what the shapes are worth - how many can you find?

Estimating Angles

Age 7 to 14
Challenge Level

How good are you at estimating angles?

Got It

Age 7 to 14
Challenge Level

A game for two people, or play online. Given a target number, say 23, and a range of numbers to choose from, say 1-4, players take it in turns to add to the running total to hit their target.

Quadrilaterals Game

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

A game for 2 or more people, based on the traditional card game Rummy.

Shapely Pairs

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

A game in which players take it in turns to turn up two cards. If they can draw a triangle which satisfies both properties they win the pair of cards. And a few challenging questions to follow...

Property Chart

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

A game in which players take it in turns to try to draw quadrilaterals (or triangles) with particular properties. Is it possible to fill the game grid?

Transformation Game

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

Why not challenge a friend to play this transformation game?

Factors and Multiples Game

Age 7 to 16
Challenge Level

A game in which players take it in turns to choose a number. Can you block your opponent?

Diamond Collector

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level

Collect as many diamonds as you can by drawing three straight lines.

Connect Three

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level

In this game the winner is the first to complete a row of three. Are some squares easier to land on than others?

First Connect Three

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level

Add or subtract the two numbers on the spinners and try to complete a row of three. Are there some numbers that are good to aim for?

All in a Jumble

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

My measurements have got all jumbled up! Swap them around and see if you can find a combination where every measurement is valid.

Reflecting Lines

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

Investigate what happens to the equations of different lines when you reflect them in one of the axes. Try to predict what will happen. Explain your findings.