Being Collaborative - Primary All Resources

problem

Favourite

How Tall?

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

A group of children are discussing the height of a tall tree. How would you go about finding out its height?

problem

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Cover the Camel

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Can you cover the camel with these pieces?

problem

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Number match

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

A task which depends on members of the group noticing the needs of others and responding.

problem

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Birthday Sharing

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

It's Sahila's birthday and she is having a party. How could you answer these questions using a picture, with things, with numbers or symbols?

problem

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Fraction Match

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

A task which depends on members of the group noticing the needs of others and responding.

problem

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Sticky Data

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

You'll need to work in a group on this problem. Use your sticky notes to show the answer to questions such as 'how many girls are there in your group?'.

problem

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Tables Teaser

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

How will you work out which numbers have been used to create this multiplication square?

problem

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Biscuit Decorations

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Andrew decorated 20 biscuits to take to a party. He lined them up and put icing on every second biscuit and different decorations on other biscuits. How many biscuits weren't decorated?

problem

Favourite

If the World Were a Village

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

This activity is based on data in the book 'If the World Were a Village'. How will you represent your chosen data for maximum effect?

problem

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Digit Addition

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Try out this number trick. What happens with different starting numbers? What do you notice?

problem

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Domino Sorting

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Try grouping the dominoes in the ways described. Are there any left over each time? Can you explain why?

problem

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I Like ...

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Mr Gilderdale is playing a game with his class. What rule might he have chosen? How would you test your idea?

problem

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Next Domino

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Which comes next in each pattern of dominoes?

problem

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Ordering cards

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

This problem is designed to help children to learn, and to use, the two and three times tables.

problem

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How Many?

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Have a look at these photos of different fruit. How many do you see? How did you count?

problem

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Arranging Additions and Sorting Subtractions

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Order these four calculations from easiest to hardest. How did you decide?

problem

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Thirsty?

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Can you lay out the pictures of the drinks in the way described by the clue cards?

problem

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One Big Triangle

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Make one big triangle so the numbers that touch on the small triangles add to 10.

problem

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That number square

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Exploring the structure of a number square: how quickly can you put the number tiles in the right place on the grid?

problem

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Fruity Pairs

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Which two items of fruit could Kate and Sam choose? Can you order the prices from lowest to highest?

problem

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Growing Garlic

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Ben and his mum are planting garlic. Can you find out how many cloves of garlic they might have had?

problem

Favourite

How do you see it?

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Here are some short problems for you to try. Talk to your friends about how you work them out.

problem

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Matching Triangles

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Can you sort these triangles into three different families and explain how you did it?

Two flowers with the numbers 15 and 16 on them

problem

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Butterfly Flowers

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Can you find two butterflies to go on each flower so that the numbers on each pair of butterflies adds to the number on their flower?

problem

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Subtraction Slip

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Can you spot the mistake in this video? How would you work out the answer to this calculation?

problem

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En-counters

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

This task requires learners to explain and help others, asking and answering questions.

$Can you do \it too?$

problem

Favourite

Can you do it too?

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Try some throwing activities and see whether you can throw something as far as the Olympic hammer or discus throwers.

problem

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Equivalent Pairs

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Can you match pairs of cards which show the same amount?

problem

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Shapely Lines

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

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?

problem

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Domino Sequences

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Find the next two dominoes in these sequences.

problem

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Break it up!

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

In how many different ways can you break up a stick of seven interlocking cubes? Now try with a stick of eight cubes and a stick of six cubes. What do you notice?

problem

Favourite

Matching Time

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Try this matching game which will help you recognise different ways of saying the same time interval.

problem

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Ip Dip

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

"Ip dip sky blue! Who's 'it'? It's you!" Where would you position yourself so that you are 'it' if there are two players? Three players ...?

problem

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Snap

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Try this version of Snap with a friend - do you know the order of the days of the week?

problem

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Double or Halve?

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Throw the dice and decide whether to double or halve the number. Will you be the first to reach the target?

problem

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The add and take-away path

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Two children made up a game as they walked along the garden paths. Can you find out their scores? Can you find some paths of your own?

problem

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What's in a Name?

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

What do you notice about these squares of numbers? What is the same? What is different?

problem

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Robot Monsters

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Use these head, body and leg pieces to make Robot Monsters which are different heights.

problem

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Dicey Addition

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Who said that adding couldn't be fun?

problem

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Venn diagrams

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

How will you complete these interactive Venn diagrams?

problem

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Paper Partners

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Can you describe a piece of paper clearly enough for your partner to know which piece it is?

problem

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Order, Order!

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Can you place these quantities in order from smallest to largest?

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Always, Sometimes or Never?

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Are these statements relating to odd and even numbers always true, sometimes true or never true?

problem

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Strike it Out

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Use your addition and subtraction skills, combined with some strategic thinking, to beat your partner at this game.

project

How Many?

This project challenges you to work out the number of cubes hidden under a cloth. What questions would you like to ask?

problem

Favourite

What is the time?

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Can you put these times on the clocks in order? You might like to arrange them in a circle.

problem

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Always, Sometimes or Never? KS1

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Are these statements relating to calculation and properties of shapes always true, sometimes true or never true?

problem

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Cuisenaire Counting

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Here are some rods that are different colours. How could I make a yellow rod using white and red rods?

problem

Favourite

I'm Eight

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Find a great variety of ways of asking questions which make 8.

problem

Favourite

Half Time

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

What could the half time scores have been in these Olympic hockey matches?

problem

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Seeing Squares

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Players take it in turns to choose a dot on the grid. The winner is the first to have four dots that can be joined to form a square.

problem

Favourite

Sort them out (1)

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Can you each work out the number on your card? What do you notice? How could you sort the cards?

problem

Favourite

Jig Shapes

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Can you each work out what shape you have part of on your card? What will the rest of it look like?

problem

Favourite

Discuss and Choose

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

This activity challenges you to decide on the 'best' number to use in each statement. You may need to do some estimating, some calculating and some research.

problem

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Carroll Diagrams

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Use the interactivities to fill in these Carroll diagrams. How do you know where to place the numbers?

problem

Favourite

Even and odd

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

This activity is best done with a whole class or in a large group. Can you match the cards? What happens when you add pairs of the numbers together?

problem

Favourite

All Change

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

There are three versions of this challenge. The idea is to change the colour of all the spots on the grid. Can you do it in fewer throws of the dice?

problem

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Same Length Trains

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

How many trains can you make which are the same length as Matt's and Katie's, using rods that are identical?

problem

Favourite

Let's Investigate Triangles

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Vincent and Tara are making triangles with the class construction set. They have a pile of strips of different lengths. How many different triangles can they make?

problem

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Poly Plug Pattern

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Create a pattern on the small grid. How could you extend your pattern on the larger grid?

problem

Favourite

Are you well Balanced?

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Can you work out how to make each side of this balance equally balanced? You can put more than one weight on a hook.

problem

Favourite

Four Triangles Puzzle

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Cut four triangles from a square as shown in the picture. How many different shapes can you make by fitting the four triangles back together?

problem

Favourite

Data shapes

Age

5 to 7

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?

problem

Favourite

Eightness of Eight

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

What do you see as you watch this video? Can you create a similar video for the number 12?

problem

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6 Beads

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

If you put three beads onto a tens/ones abacus you can make the numbers 3, 30, 12 or 21. What numbers can be made with six beads?

problem

Favourite

Skeleton Shapes

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

How many balls of modelling clay and how many straws does it take to make these skeleton shapes?

problem

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Wallpaper

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

These pieces of wallpaper need to be ordered from smallest to largest. Can you find a way to do it?

problem

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Colouring Triangles

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Explore ways of colouring this set of triangles. Can you make symmetrical patterns?

problem

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Chain of Changes

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Arrange the shapes in a line so that you change either colour or shape in the next piece along. Can you find several ways to start with a blue triangle and end with a red circle?

problem

Favourite

The Puzzling Sweet Shop

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

There were chews for 2p, mini eggs for 3p, Chocko bars for 5p and lollypops for 7p in the sweet shop. What could each of the children buy with their money?

problem

Favourite

Secret Number

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Annie and Ben are playing a game with a calculator. What was Annie's secret number?

problem

Favourite

Making Sticks

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

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?

problem

Favourite

Overlaps

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

What does the overlap of these two shapes look like? Try picturing it in your head and then use some cut-out shapes to test your prediction.

problem

Favourite

Birthday Cakes

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Jack's mum bought some candles to use on his birthday cakes and when his sister was born, she used them on her cakes too. Can you use the information to find out when Kate was born?

problem

Favourite

Hundred Square

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

A hundred square has been printed on both sides of a piece of paper. What is on the back of 100? 58? 23? 19?

problem

Favourite

Ring a Ring of Numbers

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Choose four of the numbers from 1 to 9 to put in the squares so that the differences between joined squares are odd.

problem

Favourite

Jumping squares

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

In this problem it is not the squares that jump, you do the jumping! The idea is to go round the track in as few jumps as possible.

problem

Favourite

Five Coins

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Ben has five coins in his pocket. How much money might he have?

problem

Favourite

4 Dom

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Use these four dominoes to make a square that has the same number of dots on each side.

problem

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Grouping Goodies

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Pat counts her sweets in different groups and both times she has some left over. How many sweets could she have had?

problem

Favourite

Cubes Cut into Four Pieces

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Eight children each had a cube made from modelling clay. They cut them into four pieces which were all exactly the same shape and size. Whose pieces are the same? Can you decide who made each set?

problem

Favourite

Stop the Clock

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

This is a game for two players. Can you find out how to be the first to get to 12 o'clock?

problem

Favourite

The Tall Tower

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

As you come down the ladders of the Tall Tower you collect useful spells. Which way should you go to collect the most spells?

problem

Favourite

Tumbling Down

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Watch this animation. What do you see? Can you explain why this happens?

problem

Favourite

A Puzzling Cube

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Here are the six faces of a cube - in no particular order. Here are three views of the cube. Can you deduce where the faces are in relation to each other and record them on the net of this cube?

problem

Favourite

Birdwatch

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Have a look at this data from the RSPB 2011 Birdwatch. What can you say about the data?

problem

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Brush Loads

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

How can you arrange the 5 cubes so that you need the smallest number of Brush Loads of paint to cover them? Try with other numbers of cubes as well.

problem

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Square Corners

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

What is the greatest number of counters you can place on the grid below without four of them lying at the corners of a square?

problem

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Real Statistics

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Have a look at this table of how children travel to school. How does it compare with children in your class?

problem

Favourite

Take three numbers

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

What happens when you add three numbers together? Will your answer be odd or even? How do you know?

problem

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Less is More

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Use your knowledge of place value to try to win this game. How will you maximise your score?

problem

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Coordinate Challenge

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Use the clues about the symmetrical properties of these letters to place them on the grid.

problem

Favourite

Planning a School Trip

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

You are organising a school trip and you need to write a letter to parents to let them know about the day. Use the cards to gather all the information you need.