List

Celebrating the Olympics

To mark the Olympic Games 2016, we have gathered together tasks in this feature which provide a sporting context for some interesting mathematics.

All the tasks will challenge learners to reason mathematically and some even involve taking part in their own Olympic events.

problem

Half time

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

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

problem

The animals' sports day

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

One day, five small animals in my garden had a sports day. Who do you think won each race?

$Can you do \it too?$

problem

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

The games' medals

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Can you see who the gold medal winner is? What about the silver medal winner and the bronze medal winner?

problem

Going for gold

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Looking at the 2012 Olympic Medal table, can you see how the data is organised? Could the results be presented differently to give another nation the top place?

problem

Olympic starters

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Look at some of the results from the Olympic Games in the past. How do you compare if you try some similar activities?

problem

Match the matches

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Decide which charts and graphs represent the number of goals two football teams scored in fifteen matches.

problem

Now and then

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Have a look at the results for some events at past Olympic Games. Can you use these to predict the results at the next Olympics?

problem

Olympic turns

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

This task looks at the different turns involved in different Olympic sports as a way of exploring the mathematics of turns and angles.

game

Olympic cards

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Design your own scoring system and play Trumps with these Olympic Sport cards.

list

Games from around the world

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Here are a collection of games from around the world to try during the holidays or the last few weeks of term.

problem

Olympic rings

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Can you design your own version of the Olympic rings, using interlocking squares instead of circles?

problem

Who can be the winner?

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Some children have been doing different tasks. Can you see who was the winner?

article

Performing beyond expectations - using sport to motivate students in mathematics lessons

In this article, Alan Parr shares his experiences of the motivating effect sport can have on the learning of mathematics.

problem

Sports equipment

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

If these balls are put on a line with each ball touching the one in front and the one behind, which arrangement makes the shortest line of balls?

problem

National flags

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

This problem explores the shapes and symmetries in some national flags.