The activities in this feature all make use of Cuisenaire rods, which are blocks coloured according to their length. We hope you enjoy being playful with the rods as they help you uncover and connect some important mathematical ideas. Don't worry if you haven't got any rods of your own as you could use our interactive Cuisenaire environment.
problem
Favourite
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
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
Rod fractions
Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
Pick two rods of different colours. Given an unlimited supply of rods of each of the two colours, how can we work out what fraction the shorter rod is of the longer one?
problem
Rearranged rectangle
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
How many different rectangles can you make using this set of rods?
problem
Cuisenaire squares
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
These squares have been made from Cuisenaire rods. Can you describe the pattern? What would the next square look like?
problem
Rod ratios
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Use the Cuisenaire rods environment to investigate ratio. Can you find pairs of rods in the ratio 3:2?
problem
Favourite
Pairs of numbers
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
If you have ten counters numbered 1 to 10, how many can you put into pairs that add to 10? Which ones do you have to leave out? Why?
problem
Favourite
Eggs in baskets
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
There are three baskets, a brown one, a red one and a pink one, holding a total of 10 eggs. How many eggs are in each basket?
problem
Favourite
Sealed solution
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Ten cards are put into five envelopes so that there are two cards in each envelope. The sum of the numbers inside it is written on each envelope. What numbers could be inside the envelopes?
problem
Favourite
Finding fifteen
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Tim had nine cards each with a different number from 1 to 9 on it. How could he have put them into three piles so that the total in each pile was 15?