List

Going Deeper with Geometry

Image
2740 header
The tasks in this feature for Primary teachers offer opportunities for learners to dig deeply into geometrical ideas. With no obvious routes to a solution, the activities encourage children to be creative in their approaches and provide contexts in which they can communicate their findings clearly.

You can also watch a recording of the webinar in which we discussed the mathematical thinking which can be prompted by these activities.

Seeing Squares
problem
Favourite

Seeing squares

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

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.

Let's Investigate Triangles
problem
Favourite

Let's investigate triangles

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

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?

One Big Triangle
problem
Favourite

One big triangle

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

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

Sizing them Up
problem
Favourite

Sizing them up

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

Can you put these shapes in order of size? Start with the smallest.

Matching Triangles
problem
Favourite

Matching triangles

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

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

Jig Shapes
problem
Favourite

Jig shapes

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

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

Always, Sometimes or Never? KS1
problem
Favourite

Always, sometimes or never? KS1

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

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

Skeleton Shapes
problem
Favourite

Skeleton shapes

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

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

A Cartesian Puzzle
problem
Favourite

A Cartesian puzzle

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

Find the missing coordinates which will form these eight quadrilaterals. These coordinates themselves will then form a shape with rotational and line symmetry.

A Puzzling Cube
problem
Favourite

A puzzling cube

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

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?

Square Corners
problem
Favourite

Square corners

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

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?

Treasure Hunt
problem
Favourite

Treasure hunt

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

Can you find a reliable strategy for choosing coordinates that will locate the treasure in the minimum number of guesses?

Shape Draw
problem
Favourite

Shape draw

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

Use the information on these cards to draw the shape that is being described.

Egyptian Rope
problem
Favourite

Egyptian rope

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

The ancient Egyptians were said to make right-angled triangles using a rope with twelve equal sections divided by knots. What other triangles could you make if you had a rope like this?

Stringy Quads
problem
Favourite

Stringy quads

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

This practical problem challenges you to make quadrilaterals with a loop of string. You'll need some friends to help!

Fitted
problem
Favourite

Fitted

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star

Nine squares with side lengths 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, and 18 cm can be fitted together to form a rectangle. What are the dimensions of the rectangle?