The "What if..?" questions are such an important part of mathematical thinking. Knowing what to ask means that you understand something about the structure of the problem, and being able to see similarities and differences means you're starting to generalise.
This collection is one of our Primary Curriculum collections - tasks that are grouped by topic.
Take one example
Break it up!
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?
Strike it out
Use your addition and subtraction skills, combined with some strategic thinking, to beat your partner at this game.
Sitting round the party tables
The add and take-away path
Count the digits
What was in the box?
This box does something to the numbers that go into it. If you know the numbers that come out, what might be going on inside the box?
Always, sometimes or never?
Are these statements relating to odd and even numbers always true, sometimes true or never true?
Next-door numbers
Ring a ring of numbers
How odd
School fair necklaces