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Prompt Cards

These two group activities use mathematical reasoning - one is numerical, one geometric.

Consecutive Numbers

An investigation involving adding and subtracting sets of consecutive numbers. Lots to find out, lots to explore.

Exploring Wild & Wonderful Number Patterns

EWWNP means Exploring Wild and Wonderful Number Patterns Created by Yourself! Investigate what happens if we create number patterns using some simple rules.

Clever Keys

Age 7 to 11 Short
Challenge Level

Why do this problem?

This short challenge presents children with the opportunity of exploring number operations and practising mental arithmetic in a motivating context.

Key questions

What kind of number is $15$?
How will you remember what you have pressed?
What have you tried so far?

Possible extension

You could challenge children to explain how they would work out, say $24 \times 37$ if a particular number on the calculator was broken. How would they do it if the $2$ was broken? What about if the $1$ and $2$ were broken etc.?

Possible support

Having calculators to hand will allow learners to check their ideas and they may need to be reminded to record the process in some way.