These activities for upper primary children provide opportunities to recognise, extend and explain number patterns. They supplement the tasks in our Number Patterns feature.
problem
Ip dip
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
"Ip dip sky blue! Who's 'it'? It's you!" Where would you position yourself so that you are 'it' if there are two players? Three players ...?
problem
Up and down staircases
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
One block is needed to make an up-and-down staircase, with one step up and one step down. How many blocks would be needed to build an up-and-down staircase with 5 steps up and 5 steps down?
problem
Number differences
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Place the numbers from 1 to 9 in the squares below so that the difference between joined squares is odd. How many different ways can you do this?
problem
Tables without tens
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Investigate and explain the patterns that you see from recording
just the units digits of numbers in the times tables.
problem
Magic Vs
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Can you put the numbers 1-5 in the V shape so that both 'arms' have the same total?
problem
Light the lights again
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Each light in this interactivity turns on according to a rule. What happens when you enter different numbers? Can you find the smallest number that lights up all four lights?
problem
Sticky triangles
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Can you continue this pattern of triangles and begin to predict how many sticks are used for each new "layer"?