What's x got to do with it?
Making algebra rich
Ip dip
"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 ...?
Heads and feet
Super shapes
The value of the circle changes in each of the following problems. Can you discover its value in each problem?
Plenty of pens
Amy's mum had given her £2.50 to spend. She bought four times as many pens as pencils and was given 40p change. How many of each did she buy?
Shape times shape
These eleven shapes each stand for a different number. Can you use the number sentences to work out what they are?
Sticky triangles
This collection is one of our Primary Curriculum collections - tasks that are grouped by topic.
A city of towers
In this town, houses are built with one room for each person. There are some families of seven people living in the town. In how many different ways can they build their houses?
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?
Chairs and tables
Make a chair and table out of interlocking cubes, making sure that the chair fits under the table!
Street sequences
Repeating patterns
Cube bricks and daisy chains
Daisy and Akram were making number patterns. Daisy was using beads that looked like flowers and Akram was using cube bricks. First they were counting in twos.
Triple cubes
This challenge involves eight three-cube models made from interlocking cubes. Investigate different ways of putting the models together then compare your constructions.
Poly plug pattern
Create a pattern on the small grid. How could you extend your pattern on the larger grid?
Circles, circles
Here are some arrangements of circles. How many circles would I need to make the next size up for each? Can you create your own arrangement and investigate the number of circles it needs?
Counting stick conjectures
Missing middles
Hundred square
A hundred square has been printed on both sides of a piece of paper. What is on the back of 100? 58? 23? 19?
Three ball line up
Caterpillars
School fair necklaces
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?
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
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
Money bags
Make 37
Four bags contain a large number of 1s, 3s, 5s and 7s. Can you pick any ten numbers from the bags so that their total is 37?
School fair necklaces
Factors and multiples game
A game in which players take it in turns to choose a number. Can you block your opponent?
Exploring wild and wonderful number patterns
Diagonally square
Magic Vs
Can you put the numbers 1-5 in the V shape so that both 'arms' have the same total?
Follow the numbers
What happens when you add the digits of a number then multiply the result by 2 and you keep doing this? You could try for different numbers and different rules.
Take three numbers
What happens when you add three numbers together? Will your answer be odd or even? How do you know?
Division rules
Always, sometimes or never? Number
Are these statements always true, sometimes true or never true?
Always, sometimes or never? Shape
Are these statements always true, sometimes true or never true?
Neighbourly addition
Got it
A game for two people, or play online. Given a target number, say 23, and a range of numbers to choose from, say 1-4, players take it in turns to add to the running total to hit their target.
Three neighbours
This Pied Piper of Hamelin
Investigate the different numbers of people and rats there could have been if you know how many legs there are altogether!
Six ten total
Six numbered cubes
This collection is one of our Primary Curriculum collections - tasks that are grouped by topic.
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?
Street sequences
Holes
I've made some cubes and some cubes with holes in. This challenge invites you to explore the difference in the number of small cubes I've used. Can you see any patterns?
Count the digits
Counting stick conjectures
Unravelling sequences
Tables without tens
Times tables shifts
In this activity, the computer chooses a times table and shifts it. Can you work out the table and the shift each time?
Button-up some more
How many ways can you find to do up all four buttons on my coat? How about if I had five buttons? Six ...?
Sticky triangles
You may also be interested in this collection of activities from the STEM Learning website, that complement the NRICH activities above.