NRICH Primary Curriculum Map

The problems linked below have detailed Teachers' Resources suggesting how they can be integrated into lessons.

Please email any comments to primary.nrich@maths.org

Looking for secondary problems? See the NRICH Secondary Curriculum Map.

Key

Games are indicated by ‘G’ and Articles by 'A'.

Tasks badged filled star are suitable for the whole class;
Tasks badged filled starfilled star are suitable for the majority;
Tasks badged filled starfilled starfilled star are for those who like a serious challenge.

Highlight ‘Thinking mathematically’ or ‘Mathematical mindset’ problems

Algebra

EYFS Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Post-Primary

Patterns

Talk about and identify the patterns around them Extend and create ABAB patterns - stick, leaf, stick, leaf Notice and correct an error in a repeating pattern Continue, copy and create repeating patterns
Collecting Collecting
In this task, children make a collection out of some items and then discuss what they notice about their collection, focusing on the shapes and patterns that they can make.
Developing Pattern Awareness with Young Children Developing Pattern Awareness with Young Children
This article explores the importance of pattern awareness with young children.
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Pattern Making Pattern Making
In this activity, there are lots of different patterns for children to make, describe and extend.
Order and arrange combinations of mathematical objects in patterns and sequences
School fair necklaces School fair necklaces
How many possible symmetrical necklaces can you find? How do you know you've found them all?
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Repeating Patterns Repeating Patterns
Try continuing these patterns made from triangles. Can you create your own repeating pattern?
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Triple Cubes 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.
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Circles, Circles 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?
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A City of Towers 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?
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Cube bricks and daisy chains 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.
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Poly Plug Pattern Poly Plug Pattern
Create a pattern on the small grid. How could you extend your pattern on the larger grid?
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Domino Patterns Domino Patterns
What patterns can you make with a set of dominoes?
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Three Ball Line Up Three Ball Line Up
Use the interactivity to help get a feel for this problem and to find out all the possible ways the balls could land.
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Caterpillars Caterpillars
These caterpillars have 16 parts. What different shapes do they make if each part lies in the small squares of a 4 by 4 square?
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Hundred Square 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?
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Break it up! 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?
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Patterns and Sequences

Sequences

Generate and describe linear number sequences
Button-Up Some More 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 ...?
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Domino sets Domino sets
How do you know if your set of dominoes is complete?
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Break it up! 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?
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Holes 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?
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Patterns and Sequences

Equations

Express missing number problems algebraically
Plenty of Pens 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?
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Different Deductions Different Deductions
There are lots of different methods to find out what the shapes are worth - how many can you find?
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Equations and Formulae

Find pairs of numbers that satisfy number sentences involving two unknowns
Price Match Price Match
Can you find pairs of differently sized windows that cost the same?
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Enumerate all possibilities of combinations of two variables

Formulae

Use simple formulae
Finding 3D stacks Finding 3D stacks
Can you find a way of counting the spheres in these arrangements?
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Doplication Doplication
We can arrange dots in a similar way to the 5 on a dice and they usually sit quite well into a rectangular shape. How many altogether in this 3 by 5? What happens for other sizes?
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Diagonal Sums Diagonal Sums
In this 100 square, look at the green square which contains the numbers 2, 3, 12 and 13. What is the sum of the numbers that are diagonally opposite each other? What do you notice?
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Equations and Formulae