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

Measurement

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

Comparing and Estimating

Make comparisons between objects relating to size, length, weight and capacity
The Spring Scale The Spring Scale
Using the spring scale in this activity provides an engaging context in which children can explore and discuss the weight of different objects.
Presents Presents
Comparing the wrapped presents in this activity will give children the chance to explore and discuss weight, including the idea that large objects aren't necessarily the heaviest.
Long Creatures Long Creatures
In this task, making a variety of long creatures out of card will provide an opportunity for children to discuss and compare lengths.
Water, Water ... Water, Water ...
This task provides a real-life context for children to compare capacities in order to choose the biggest container for their lemonade.
Balances Balances
In this activity, children will use the language of weight when comparing objects on a balance scale.
Mud Kitchen Mud Kitchen
When playing in this mud kitchen, children will be using the language of size and capacity to choose utensils for different tasks.
Making Caterpillars Making Caterpillars
By making 'caterpillars' in this activity, children will have an opportunity to practise using language of length and width, as well as using non-standard measures to compare lengths.
Wrapping Parcels Wrapping Parcels
In this activity, children have the opportunity to wrap some toys and to measure and discuss the size of the box or wrapping paper that they will need.
Sock Washing Line Sock Washing Line
In this task, children are encouraged to spot pairs of socks and to order the socks by size and length on the washing line.
Cooking with Children Cooking with Children
By following some simple recipes in this task, children can practise the skills of measuring and counting ingredients.
How long are you? How long are you?
Children use everyday language to talk about size, to compare quantities and objects and to solve problems
Packing Packing
This activity involves sorting toys into categories by using comparing and classifying skills.
I Have a Box I Have a Box
In this activity, having access to a mystery box will spark children's imagination and encourage them to describe what they notice about the box.
Tubes and Tunnels Tubes and Tunnels
When investigating these tubes, children will have the opportunity to practise using everyday language to talk about length, size and position.
Compare, describe and solve practical problems for: - lengths & heights [e.g. long/short, longer/shorter, tall/short, double/half] - mass/weight [e.g. heavy/light, heavier than, lighter than] - capacity & volume [e.g. full/empty, more than, less than, half, half full, quarter] - time [e.g. quicker, slower, earlier, later]
Sizing them Up Sizing them Up
Can you put these shapes in order of size? Start with the smallest.
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Wallpaper Wallpaper
These pieces of wallpaper need to be ordered from smallest to largest. Can you find a way to do it?
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Thirsty? Thirsty?
Can you lay out the pictures of the drinks in the way described by the clue cards?
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Bottles (1) Bottles (1)
For this activity which explores capacity, you will need to collect some bottles and jars.
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Bottles (2) Bottles (2)
In this activity focusing on capacity, you will need a collection of different jars and bottles.
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Seesaw Shenanigans Seesaw Shenanigans
A group of animals has made a seesaw in the woods. How can you make the seesaw balance?
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Different Sizes Different Sizes
A simple visual exploration into halving and doubling.
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The animals' sports day The animals' sports day
One day, five small animals in my garden had a sports day. Who do you think won each race?
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Compare and order lengths, mass, volume/capacity and record the results using >, < and =
Order, Order! Order, Order!
Can you place these quantities in order from smallest to largest?
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Compare the Cups Compare the Cups
You'll need a collection of cups for this activity.
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Making Longer, Making Shorter Making Longer, Making Shorter
Ahmed is making rods using different numbers of cubes. Which rod is twice the length of his first rod?
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Estimate, compare and calculate different measures, including money in pounds and pence (appears also in Measuring)
Discuss and Choose Discuss and Choose
This activity challenges you to decide on the 'best' number to use in each statement. You may need to do some estimating, some calculating and some research.
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Calculate and compare the area of squares and rectangles including using standard units, square centimetres (cm²) and square metres (m²) and estimate the area of irregular shapes (appears also in Measuring)
Numerically Equal Numerically Equal
Can you draw a square in which the perimeter is numerically equal to the area?
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Brush Loads Brush Loads
How can you arrange the 5 cubes so that you need the smallest number of Brush Loads of paint to cover them? Try with other numbers of cubes as well.
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Ribbon Squares Ribbon Squares
What is the largest 'ribbon square' you can make? And the smallest? How many different squares can you make altogether?
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Making Boxes Making Boxes
Cut differently-sized square corners from a square piece of paper to make boxes without lids. Do they all have the same volume?
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Fitted Fitted
Nine squares with side lengths 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, and 18 cm can be fitted together to form a rectangle. What are the dimensions of the rectangle?
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Calculate, estimate and compare volume of cubes and cuboids using standard units, including cubic centimetres (cm³) and cubic metres (m³), and extending to other units such as mm³ and km³
Next size up Next size up
The challenge for you is to make a string of six (or more!) graded cubes.
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Perimeter, Area and Volume

Estimate volume (e.g. using 1cm³ blocks to build cubes and cuboids) and capacity (e.g. using water)
Pouring Problem Pouring Problem
What do you think is going to happen in this video clip? Are you surprised?
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Sequence events in chronological order using language [e.g. before and after, next, first, today, yesterday, tomorrow, morning, afternoon and evening]
The Games' Medals The Games' Medals
Can you see who the gold medal winner is? What about the silver medal winner and the bronze medal winner?
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Times of Day Times of Day
These pictures show some different activities that you may get up to during a day. What order would you do them in?
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Compare and sequence intervals of time
Compare durations of events, for example to calculate the time taken by particular events or tasks
Estimate and read time with increasing accuracy to the nearest minute; record and compare time in terms of seconds, minutes and hours; use vocabulary such as o'clock, a.m./p.m., morning, afternoon, noon and midnight (appears also in Telling the Time)
Wonky Watches Wonky Watches
Stuart's watch loses two minutes every hour. Adam's watch gains one minute every hour. Use the information to work out what time (the real time) they arrived at the airport.
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Watch the clock Watch the clock
During the third hour after midnight the hands on a clock point in the same direction (so one hand is over the top of the other). At what time, to the nearest second, does this happen?
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Measuring and Calculating

Measure and begin to record the following: - lengths and heights - mass/weight - capacity and volume - time (hours, minutes, seconds)
Can you do it too? Can you do it too?
Try some throwing activities and see whether you can throw something as far as the Olympic hammer or discus throwers.
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How Tall? How Tall?
A group of children are discussing the height of a tall tree. How would you go about finding out its height?
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Choose and use appropriate standard units to estimate and measure length/height in any direction (m/cm); mass (kg/g); temperature (°C); capacity (litres/ml) to the nearest appropriate unit, using rulers, scales, thermometers and measuring vessels
Little Man Little Man
The Man is much smaller than us. Can you use the picture of him next to a mug to estimate his height and how much tea he drinks?
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Car Journey Car Journey
This practical activity involves measuring length/distance.
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Measure, compare, add and subtract: lengths (m/cm/mm); mass (kg/g); volume/capacity (l/ml)
Olympic Starters Olympic Starters
Look at some of the results from the Olympic Games in the past. How do you compare if you try some similar activities?
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Oh! Harry! Oh! Harry!
A group of children are using measuring cylinders but they lose the labels. Can you help relabel them?
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Estimate, compare and calculate different measures, including money in pounds and pence (appears also in Comparing)
Discuss and Choose Discuss and Choose
This activity challenges you to decide on the 'best' number to use in each statement. You may need to do some estimating, some calculating and some research.
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Use all four operations to solve problems involving measure (e.g. length, mass, volume, money) using decimal notation including scaling
Solve problems involving the calculation and conversion of units of measure, using decimal notation up to three decimal places where appropriate (appears also in Converting)

Perimeter, Area and Volume

Measure the perimeter of simple 2D shapes
Measure and calculate the perimeter of a rectilinear figure (including squares) in centimetres and metres
Measure and calculate the perimeter of composite rectilinear shapes in centimetres and metres
Area and perimeter Area and perimeter
What can you say about these shapes? This problem challenges you to create shapes with different areas and perimeters.
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Through the Window Through the Window
My local DIY shop calculates the price of its windows according to the area of glass and the length of frame used. Can you work out how they arrived at these prices?
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Recognise that shapes with the same areas can have different perimeters and vice versa
Recognise and know the value of different denominations of coins and notes
Find different combinations of coins that equal the same amounts of money
Add and subtract amounts of money to give change, using both £ and p in practical contexts
How Much Did it Cost? How Much Did it Cost?
Use your logical thinking skills to deduce how much Dan's crisps and ice cream cost altogether.
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Recognise and use symbols for pounds (£) and pence (p); combine amounts to make a particular value
Five Coins Five Coins
Ben has five coins in his pocket. How much money might he have?
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Solve simple problems in a practical context involving addition and subtraction of money of the same unit, including giving change
Fruity Pairs Fruity Pairs
Which two items of fruit could Kate and Sam choose? Can you order the prices from lowest to highest?
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The Puzzling Sweet Shop The Puzzling Sweet Shop
There were cola bottles for 2p, mini eggs for 3p, marshmallow twists for 5p and lollipops for 7p in the sweet shop. What could each of the children buy with their money?
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Find the area of rectilinear shapes by counting squares
Torn Shapes Torn Shapes
These rectangles have been torn. How many squares did each one have inside it before it was ripped?
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Twice as Big? Twice as Big?
Investigate how the four L-shapes fit together to make an enlarged L-shape. You could explore this idea with other shapes too.
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Calculate and compare the area of squares and rectangles including using standard units, square centimetres (cm²) and square metres (m²) and estimate the area of irregular shapes
Numerically Equal Numerically Equal
Can you draw a square in which the perimeter is numerically equal to the area?
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Brush Loads Brush Loads
How can you arrange the 5 cubes so that you need the smallest number of Brush Loads of paint to cover them? Try with other numbers of cubes as well.
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Ribbon Squares Ribbon Squares
What is the largest 'ribbon square' you can make? And the smallest? How many different squares can you make altogether?
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Making Boxes Making Boxes
Cut differently-sized square corners from a square piece of paper to make boxes without lids. Do they all have the same volume?
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Fitted Fitted
Nine squares with side lengths 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, and 18 cm can be fitted together to form a rectangle. What are the dimensions of the rectangle?
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Calculate the area of parallelograms and triangles
Calculate the area of parallelograms and triangles; calculate, estimate and compare volume of cubes and cuboids using standard units, including cubic centimetres (cm³) and cubic metres (m³), and extending to other units [e.g. mm³ and km³].
Next size up Next size up
The challenge for you is to make a string of six (or more!) graded cubes.
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Recognise when it is possible to use formulae for area and volume of shapes

Telling the Time

Begin to describe a sequence of events, real or fictional, using words such as 'first', 'then…'
Timing Timing
In this task, children will practise using a variety of timers to work out how many items they can put into a jar before the time finishes.
Calendar Muddle Calendar Muddle
This activity encourages children to think about times of day and the order in which they do different activities throughout the day.
Tell the time to the hour and half past the hour and draw the hands on a clock face to show these times
Tell and write the time to five minutes, including quarter past/to the hour and draw the hands on a clock face to show these times
What is the time? What is the time?
Can you put these times on the clocks in order? You might like to arrange them in a circle.
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Stop the Clock Stop the Clock
This is a game for two players. Can you find out how to be the first to get to 12 o'clock?
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Tell and write the time from an analogue clock, including using Roman numerals from I to XII, and 12-hour and 24-hour clocks
Approaching Midnight Approaching Midnight
Here's a strategy game with lots to explore. Can you find out enough to guarantee a win, no matter what the settings?
The time is ... The time is ...
Can you put these mixed-up times in order? You could arrange them in a circle.
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Two Clocks Two Clocks
These clocks have only one hand, but can you work out what time they are showing from the information?
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Clocks Clocks
These clocks have been reflected in a mirror. What times do they say?
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5 on the clock 5 on the clock
On a digital clock showing 24 hour time, over a whole day, how many times does a 5 appear? Is it the same number for a 12 hour clock over a whole day?
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How many Times? How many Times?
On a digital 24 hour clock, at certain times, all the digits are consecutive. How many times like this are there between midnight and 7 a.m.?
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Read, write and convert time between analogue and digital 12- and 24-hour clocks
Recognise and use language relating to dates, including days of the week, weeks, months and years
Snap Snap
Try this version of Snap with a friend - do you know the order of the days of the week?
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Know the number of minutes in an hour and the number of hours in a day
Matching Time Matching Time
Try this matching game which will help you recognise different ways of saying the same time interval.
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Estimate and read time with increasing accuracy to the nearest minute; record and compare time in terms of seconds, minutes and hours; use vocabulary such as o'clock, a.m./p.m., morning, afternoon, noon and midnight
Wonky Watches Wonky Watches
Stuart's watch loses two minutes every hour. Adam's watch gains one minute every hour. Use the information to work out what time (the real time) they arrived at the airport.
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Watch the clock Watch the clock
During the third hour after midnight the hands on a clock point in the same direction (so one hand is over the top of the other). At what time, to the nearest second, does this happen?
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Solve problems involving converting from hours to minutes; minutes to seconds; years to months; weeks to days
Solve problems involving converting between units of time

Converting

Know the number of minutes in an hour and the number of hours in a day
Matching Time Matching Time
Try this matching game which will help you recognise different ways of saying the same time interval.
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Know the number of seconds in a minute and the number of days in each month, year and leap year
Convert between different units of measure (e.g. kilometre to metre; hour to minute)
Convert between different units of metric measure (e.g. kilometre and metre; centimetre and metre; centimetre and millimetre; gram and kilogram; litre and millilitre)
Use, read, write and convert between standard units, converting measurements of length, mass, volume and time from a smaller unit of measure to a larger unit, and vice versa, using decimal notation to up to three decimal places
Read, write and convert time between analogue and digital 12- and 24-hour clocks
Solve problems involving converting between units of time
Solve problems involving the calculation and conversion of units of measure, using decimal notation up to three decimal places where appropriate
Solve problems involving converting from hours to minutes; minutes to seconds; years to months; weeks to days
Understand and use approximate equivalences between metric units and common imperial units such as inches, pounds and pints
Convert between miles and kilometres