List

Low Threshold High Ceiling Resources for Primary Teachers

A low threshold high ceiling task is one which is designed to be mathematically accessible, and to have built-in extension opportunities. In other words, everyone can get started and everyone can get stuck. In this updated feature, we bring together our favourite low threshold high ceiling tasks, as well as two articles which will support you in creating a low threshold high ceiling classroom.

 

 

Sizing them Up
problem
Favourite

Sizing them Up

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Can you put these shapes in order of size? Start with the smallest.
Sort the Street
problem
Favourite

Sort the Street

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Sort the houses in my street into different groups. Can you do it in any other ways?
Inside Triangles
problem
Favourite

Inside Triangles

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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How many different triangles can you draw on the dotty grid which each have one dot in the middle?
Noah
problem
Favourite

Noah

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Noah saw 12 legs walk by into the Ark. How many creatures did he see?
How Many?
problem
Favourite

How Many?

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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Have a look at these photos of different fruit. How many do you see? How did you count?
Totality
problem
Favourite

Totality

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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This is an adding game for two players. Can you be the first to reach the target?
Four Triangles Puzzle
problem
Favourite

Four Triangles Puzzle

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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Cut four triangles from a square as shown in the picture. How many different shapes can you make by fitting the four triangles back together?
Poly Plug Rectangles
problem
Favourite

Poly Plug Rectangles

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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The computer has made a rectangle and will tell you the number of spots it uses in total. Can you find out where the rectangle is?
tiling
problem

tiling

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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An investigation that gives you the opportunity to make and justify predictions.
Nine-Pin Triangles
problem
Favourite

Nine-Pin Triangles

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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How many different triangles can you make on a circular pegboard that has nine pegs?
Neighbourly Addition
problem

Neighbourly Addition

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
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I added together some of my neighbours' house numbers. Can you explain the patterns I noticed?
Magic Crosses
problem

Magic Crosses

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
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Can you find examples of magic crosses? Can you find all the possibilities?

Reach 100
problem
Favourite

Reach 100

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Choose four different digits from 1-9 and put one in each box so that the resulting four two-digit numbers add to a total of 100.