List

More Activities Using Cubes Upper Primary

These tasks all make use of interlocking cubes.  They supplement the activities found in our Cubes Feature.
Break it up!
problem
Favourite

Break it up!

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

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?

Holes
problem
Favourite

Holes

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

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?

Triple Cubes
problem
Favourite

Triple Cubes

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

This challenge involves eight three-cube models made from interlocking cubes. Investigate different ways of putting the models together then compare your constructions.

Two on Five
problem

Two on Five

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
Take 5 cubes of one colour and 2 of another colour. How many different ways can you join them if the 5 must touch the table and the 2 must not touch the table?
The Third Dimension
problem
Favourite

The Third Dimension

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star

Here are four cubes joined together. How many other arrangements of four cubes can you find? Can you draw them on dotty paper?

Cubes
problem
Favourite

Cubes

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
How many faces can you see when you arrange these three cubes in different ways?
The Big Cheese
problem

The Big Cheese

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Investigate the area of 'slices' cut off this cube of cheese. What would happen if you had different-sized block of cheese to start with?
Building Blocks
problem
Favourite

Building Blocks

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Here are some pictures of 3D shapes made from cubes. Can you make these shapes yourself?
Painted Faces
problem

Painted Faces

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Imagine a 3 by 3 by 3 cube made of 9 small cubes. Each face of the large cube is painted a different colour. How many small cubes will have two painted faces? Where are they?
Green Cube, Yellow Cube
problem

Green Cube, Yellow Cube

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
How can you paint the faces of these eight cubes so they can be put together to make a 2 x 2 x 2 cube that is green all over AND a 2 x 2 x 2 cube that is yellow all over?
Creating Cubes
problem

Creating Cubes

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
Arrange 9 red cubes, 9 blue cubes and 9 yellow cubes into a large 3 by 3 cube. No row or column of cubes must contain two cubes of the same colour.
Castles in the middle
problem
Favourite

Castles in the middle

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
This task depends on groups working collaboratively, discussing and reasoning to agree a final product.
Wag Worms
problem

Wag Worms

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star
When intergalactic Wag Worms are born they look just like a cube. Each year they grow another cube in any direction. Find all the shapes that five-year-old Wag Worms can be.
Cubes within Cubes
problem
Favourite

Cubes within Cubes

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star

We start with one yellow cube and build around it to make a 3x3x3 cube with red cubes. Then we build around that red cube with blue cubes and so on. How many cubes of each colour have we used?

Cube Drilling
problem

Cube Drilling

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star
Imagine a 4 by 4 by 4 cube. If you and a friend drill holes in some of the small cubes in the ways described, how many will not have holes drilled through them?