We sometimes have unsolved problems which require solutions. If there are any below, do consider having a go at them, and send us your solutions.
You may be interested in the article we have written, which explains what we are looking for when we decide which solutions to publish.
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Place value: the ten-ness of ten
This article develops the idea of 'ten-ness' as an important element of place value.
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Rich mathematics
In this very brief article, the NRICH Team outlines what they understand by the term 'rich mathematics'.
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Recent solutions
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How can I support the development of early number sense and place value?
This article for primary teachers expands on the key ideas which underpin early number sense and place value, and suggests activities to support learners as they get to grips with these ideas.
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Dot card games
These games devised by Jenni Way use dot cards which will help children see the structure of numbers 1-6 and give them confidence as they begin to add and subtract these numbers.
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The importance of shape and space in the early years
In this article for EY practitioners, Dr Sue Gifford discusses children's early spatial thinking and how this predicts their mathematical understanding and achievement.
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Models in mind
This article looks at how models support mathematical thinking about numbers and the number system
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Pattern and structure
The tasks in this feature for Primary teachers will help you to develop learners' awareness of pattern and will serve as a springboard to exploring mathematical structures.
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Maths at home
This article for teachers, parents and carers offers guidance on how learners can get the most out of the activities in our Maths at Home features.
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Related teacher playing with shape
More activities with 2-d shape for younger and older children
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Using dice games in the classroom
This article outlines some of the benefits of using dice games in the classroom, especially as a tool for formative assessment.
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Maths at home
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Welcoming your new class
What might your first lesson with a new class look like? In this article, Cherri Moseley makes some suggestions for primary teachers.
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Working with a grown-up?
Lower primary tasks designed for an adult and child to work on together, adapted from some of our activities for developing group-working skills.
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Geometric thinking - teacher articles
This series of three articles discusses the development of geometric thinking.
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Getting the balance right
In this article for primary teachers, Ems shares some common misconceptions surrounding the equals sign, and suggests ways to help learners develop their understanding.
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Encouraging primary children to work systematically
This article for primary teachers suggests ways in which to help children become better at working systematically.
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ACME report: developing able young mathematicians
Lynne McClure gives an overview of the ACME report 'Raising the bar: developing able young mathematicians', published in December 2012.
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Primary children's mathematical recording
This article for teachers outlines different types of recording, depending on the purpose and audience.
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Maths at home - summer challenges 2024
The tasks in this collection are ideal to work on at home over the summer, perhaps with friends and/or relatives.
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A good foundation for number learning for five year olds?
This article, written by Dr. Sue Gifford, evaluates the Early Learning Numbers Goal in England, in the light of research.
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The value of two
Ruth Trundley outlines her doctoral research and concludes that development of an understanding of cardinality is a crucial element of counting that can be overlooked.
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Developing number through tidying up
This article describes how one nursery setting focused on tidying up time as a context in which to explicitly target the development of number and calculation skills.
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Mathematical problem solving in the early years: developing opportunities, strategies and confidence
In this article for Early Years practitioners, Dr Sue Gifford outlines ways to develop children's problem-solving strategies and confidence in problem solving.
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Young children's mathematical recording
In this article, Janine Davenall reflects on children's personalised mathematical recordings as part of a small research project based in her Reception class.
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Curriculum
project
TSA NRICH Day October 31st 2018
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Features
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Early number sense
This article explores the basic foundations of number sense and outlines relevant research in this area.
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Subitising
In this article for EY practitioners, Dr Sue Gifford outlines what we mean by subitising and how we can teach it.
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Tasks for an adult and child
Age
3 to 11
Challenge level
This collection of tasks are for an adult and child working together.
interactivity
Red or black spinner
A simple spinner that is equally likely to land on Red or Black. Useful if tossing a coin, dropping it, and rummaging about on the floor have lost their appeal. Needs a modern browser; if IE then at least version 9.
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Seesaw shenanigans
Age
3 to 7
Challenge level
A group of animals has made a seesaw in the woods. How can you make the seesaw balance?
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Being playful, becoming engaged
The problems in this feature will help to inspire your learners to be playful, become engaged, and then think deeply about the mathematical contexts that underpin them.
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Interactive tasks and games
Here you can find all the primary non-Flash interactive resources and games.
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Being collaborative
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Puzzling with paper
This feature challenges you to create different shapes by folding A-sized paper. Grab some paper and get folding!
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Number Stage 1
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Developing group-working skills
This collection of activities offers an opportunity for you to focus on improving children's group-working skills. Read the articles to find out how group tasks help to develop children's problem-solving skills and our reasons for selecting these particular tasks.
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Measurement
These activities are all about measuring different things, including time! Can you try and make a sensible guess about the size of something before you measure it?
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Your solutions
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More playing with 2D shape lower primary
A collection of some resources that offer opportunities to play with 2D shape.
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2010: a year of investigations
This article for teachers suggests ideas for activities built around 10 and 2010.
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From objects and images to mathematical ideas
This article looks at how images, concrete apparatus and representations can help students develop deeper understandings of abstract mathematical ideas.
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Calendar activities
Don't get rid of your old calendars! You can get a lot more
mathematical mileage out of them before they are thrown away. These
activities, using cut up dates from the calendar, provide numbers
to practise skills that may be in need of review after a holiday
break.
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I'm stuck!
Being stuck is usually thought of as being a negative state of
affairs. We want our pupils to succeed, not to struggle. Or do we?
This article discusses why being stuck can be fruitful.
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Dice, routes and pathways
This article for teachers discusses examples of problems in which
there is no obvious method but in which children can be encouraged
to think deeply about the context and extend their ability to think
mathematically, especially geometrically.
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Flexibility in geometry
In this feature for Primary teachers, you will find tasks to help learners develop their flexibility in a geometrical context.
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Maths at home
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Being resilient
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Learning from other people's starting points
In this feature, you can see how some children started each task, but this isn't because we want to give away the solutions!
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Puzzling with paper
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Statistics
This collection of activities covers the areas of probability and collecting and analysing data.
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Reasoning: the journey from novice to expert ( selection of tasks )
These tasks particularly lend themselves to helping children along the journey from novice reasoner to expert reasoner.
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Developing group-working skills related content
Developing group-working skills related content.
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Shape, position and movement (geometry)
Have a go at these activities, which involve shapes and moving objects in different ways.
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Maths trails - encouraging purposeful outdoor learning
In this article, Becky Moseley outlines key considerations for Primary teachers wanting to create a maths trail in their own locality.
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Children's mathematical graphics: understanding the key concept
In this article for teachers, Elizabeth Carruthers and Maulfry Worthington explore the differences between 'recording mathematics' and 'representing mathematical thinking'.
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Developing good team-working skills in primary schools
This article looks at team building in the primary context.
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Path of discovery series 3: I do and I understand
Marion Bond recommends that children should be allowed to use 'apparatus', so that they can physically handle the numbers involved in their calculations, for longer, or across a wider ability band, than is currently the norm.
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Lucky numbers
This article for pupils explores what makes numbers special or lucky, and looks at the numbers that are all around us every day.
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What does it say to you?
Written for teachers, this article discusses mathematical
representations and takes, in the second part of the article,
examples of reception children's own representations.
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Shape your proof
In this feature for Primary students, we offer geometrical tasks which give you the chance to notice patterns, make conjectures and create convincing mathematical arguments.
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Primary teachers
