List

More Activities Using Counters

These activities all make use of counters.  They supplement the tasks in our Counters Feature.
Snail One Hundred
game
Favourite

Snail One Hundred

In this game, you throw a dice and move counters along the snail's body and in a spiral around the snail's shell. It is about understanding tens and ones.

En-counters
problem
Favourite

En-counters

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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This task requires learners to explain and help others, asking and answering questions.

6 Beads
problem
Favourite

6 Beads

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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If you put three beads onto a tens/ones abacus you can make the numbers 3, 30, 12 or 21. What numbers can be made with six beads?

Three by Three
problem

Three by Three

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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Arrange 3 red, 3 blue and 3 yellow counters into a three-by-three square grid, so that there is only one of each colour in every row and every column
Three Way Mix Up
problem

Three Way Mix Up

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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Jack has nine tiles. He put them together to make a square so that two tiles of the same colour were not beside each other. Can you find another way to do it?
Teddy Bear Line-Up
problem

Teddy Bear Line-Up

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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What is the least number of moves you can take to rearrange the bears so that no bear is next to a bear of the same colour?
Counters in the middle
problem
Favourite

Counters in the middle

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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This task depends on groups working collaboratively, discussing and reasoning to agree a final product.

Counting Counters
problem

Counting Counters

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Take a counter and surround it by a ring of other counters that MUST touch two others. How many are needed?
Beads
problem

Beads

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Three beads are threaded on a circular wire and are coloured either red or blue. Can you find all four different combinations?
Make Pairs
problem

Make Pairs

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Put 10 counters in a row. Find a way to arrange the counters into five pairs, evenly spaced in a row, in just 5 moves, using the rules.