Starting from the end sounds rather strange, but in fact can be a very useful problem-solving skill. These activities lend themselves to being tackled in this way.
This collection is one of our Primary Curriculum collections - tasks that are grouped by topic.
problem
Favourite
Nim-7
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
Can you work out how to win this game of Nim? Does it matter if you go first or second?
problem
Favourite
Growing garlic
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
Ben and his mum are planting garlic. Can you find out how many cloves of garlic they might have had?
problem
Favourite
Number lines
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
A resource to try once children are familiar with number lines, and they have begun to use them for addition. It could be a good way to talk about subtraction. Leah and Tom each have a number line. Can you work out where their counters will land?
problem
Favourite
What was in the box?
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
This big box adds something to any number that goes into it. If you know the numbers that come out, what addition might be going on in the box?
problem
Favourite
Doing and undoing
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
An investigation looking at doing and undoing mathematical operations focusing on doubling, halving, adding and subtracting.
problem
Favourite
Tables teaser
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
How will you work out which numbers have been used to create this multiplication square?
problem
Starfish spotting
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
How many starfish could there be on the beach, and how many children, if I can see 28 arms?
problem
Favourite
Secret number
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
Annie and Ben are playing a game with a calculator. What was Annie's secret number?
problem
Junior frogs
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
Have a go at this well-known challenge. Can you swap the frogs and toads in as few slides and jumps as possible?
problem
Favourite
The tall tower
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
As you come down the ladders of the Tall Tower you collect useful spells. Which way should you go to collect the most spells?
problem
Favourite
Stop the clock
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
This is a game for two players. Can you find out how to be the first to get to 12 o'clock?