List

Flexibility in Geometry

In this feature for Primary teachers, you will find tasks to help learners develop their flexibility in a geometrical context. A flexible approach applies to a range of situations - perhaps being stuck on a problem and being flexible to try an alternative path; perhaps recognising that a task can have more than one solution; perhaps checking a solution using a different approach; or perhaps thinking flexibly to create a new problem related to one you have just tried. We hope you enjoy sharing these tasks with your classes.

Board Block
problem

Board Block

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Take it in turns to make a triangle on the pegboard. Can you block your opponent?
Repeating Patterns
problem
Favourite

Repeating Patterns

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Try continuing these patterns made from triangles. Can you create your own repeating pattern?
Jig Shapes
problem
Favourite

Jig Shapes

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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Can you each work out what shape you have part of on your card? What will the rest of it look like?

Paper Partners
problem
Favourite

Paper Partners

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Can you describe a piece of paper clearly enough for your partner to know which piece it is?
Tangrams
problem

Tangrams

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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Can you make five differently sized squares from the interactive tangram pieces?

Shadow Play
problem
Favourite

Shadow Play

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Here are shadows of some 3D shapes. What shapes could have made them?

Square split into a triangle and trapezium
problem
Favourite

Tangram Tangle

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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If you split the square into these two pieces, it is possible to fit the pieces together again to make a new shape. How many new shapes can you make?

Tangram Browser
interactivity

Tangram Browser

Explore our selection of interactive tangrams. Can you use the tangram pieces to re-create each picture?
Shape Draw
problem
Favourite

Shape Draw

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Use the information on these cards to draw the shape that is being described.

Guess What?
problem
Favourite

Guess What?

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Can you find out which 3D shape your partner has chosen before they work out your shape?
Stringy Quads
problem
Favourite

Stringy Quads

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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This practical problem challenges you to make quadrilaterals with a loop of string. You'll need some friends to help!

Square tangram
problem

Square tangram

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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This was a problem for our birthday website. Can you use four of these pieces to form a square? How about making a square with all five pieces?
Geometry
list

Geometry

Age
5 to 11
This collection of tasks focus on the concepts of shape, position and movement.