List

Shape Your Thinking

These activities will encourage you to think flexibly about shape, position and movement (geometry). 

'Thinking flexibly' could mean, for example, that you try another way when you get stuck. Perhaps you realise that a task can have more than one solution. Perhaps you check a solution using a different method; or perhaps you think flexibly to create a new problem like one you have just tried. 

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?
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?
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?