List

Playing with Cuisenaire

The activities in this feature all make use of Cuisenaire rods, which are blocks coloured according to their length. We hope you enjoy being playful with the rods as they help you uncover and connect some important mathematical ideas. Don't worry if you haven't got any rods of your own as you could use our interactive Cuisenaire environment.

Cuisenaire Counting
problem
Favourite

Cuisenaire Counting

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Here are some rods that are different colours. How could I make a yellow rod using white and red rods?
Same Length Trains
problem
Favourite

Same Length Trains

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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How many trains can you make which are the same length as Matt's and Katie's, using rods that are identical?
Train Tactics
game

Train Tactics

A train building game for two players. Can you be the one to complete the train?
Rod Fractions
problem

Rod Fractions

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
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Pick two rods of different colours. Given an unlimited supply of rods of each of the two colours, how can we work out what fraction the shorter rod is of the longer one?
Rearranged Rectangle
problem

Rearranged Rectangle

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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How many different rectangles can you make using this set of rods?
Cuisenaire Squares
problem

Cuisenaire Squares

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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These squares have been made from Cuisenaire rods. Can you describe the pattern? What would the next square look like?
Rod Ratios
problem

Rod Ratios

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Use the Cuisenaire rods environment to investigate ratio. Can you find pairs of rods in the ratio 3:2?
Pairs of Numbers
problem
Favourite

Pairs of Numbers

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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If you have ten counters numbered 1 to 10, how many can you put into pairs that add to 10? Which ones do you have to leave out? Why?
Eggs in Baskets
problem
Favourite

Eggs in Baskets

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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There are three baskets, a brown one, a red one and a pink one, holding a total of 10 eggs. How many eggs are in each basket?
Sealed Solution
problem
Favourite

Sealed Solution

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Ten cards are put into five envelopes so that there are two cards in each envelope. The sum of the numbers inside it is written on each envelope. What numbers could be inside the envelopes?
Finding Fifteen
problem
Favourite

Finding Fifteen

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Tim had nine cards each with a different number from 1 to 9 on it. How could he have put them into three piles so that the total in each pile was 15?