These activities are part of our Primary collections, which are problems grouped by topic.
problem
A City of Towers
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
In this town, houses are built with one room for each person. There are some families of seven people living in the town. In how many different ways can they build their houses?
problem
Break it up!
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
In how many different ways can you break up a stick of seven interlocking cubes? Now try with a stick of eight cubes and a stick of six cubes. What do you notice?
problem
Turning Man
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
Use the interactivity to find out how many quarter turns the man must rotate through to look like each of the pictures.
problem
Turning
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
Use your mouse to move the red and green parts of this disc. Can you make images which show the turnings described?
problem
Repeating Patterns
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
Try continuing these patterns made from triangles. Can you create your own repeating pattern?
problem
En-counters
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
This task requires learners to explain and help others, asking and answering questions.
problem
Triple Cubes
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
This challenge involves eight three-cube models made from interlocking cubes. Investigate different ways of putting the models together then compare your constructions.
problem
Poly Plug Pattern
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
Create a pattern on the small grid. How could you extend your pattern on the larger grid?
problem
Walking round a triangle
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
This ladybird is taking a walk round a triangle. Can you see how much he has turned when he gets back to where he started?
problem
Domino Patterns
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
What patterns can you make with a set of dominoes?
problem
Circles, Circles
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
Here are some arrangements of circles. How many circles would I need to make the next size up for each? Can you create your own arrangement and investigate the number of circles it needs?
problem
Hundred Square
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
A hundred square has been printed on both sides of a piece of paper. What is on the back of 100? 58? 23? 19?
problem
Three Ball Line Up
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
Use the interactivity to help get a feel for this problem and to find out all the possible ways the balls could land.
problem
Triangle Animals
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
How many different ways can you find to join three equilateral triangles together? Can you convince us that you have found them all?
problem
2 Rings
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
The red ring is inside the blue ring in this picture. Can you rearrange the rings in different ways? Perhaps you can overlap them or put one outside another?
problem
Caterpillars
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
These caterpillars have 16 parts. What different shapes do they make if each part lies in the small squares of a 4 by 4 square?
problem
Olympic rings
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
Can you design your own version of the Olympic rings, using interlocking squares instead of circles?
problem
School fair necklaces
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
How many possible symmetrical necklaces can you find? How do you know you've found them all?
problem
Tangram Tangle
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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?