Primary Games and Puzzles for Summer 2021

We have a challenge a day for you throughout the summer break...

Each weekday from 19 July to 31 August, a new game or puzzle will appear on this page.

After you've had a go at the day's challenge you may be able to compare your approach to the solutions we have published, which are based on students' work.

You can also find Secondary Games and Puzzles for Summer 2021.

problem

Favourite

The Twelve Pointed Star Game

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Have a go at this game which involves throwing two dice and adding their totals. Where should you place your counters to be more likely to win?

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Favourite

Four Go

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

This challenge is a game for two players. Choose two of the numbers to multiply or divide, then mark your answer on the number line. Can you get four in a row?

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A First Product Sudoku

Age

7 to 14

Challenge level

Given the products of adjacent cells, can you complete this Sudoku?

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?

problem

Favourite

Nice or Nasty

Age

7 to 14

Challenge level

There are nasty versions of this dice game but we'll start with the nice ones...

problem

Escape from the castle

Age

7 to 14

Challenge level

Skippy and Anna are locked in a room in a large castle. The key to that room, and all the other rooms, is a number. The numbers are locked away in a problem. Can you help them to get out?

problem

Favourite

Incey Wincey Spider

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

You'll need two dice to play this game against a partner. Will Incey Wincey make it to the top of the drain pipe or the bottom of the drain pipe first?

problem

Favourite

Play to 37

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

In this game for two players, the idea is to take it in turns to choose 1, 3, 5 or 7. The winner is the first to make the total 37.

problem

Favourite

Dicey Addition

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Who said that adding couldn't be fun?

problem

Favourite

Reach 100

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Choose four different digits from 1-9 and put one in each box so that the resulting four two-digit numbers add to a total of 100.

problem

Favourite

Less is More

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Use your knowledge of place value to try to win this game. How will you maximise your score?

problem

Favourite

Fruity Totals

Age

7 to 16

Challenge level

In this interactivity each fruit has a hidden value. Can you deduce what each one is worth?

problem

Favourite

Seeing Squares

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Players take it in turns to choose a dot on the grid. The winner is the first to have four dots that can be joined to form a square.

problem

Favourite

Treasure Hunt

Age

7 to 14

Challenge level

Can you find a reliable strategy for choosing coordinates that will locate the treasure in the minimum number of guesses?

problem

Favourite

First Connect Three

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Add or subtract the two numbers on the spinners and try to complete a row of three. Are there some numbers that are good to aim for?

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Board Block

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Take it in turns to make a triangle on the pegboard. Can you block your opponent?

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Favourite

Board Block Challenge

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Choose the size of your pegboard and the shapes you can make. Can you work out the strategies needed to block your opponent?

problem

Favourite

The Number Jumbler

Age

7 to 14

Challenge level

The Number Jumbler can always work out your chosen symbol. Can you work out how?

problem

Favourite

Missing Multipliers

Age

7 to 14

Challenge level

What is the smallest number of answers you need to reveal in order to work out the missing headers?

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

Strike it Out

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Use your addition and subtraction skills, combined with some strategic thinking, to beat your partner at this game.

problem

Favourite

Shut the box

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

An old game with lots of arithmetic!

problem

Favourite

Dotty Six

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Dotty Six is a simple dice game that you can adapt in many ways.

problem

Favourite

Tug of War

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Can you use the numbers on the dice to reach your end of the number line before your partner beats you?

problem

Favourite

Got It

Age

7 to 14

Challenge level

A game for two people, or play online. Given a target number, say 23, and a range of numbers to choose from, say 1-4, players take it in turns to add to the running total to hit their target.

Or search by topic

Number and algebra

Geometry and measure

Probability and statistics

Working mathematically

Advanced mathematics

For younger learners

Primary Games and Puzzles for Summer 2021

We have a challenge a day for you throughout the summer break...

The Twelve Pointed Star Game

Four Go

A First Product Sudoku

Stop the Clock

Nice or Nasty

Escape from the castle

Incey Wincey Spider

Play to 37

Dicey Addition

Reach 100

Less is More

Fruity Totals

Seeing Squares

Treasure Hunt

First Connect Three

Board Block

Board Block Challenge

The Number Jumbler

Missing Multipliers

Junior Frogs

Strike it Out

Shut the box

Dotty Six

Tug of War

Got It