We sometimes have unsolved problems which require solutions. If there are any below, do consider having a go at them, and send us your solutions.
You may be interested in the article we have written, which explains what we are looking for when we decide which solutions to publish.
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Dot card games
These games devised by Jenni Way use dot cards which will help children see the structure of numbers 1-6 and give them confidence as they begin to add and subtract these numbers.
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The importance of shape and space in the early years
In this article for EY practitioners, Dr Sue Gifford discusses children's early spatial thinking and how this predicts their mathematical understanding and achievement.
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Models in mind
This article looks at how models support mathematical thinking about numbers and the number system
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Maths at home
This article for teachers, parents and carers offers guidance on how learners can get the most out of the activities in our Maths at Home features.
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Pattern and structure
The tasks in this feature for Primary teachers will help you to develop learners' awareness of pattern and will serve as a springboard to exploring mathematical structures.
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Related teacher playing with shape
More activities with 2-d shape for younger and older children
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Using dice games in the classroom
This article outlines some of the benefits of using dice games in the classroom, especially as a tool for formative assessment.
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Maths at home
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Welcoming your new class
What might your first lesson with a new class look like? In this article, Cherri Moseley makes some suggestions for primary teachers.
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Working with a grown-up?
Lower primary tasks designed for an adult and child to work on together, adapted from some of our activities for developing group-working skills.
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Geometric thinking - teacher articles
This series of three articles discusses the development of geometric thinking.
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Getting the balance right
In this article for primary teachers, Ems shares some common misconceptions surrounding the equals sign, and suggests ways to help learners develop their understanding.
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Encouraging primary children to work systematically
This article for primary teachers suggests ways in which to help children become better at working systematically.
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ACME report: developing able young mathematicians
Lynne McClure gives an overview of the ACME report 'Raising the bar: developing able young mathematicians', published in December 2012.
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Primary children's mathematical recording
This article for teachers outlines different types of recording, depending on the purpose and audience.
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Maths at home - summer challenges 2024
The tasks in this collection are ideal to work on at home over the summer, perhaps with friends and/or relatives.
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A good foundation for number learning for five year olds?
This article, written by Dr. Sue Gifford, evaluates the Early Learning Numbers Goal in England, in the light of research.
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The value of two
Ruth Trundley outlines her doctoral research and concludes that development of an understanding of cardinality is a crucial element of counting that can be overlooked.
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Developing number through tidying up
This article describes how one nursery setting focused on tidying up time as a context in which to explicitly target the development of number and calculation skills.
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Mathematical problem solving in the early years: developing opportunities, strategies and confidence
In this article for Early Years practitioners, Dr Sue Gifford outlines ways to develop children's problem-solving strategies and confidence in problem solving.
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Young children's mathematical recording
In this article, Janine Davenall reflects on children's personalised mathematical recordings as part of a small research project based in her Reception class.
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TSA NRICH Day October 31st 2018
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Curriculum
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Early number sense
This article explores the basic foundations of number sense and outlines relevant research in this area.
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Subitising
In this article for EY practitioners, Dr Sue Gifford outlines what we mean by subitising and how we can teach it.
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Features
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Place value: the ten-ness of ten
This article develops the idea of 'ten-ness' as an important element of place value.
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Rich mathematics
In this very brief article, the NRICH Team outlines what they understand by the term 'rich mathematics'.
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How can I support the development of early number sense and place value?
This article for primary teachers expands on the key ideas which underpin early number sense and place value, and suggests activities to support learners as they get to grips with these ideas.
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Recent solutions
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Tasks for an adult and child
Age
3 to 11
Challenge level
This collection of tasks are for an adult and child working together.
interactivity
Red or black spinner
A simple spinner that is equally likely to land on Red or Black. Useful if tossing a coin, dropping it, and rummaging about on the floor have lost their appeal. Needs a modern browser; if IE then at least version 9.
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Seesaw shenanigans
Age
3 to 7
Challenge level
A group of animals has made a seesaw in the woods. How can you make the seesaw balance?
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Developing mathematical mindsets - Primary teachers
These resources have been chosen to help primary learners develop mathematical mindsets
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Reasoning: identifying opportunities ( selection of tasks )
These tasks offer opportunities for learners to reason for different purposes and in different ways.
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More number facts activities lower primary
More tasks to help you become fluent in number and calculation.
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Getting better at group work
Have a go at these lower primary activities to improve your group-working skills.
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Handling data (statistics)
These challenges will test your understanding of information, as well as how likely different events are.
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Recording mathematics
This collection of activities allows you to focus on children's own representations and recordings.
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Rich mathematics rich CPD
NRICH website full of rich tasks and guidance. We want teachers to use what we have to offer having a real sense of what we mean by rich tasks and what that might imply about classroom practice.
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Thinking about different ways of thinking
This article, the first in a series, discusses mathematical-logical
intelligence as described by Howard Gardner.
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Enriching patterns
Following on from a workshop at an MA Easter conference, Jennifer
and Jenni talked about the way in which the website is made more
accessible to teachers who want to plan threads of activity.
Here’s a pattern- based theme.
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Dramatic mathematics
This article for teachers describes a project which explores the power of storytelling to convey concepts and ideas to children.
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Shape your proof
In this feature for Primary students, we offer geometrical tasks which give you the chance to notice patterns, make conjectures and create convincing mathematical arguments.
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Primary teachers
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Maths explorers
Are you a maths detective? Choose a task and use your mathematical skills to solve the problem.
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Puzzling with paper
These tasks offer opportunities for deepening learners' mathematical understanding and their positive learning dispositions.
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Maths club and roadshow resources
Hands-on resources that might be useful for teachers planning to run maths events.
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Getting better at group work lower primary
Three or four brains are usually better than one! Working on a problem in a group rather than on your own is often a good idea. These activities will help you get better at group work.
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Measurement
These activities are all about measuring different things, including time! Can you try and make a sensible guess about the size of something before you measure it?
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Teacher primary feature recording
This collection of activities offers an opportunity for you to focus on children's own creative representations and recordings. Read the article to find out why we have selected these particular tasks. Click the 'Submit a solution' link on any live problem to find out the closing date.
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Playing with 2D shape
Children need opportunities to play around with shapes as well as meeting them formally. These activities combine the two.
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Activities on the Gattegno chart
In this article, Alf outlines six activities using the Gattegno chart, which help to develop understanding of place value, multiplication and division.
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Developing good team-working skills
Group work depends on effective team work. This article describes
attributes of effective team work and links to "Team Building"
problems that can be used to develop learners' team working skills.
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Using dice here and there
Bernard's article reminds us of the richness of using dice for number, shape and probability.
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April fool is past and gone, you're the fool for carrying on!
Read about the history behind April Fool's Day.
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Interacting with the geometry of the circle
Jennifer Piggott and Charlie Gilderdale describe a free interactive
circular geoboard environment that can lead learners to pose
mathematical questions.
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Weigh to go
This article for teachers recounts the history of measurement,
encouraging it to be used as a spring board for cross-curricular
activity.
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From playing to explaining
The tasks in this feature encourage you to play and explore, then think deeply about the mathematical ideas underneath.
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Digging into number
The tasks in this Primary student feature give you the chance to dig deeply into maths, particularly number and calculation.
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Codebreakers
Are you a maths detective? Choose a task and use your mathematical skills to solve the problem.
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Take a fresh look
These problems invite you to look again at ideas you may think you know inside-out.
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Appreciating different approaches
Have a go at these lower primary tasks, then look at the published children's solutions. Were there any like yours?
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Puzzling with paper
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Aims of the national curriculum
The features on this page are linked to the three aims of the National Curriculum - number fluency, reasoning and problem solving.
