List

The Problem-Solving Classroom: Key Problem-Solving Skills

This group of tasks, part of our feature The Problem-solving Classroom, exemplifies key problem-solving skills.  For more information about developing children's problem-solving skills, see this article.
How would we count?
problem
Favourite

How would we count?

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

An activity centred around observations of dots and how we visualise number arrangement patterns.

Zios and Zepts
problem
Favourite

Zios and Zepts

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
On the planet Vuv there are two sorts of creatures. The Zios have 3 legs and the Zepts have 7 legs. The great planetary explorer Nico counted 52 legs. How many Zios and how many Zepts were there?
Snake Coils
problem

Snake Coils

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
This challenge asks you to imagine a snake coiling on itself.
Play to 37
problem
Favourite

Play to 37

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
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.
Got It
problem
Favourite

Got It

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

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.