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?](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/thumbnails/content-id-8123-icon.jpg?itok=dg4uHKFS)
problem
How would we count?
An activity centred around observations of dots and how we visualise number arrangement patterns.
![Zios and Zepts](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/thumbnails/content-00-06-penta2-icon.png?itok=rhaJFIAE)
problem
Zios and Zepts
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](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/thumbnails/content-id-8811-icon.png?itok=x7Mypn1l)
![Play to 37](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/thumbnails/content-id-10328-icon.gif?itok=h40d-8u2)
problem
Play to 37
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](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/thumbnails/content-02-01-game1-icon.png?itok=YpX97D5X)
problem
Got It
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.