List

Reasoning and convincing at KS1 - primary teachers

It's quite hard to pin down what 'reasoning' looks like. At KS1 we're looking for good 'because' statements. And if there are two or more which make a chain, that's progress. 

This collection is one of our Primary Curriculum collections - tasks that are grouped by topic.

I Like ...
problem
Favourite

I like ...

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Mr Gilderdale is playing a game with his class. What rule might he have chosen? How would you test your idea?
Poly Plug Rectangles
problem
Favourite

Poly plug rectangles

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

The computer has made a rectangle and will tell you the number of spots it uses in total. Can you find out where the rectangle is?

If the World Were a Village
problem
Favourite

If the world were a village

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

This activity is based on data in the book 'If the World Were a Village'. How will you represent your chosen data for maximum effect?

Two numbers under the microscope
problem
Favourite

Two numbers under the microscope

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
This investigates one particular property of number by looking closely at an example of adding two odd numbers together.
How Odd
problem
Favourite

How odd

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
This problem challenges you to find out how many odd numbers there are between pairs of numbers. Can you find a pair of numbers that has four odds between them?
In the Playground
problem
Favourite

In the playground

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
What can you say about the child who will be first on the playground tomorrow morning at breaktime in your school?
Wallpaper
problem
Favourite

Wallpaper

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

These pieces of wallpaper need to be ordered from smallest to largest. Can you find a way to do it?

A Bag of Marbles
problem

A bag of marbles

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
Use the information to describe these marbles. What colours must be on marbles that sparkle when rolling but are dark inside?
Lots of Lollies
problem
Favourite

Lots of lollies

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star

Frances and Rishi were given a bag of lollies. They shared them out evenly and had one left over. How many lollies could there have been in the bag?

Less is More
problem
Favourite

Less is more

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Use your knowledge of place value to try to win this game. How will you maximise your score?