List

Secondary Interactive games and challenges

This is our collection of games specially chosen for use in the computer room or on the whiteboard. Each explores a strategic or mathematical theme; they will work well as teacher-led class activities but are also suitable for students to play directly, as they can all be played by individuals against the computer and none require direct teacher mediation. As with all of our games, players should be armed with a pen and paper to help to plan their strategies and record their findings as they play.

The games are listed in approximate order of difficulty.
The Number Jumbler
problem

The Number Jumbler

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
The Number Jumbler can always work out your chosen symbol. Can you work out how?
Latin Lilies
problem

Latin Lilies

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
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In this game you are challenged to gain more columns of lily pads than your opponent.
The Remainders Game
game

The Remainders Game

Play this game and see if you can figure out the computer's chosen number.
Countdown
game

Countdown

Here is a chance to play a version of the classic Countdown Game.
Treasure Hunt
problem

Treasure Hunt

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Can you find a reliable strategy for choosing coordinates that will locate the treasure in the minimum number of guesses?
Dozens
problem

Dozens

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
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Can you select the missing digit(s) to find the largest multiple?
missing multipliers
problem

Missing Multipliers

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
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What is the smallest number of answers you need to reveal in order to work out the missing headers?
Got It
problem

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.
Fruity Totals
problem

Fruity Totals

Age
7 to 16
Challenge level
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In this interactivity each fruit has a hidden value. Can you deduce what each one is worth?
Magic potting sheds
problem

Magic potting sheds

Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
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Mr McGregor has a magic potting shed. Overnight, the number of plants in it doubles. He'd like to put the same number of plants in each of three gardens, planting one garden each day. Can he do it?
Last Biscuit
game

Last Biscuit

Can you find a strategy that ensures you get to take the last biscuit in this game?
Connect Three
problem

Connect Three

Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
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In this game the winner is the first to complete a row of three. Are some squares easier to land on than others?
crossing the bridge
problem

crossing the bridge

Age
11 to 18
Challenge level
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Four friends must cross a bridge. How can they all cross it in just 17 minutes?
Diamond Collector
game

Diamond Collector

Collect as many diamonds as you can by drawing three straight lines.
All in a jumble
problem

All in a jumble

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
My measurements have got all jumbled up! Swap them around and see if you can find a combination where every measurement is valid.
In the bag
problem

In the bag

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Can you guess the colours of the 10 marbles in the bag? Can you develop an effective strategy for reaching 1000 points in the least number of rounds?
Countdown fractions
problem

Countdown fractions

Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Here is a chance to play a fractions version of the classic Countdown Game.
Shifting Times Tables
problem

Shifting Times Tables

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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Can you find a way to identify times tables after they have been shifted up or down?
Nine Colours
problem

Nine Colours

Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
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Can you use small coloured cubes to make a 3 by 3 by 3 cube so that each face of the bigger cube contains one of each colour?
Mixing Lemonade
problem

Mixing Lemonade

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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Can you work out which drink has the stronger flavour?

Frogs
problem

Frogs

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
How many moves does it take to swap over some red and blue frogs? Do you have a method?
Charlie's delightful machine
problem

Charlie's delightful machine

Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
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Here is a machine with four coloured lights. Can you develop a strategy to work out the rules controlling each light?
Square It
problem

Square It

Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
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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.
Polygon Rings
problem

Polygon Rings

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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Join pentagons together edge to edge. Will they form a ring?
Arithmagons
problem

Arithmagons

Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
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Can you find the values at the vertices when you know the values on the edges?
Standard Index Form Matching
problem

Standard Index Form Matching

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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Can you match these calculations in Standard Index Form with their answers?
Multiplication arithmagons
problem

Multiplication arithmagons

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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Can you find the values at the vertices when you know the values on the edges of these multiplication arithmagons?
Finding factors
problem

Finding factors

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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Can you find the hidden factors which multiply together to produce each quadratic expression?
3D Treasure Hunt
problem

3D Treasure Hunt

Age
14 to 18
Challenge level
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Some treasure has been hidden in a three-dimensional grid! Can you work out a strategy to find it as efficiently as possible?