Cubes and cuboids

  • The solid
    problem

    The Solid

    Age
    11 to 16
    Challenge level
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    A task which depends on members of the group working collaboratively to reach a single goal.

  • Solids
    problem

    Solids

    Age
    11 to 16
    Challenge level
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    A task which depends on members of the group working collaboratively to reach a single goal.

  • Instant Insanity
    game

    Instant Insanity

    Age
    11 to 18
    Challenge level
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    We have a set of four very innocent-looking cubes - each face coloured red, blue, green or white - and they have to be arranged in a row so that all of the four colours appear on each of the four long sides of the resulting cuboid.
  • Geometry and Measure - Short Problems
    problem

    Which Face?

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Which faces are opposite each other when this net is folded into a cube?

  • Inside Out
    problem

    Inside Out

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    There are 27 small cubes in a 3 × 3 × 3 cube, 54 faces being visible at any one time. Is it possible to reorganise these cubes so that by dipping the large cube into a pot of paint three times you can colour every face of all of the smaller cubes?

  • Summing squares
    problem

    Summing Squares

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Discover a way to sum square numbers by building cuboids from small cubes. Can you picture how the sequence will grow?
  • Dice, Routes and Pathways
    article

    Dice, Routes and Pathways

    This article for teachers discusses examples of problems in which there is no obvious method but in which children can be encouraged to think deeply about the context and extend their ability to think mathematically, especially geometrically.
  • Making Maths: Link-a-Cube
    page

    Making Maths: Link-A-Cube

    Make a cube with three strips of paper. Colour three faces or use the numbers 1 to 6 to make a die.
  • Thinking 3D
    article

    Thinking 3D

    How can we as teachers begin to introduce 3D ideas to young children? Where do they start? How can we lay the foundations for a later enthusiasm for working in three dimensions?