Working systematically

problem

Fair Exchange

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

In your bank, you have three types of coins. The number of spots shows how much they are worth. Can you choose coins to exchange with the groups given to make the same total?
problem

Dienes' Logiblocs

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

This problem focuses on Dienes' Logiblocs. What is the same and what is different about these pairs of shapes? Can you describe the shapes in the picture?
problem

Three Block Towers

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Take three differently coloured blocks - maybe red, yellow and blue. Make a tower using one of each colour. How many different towers can you make?
problem

Leap Frog

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

The brown frog and green frog want to swap places without getting wet. They can hop onto a lily pad next to them, or hop over each other. How could they do it?
problem

Snakes

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Explore the different snakes that can be made using 5 cubes.
problem

Jumping Cricket

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

El Crico the cricket has to cross a square patio to get home. He can jump the length of one tile, two tiles and three tiles. Can you find a path that would get El Crico home in three jumps?
problem

Teddy Bear Line-Up

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

What is the least number of moves you can take to rearrange the bears so that no bear is next to a bear of the same colour?
problem

Briefcase Lock

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

My briefcase has a three-number combination lock, but I have forgotten the combination. I remember that there's a 3, a 5 and an 8. How many possible combinations are there to try?
problem

Whose Sandwich?

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Chandra, Jane, Terry and Harry ordered their lunches from the sandwich shop. Use the information below to find out who ordered each sandwich.
problem

Mrs Beeswax

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

In how many ways could Mrs Beeswax put ten coins into her three puddings so that each pudding ended up with at least two coins?