List

Thinking strategically at KS2

To think strategically you need to have some sort of idea of where you're going and what you're trying to do. Helping children to reflect back on their work can support their forward planning next time.

Beads and bags
problem
Favourite

Beads and bags

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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How could you put these three beads into bags? How many different ways can you do it? How could you record what you've done?
Escape from the castle
problem

Escape from the castle

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
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Skippy and Anna are locked in a room in a large castle. The key to that room, and all the other rooms, is a number. The numbers are locked away in a problem. Can you help them to get out?
Amy's Dominoes
problem
Favourite

Amy's dominoes

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Amy has a box containing domino pieces but she does not think it is a complete set. Which of her domino pieces are missing?
This Pied Piper of Hamelin
problem
Favourite

This Pied Piper of Hamelin

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Investigate the different numbers of people and rats there could have been if you know how many legs there are altogether!

Tea Cups
problem

Tea cups

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
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Place the 16 different combinations of cup/saucer in this 4 by 4 arrangement so that no row or column contains more than one cup or saucer of the same colour.
Sticky Triangles
problem
Favourite

Sticky triangles

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Can you continue this pattern of triangles and begin to predict how many sticks are used for each new "layer"?
Some Secret Codes
problem

Some secret codes

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Can you follow the rule to decode the messages?