Simply 'having a go' is a great way to make a start on a mathematical problem. Whatever happens, you will have learnt more about the situation and can then tweak your approach. These activities all lend themselves to this 'trial and improvement' way of working.
This collection is one of our Primary Curriculum collections - tasks that are grouped by topic.
problem
One big triangle
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
Make one big triangle so the numbers that touch on the small triangles add to 10.
problem
Two-digit targets
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
You have a set of the digits from 0 to 9. Can you arrange these in the five boxes to make two-digit numbers as close to the targets as possible?
problem
Five steps to 50
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
Use five steps to count forwards or backwards in 1s or 10s to get to 50. What strategies did you use?
problem
Starfish spotting
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
How many starfish could there be on the beach, and how many children, if I can see 28 arms?
problem
Heads and feet
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
On a farm there were some hens and sheep. Altogether there were 8 heads and 22 feet. How many hens were there?
problem
Four colours
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
Kate has eight multilink cubes. She has two red ones, two yellow, two green and two blue. She wants to fit them together to make a cube so that each colour shows on each face just once.
problem
Eggs in baskets
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
There are three baskets, a brown one, a red one and a pink one, holding a total of 10 eggs. How many eggs are in each basket?
problem
Find the difference
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
Place the numbers 1 to 6 in the circles so that each number is the difference between the two numbers just below it.
problem
4 dom
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
Use these four dominoes to make a square that has the same number of dots on each side.
problem
The Brown family
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
Use the information about Sally and her brother to find out how many children there are in the Brown family.
problem
The tall tower
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
As you come down the ladders of the Tall Tower you collect useful spells. Which way should you go to collect the most spells?