Young children are often good at imagining - in these tasks we ask them to use their imaginations in a mathematical way.
This collection is one of our Primary Curriculum collections - tasks that are grouped by topic.
problem
Holes
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
I've made some cubes and some cubes with holes in. This challenge invites you to explore the difference in the number of small cubes I've used. Can you see any patterns?
problem
How would we count?
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
An activity centred around observations of dots and how we visualise number arrangement patterns.
problem
Seeing Squares
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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.
problem
How Many?
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
Have a look at these photos of different fruit. How many do you see? How did you count?
problem
Hundred Square
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
A hundred square has been printed on both sides of a piece of paper. What is on the back of 100? 58? 23? 19?
problem
A Puzzling Cube
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Here are the six faces of a cube - in no particular order. Here are three views of the cube. Can you deduce where the faces are in relation to each other and record them on the net of this cube?
problem
Square Corners
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
What is the greatest number of counters you can place on the grid below without four of them lying at the corners of a square?
problem
Odd Squares
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Think of a number, square it and subtract your starting number. Is the number you're left with odd or even? How do the images help to explain this?
problem
Nine-Pin Triangles
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
How many different triangles can you make on a circular pegboard that has nine pegs?
problem
Brush Loads
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
How can you arrange the 5 cubes so that you need the smallest number of Brush Loads of paint to cover them? Try with other numbers of cubes as well.
problem
Twice as Big?
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Investigate how the four L-shapes fit together to make an enlarged L-shape. You could explore this idea with other shapes too.
problem
Snake Coils
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
This challenge asks you to imagine a snake coiling on itself.
problem
Tumbling Down
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Watch this animation. What do you see? Can you explain why this happens?
problem
Sponge Sections
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
You have been given three shapes made out of sponge: a sphere, a cylinder and a cone. Your challenge is to find out how to cut them to make different shapes for printing.
problem
Cut Nets
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Each of the nets of nine solid shapes has been cut into two pieces. Can you see which pieces go together?
problem
Stringy Quads
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
This practical problem challenges you to make quadrilaterals with a loop of string. You'll need some friends to help!
problem
Overlapping Again
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
What shape is the overlap when you slide one of these shapes half way across another? Can you picture it in your head? Use the interactivity to check your visualisation.
problem
Eight hidden squares
Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
On the graph there are 28 marked points. These points all mark the vertices (corners) of eight hidden squares. Can you find the eight hidden squares?
problem
Baravelle
Age
7 to 16
Challenge level
What can you see? What do you notice? What questions can you ask?
problem
Arranging cubes
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
A task which depends on members of the group working collaboratively to reach a single goal.
problem
Regular Rings 1
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Can you work out what shape is made by folding in this way? Why not create some patterns using this shape but in different sizes?
problem
Cubes within Cubes
Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
We start with one yellow cube and build around it to make a 3x3x3 cube with red cubes. Then we build around that red cube with blue cubes and so on. How many cubes of each colour have we used?