List

Working Backwards at KS1

Starting from the end sounds rather strange, but in fact can be a very useful problem-solving skill.  These activities lend themselves to being tackled in this way.

This collection is one of our Primary Curriculum collections - tasks that are grouped by topic.

Nim-7
problem
Favourite

Nim-7

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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Can you work out how to win this game of Nim? Does it matter if you go first or second?
Growing Garlic
problem
Favourite

Growing Garlic

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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Ben and his mum are planting garlic. Can you find out how many cloves of garlic they might have had?

Number Lines
problem
Favourite

Number Lines

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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A resource to try once children are familiar with number lines, and they have begun to use them for addition. It could be a good way to talk about subtraction. Leah and Tom each have a number line. Can you work out where their counters will land?
What was in the Box?
problem
Favourite

What was in the Box?

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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This big box adds something to any number that goes into it. If you know the numbers that come out, what addition might be going on in the box?
Doing and undoing
problem
Favourite

Doing and undoing

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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An investigation looking at doing and undoing mathematical operations focusing on doubling, halving, adding and subtracting.
Tables Teaser
problem
Favourite

Tables Teaser

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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How will you work out which numbers have been used to create this multiplication square?
Starfish Spotting
problem

Starfish Spotting

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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How many starfish could there be on the beach, and how many children, if I can see 28 arms?
Secret Number
problem
Favourite

Secret Number

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Annie and Ben are playing a game with a calculator. What was Annie's secret number?
Junior Frogs
problem

Junior Frogs

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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Have a go at this well-known challenge. Can you swap the frogs and toads in as few slides and jumps as possible?
The Tall Tower
problem
Favourite

The Tall Tower

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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As you come down the ladders of the Tall Tower you collect useful spells. Which way should you go to collect the most spells?
Stop the Clock
problem
Favourite

Stop the Clock

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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This is a game for two players. Can you find out how to be the first to get to 12 o'clock?