This activity is best done with a whole class or in a large group. Can you match the cards? What happens when you add pairs of the numbers together?
Try grouping the dominoes in the ways described. Are there any left over each time? Can you explain why?
In this calculation, the box represents a missing digit. What could the digit be? What would the solution be in each case?
Suppose there is a train with 24 carriages which are going to be put together to make up some new trains. Can you find all the ways that this can be done?
In this game for two players, the idea is to take it in turns to choose 1, 3, 5 or 7. The winner is the first to make the total 37.
Arrange the numbers 1 to 6 in each set of circles below. The sum of each side of the triangle should equal the number in its centre.
These two group activities use mathematical reasoning - one is numerical, one geometric.
On a farm there were some hens and sheep. Altogether there were 8 heads and 22 feet. How many hens were there?
This task, written for the National Young Mathematicians' Award 2016, focuses on 'open squares'. What would the next five open squares look like?
A game for 2 or more players. Practise your addition and subtraction with the aid of a game board and some dried peas!
A game for 2 players. Practises subtraction or other maths operations knowledge.
Are these domino games fair? Can you explain why or why not?
There are 4 jugs which hold 9 litres, 7 litres, 4 litres and 2 litres. Find a way to pour 9 litres of drink from one jug to another until you are left with exactly 3 litres in three of the jugs.
This task, written for the National Young Mathematicians' Award 2016, invites you to explore the different combinations of scores that you might get on these dart boards.
Write the numbers up to 64 in an interesting way so that the shape they make at the end is interesting, different, more exciting ... than just a square.
Cassandra, David and Lachlan are brothers and sisters. They range in age between 1 year and 14 years. Can you figure out their exact ages from the clues?
Using the statements, can you work out how many of each type of rabbit there are in these pens?
Noah saw 12 legs walk by into the Ark. How many creatures did he see?
Place the digits 1 to 9 into the circles so that each side of the triangle adds to the same total.
These caterpillars have 16 parts. What different shapes do they make if each part lies in the small squares of a 4 by 4 square?
Ten cards are put into five envelopes so that there are two cards in each envelope. The sum of the numbers inside it is written on each envelope. What numbers could be inside the envelopes?
At the beginning of May Tom put his tomato plant outside. On the same day he sowed a bean in another pot. When will the two be the same height?
Can you put plus signs in so this is true? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 = 99 How many ways can you do it?
Find your way through the grid starting at 2 and following these operations. What number do you end on?
This magic square has operations written in it, to make it into a maze. Start wherever you like, go through every cell and go out a total of 15!
Can you draw a continuous line through 16 numbers on this grid so that the total of the numbers you pass through is as high as possible?
What do you notice about the date 03.06.09? Or 08.01.09? This challenge invites you to investigate some interesting dates yourself.
This task, written for the National Young Mathematicians' Award 2016, involves open-topped boxes made with interlocking cubes. Explore the number of units of paint that are needed to cover the boxes. . . .
Ram divided 15 pennies among four small bags. He could then pay any sum of money from 1p to 15p without opening any bag. How many pennies did Ram put in each bag?
Ben has five coins in his pocket. How much money might he have?
This problem is based on a code using two different prime numbers less than 10. You'll need to multiply them together and shift the alphabet forwards by the result. Can you decipher the code?
A group of children are using measuring cylinders but they lose the labels. Can you help relabel them?
The clockmaker's wife cut up his birthday cake to look like a clock face. Can you work out who received each piece?
Who said that adding couldn't be fun?
Add the sum of the squares of four numbers between 10 and 20 to the sum of the squares of three numbers less than 6 to make the square of another, larger, number.
Throw the dice and decide whether to double or halve the number. Will you be the first to reach the target?
Find all the numbers that can be made by adding the dots on two dice.
Can you substitute numbers for the letters in these sums?
Zumf makes spectacles for the residents of the planet Zargon, who have either 3 eyes or 4 eyes. How many lenses will Zumf need to make all the different orders for 9 families?
As you come down the ladders of the Tall Tower you collect useful spells. Which way should you go to collect the most spells?
Mrs Morgan, the class's teacher, pinned numbers onto the backs of three children. Use the information to find out what the three numbers were.
This problem is based on the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Investigate the different numbers of people and rats there could have been if you know how many legs there are altogether!
Use these head, body and leg pieces to make Robot Monsters which are different heights.
Arrange eight of the numbers between 1 and 9 in the Polo Square below so that each side adds to the same total.
Move from the START to the FINISH by moving across or down to the next square. Can you find a route to make these totals?
Choose four of the numbers from 1 to 9 to put in the squares so that the differences between joined squares are odd.
This is an adding game for two players.
Look carefully at the numbers. What do you notice? Can you make another square using the numbers 1 to 16, that displays the same properties?
Leah and Tom each have a number line. Can you work out where their counters will land? What are the secret jumps they make with their counters?
Use your logical-thinking skills to deduce how much Dan's crisps and ice-cream cost altogether.